My grandma, Gamma, recently handed me a stack of linen napkins that used to belong to my great-great-aunt. Each one is hand-stitched with a different herb: chives, rosemary, oregano, dill, parsley, and marjoram. They're really cute, but they're old, some stains, some wear. I don't think my great-great-aunt actually stitched these herself. She did sew and embroider when she was alive, but either way, I like having something of hers.

I knew I wanted to do something with them. I just wasn't sure what yet.

Weighing My Options

My first instinct was to leave them as-is and just use them as napkins again. But between the stains and the fact that they're a family heirloom, that felt like a fast track to ruining them. I also seriously considered turning them into kitchen curtains, which would have been a fun way to display all of them together in one spot.

But then I remembered these came from our great-great-aunt, which meant they weren't really just mine to keep. I have two sisters, Jessica and Nicole, and it felt right to find a way to split this piece of family history between the three of us instead of it living in only one kitchen.

Cutting Around the Embroidery

Once I decided on tote bags, the plan came together fast. The stains and wear were mostly in the plain linen around the edges, not on the embroidery itself, so I didn't need to save the whole napkin. I cut a small square around each stitched herb, just enough to leave a little linen border, and set the rest of the fabric aside.

I had six napkins total, which worked out perfectly for three tote bags with one embroidered square on each side.

Materials

  • 6 vintage embroidered herb napkins, cut down to just the embroidered squares
  • Sturdy green and white striped twill for the tote exterior (a stiffer fabric than quilting cotton, closer to a twill or denim weight, to hold up as a everyday bag)
  • Green and white polka dot cotton for the lining, chosen to coordinate with the stripe
  • Cotton webbing for the straps, sturdy enough to carry actual grocery-run weight
  • Basic sewing supplies: scissors, pins, thread, sewing machine
The original stack of vintage linen napkins before cutting, each hand-embroidered with a different herb

Building the Totes

I sewed a simple tote shape out of the green and white striped twill, with the polka dot cotton as the lining and cotton webbing for the straps so the bags could actually hold some weight. Once each bag was built, I attached one embroidered herb square to each side, so every tote has two different herbs on it instead of a repeat. It felt more special that way, like each bag got its own little pairing instead of matching front and back.

Brainstorming how big to cut each embroidered square and where to place it on the tote The completed tote bags laid out together on my desk

The stripe and the polka dot are both green and white, so nothing fights with the napkins.

Splitting Six Napkins Three Ways

Three tote bags, six napkins, two sisters plus me. It could not have worked out more evenly if I'd planned it that way from the start. Each of us ended up with a bag that has two different herbs on it, so no two totes are quite the same, but they all come from the same set and the same great-great-aunt.

Finished tote bag with rosemary and oregano embroidery, made for Jessica Finished tote bag with chives and dill embroidery, made for Nicole

Matching Herbs to Personalities

The hardest part ended up being deciding which two herbs to pair on each bag. I didn't want to just grab randomly, so I turned to ChatGPT, gave it a personality description of myself and each of my sisters, and asked it to match each of us to herbs based on who we are. It came back with pairings and a little written blurb for each of us. I printed those out and tucked one into each tote when I gave the bags away.

The tote bags together with the printed personality blurbs tucked inside each one

Jessica: Rosemary + Oregano

Rosemary is bold and grounding, a steady backbone in the kitchen and a symbol of strength and resilience. Oregano is confident and unmistakable, bringing warmth and depth wherever it's used. Together, they're timeless, dependable, and full of presence, a pair that naturally leads and holds everything together.

Nicole: Chives + Dill

Chives are delicate yet expressive, with soft purple blooms and a bright, welcoming flavor. Dill is light and lively, adding freshness and personality that makes every dish feel special. Together, they're warm, vibrant, and full of charm, the kind of energy that brings people together and makes everyone feel at ease.

Me: Parsley + Marjoram

Parsley is vibrant and versatile, bringing freshness and life wherever it's added. Marjoram is soft and nuanced, with a quiet depth that reveals itself slowly. Together, they're thoughtful and expressive, a balance of brightness and subtlety, creativity and care.

Reading them back, it tracked a little too well. Jessica as the steady, dependable one, Nicole as the warm one who brings everyone together, me somewhere in the middle being creative and overthinking it. My sisters got a kick out of theirs.

Gamma's stack of old napkins could have just sat folded in a drawer, or gone straight to a donation pile. Instead they're three bags my sisters and I actually use, each carrying a little bit of family history and a little bit of us.

If you've got something similar sitting in a drawer, a stained tablecloth, a set of napkins, anything with embroidery you love but can't use as-is, you don't need the whole piece. Cut around the part you want and go from there.

Emily out wearing her parsley and marjoram tote bag

If you make something like this, tag me on Instagram @DesignsbyERB. I'd love to see what you find and what you turn it into.