I saw your post yesterday and this morning an idea popped into my head. How about making simple squares or rectangles for your base, appliqueing wide strips of fabrics in a cross design . You could use wide washable ribbon or you could piece this (basically a nine-patch with wider corners.) Then at the center, top, put a loop of fabric, fold napkin square, then pleat, stick halfway through loop so napkin looks like a bow. (instead of loop you could just sew a strip the same width of ribbon, leaving enough open at both sides to insert napkins. I hope this makes sense. (In my mind it does, but it's kind of early!)