I am far from a save-the-whales type of person, but I hate waste. I also hate spending money. Leann, one of my good friends, made dozens of cloth napkins for her house, and generously cut out cloth squares for me to do the same. I am not a fan of cloth napkins, because most of them seem cumbersome and I end up only using one corner and then feeling badly that the entire napkin has to be washed when three-quarters of it is still unused.
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| Typical Cloth Napkin |
These cloth napkins are perfect, though! They are 10 x 10 squares of fabric that has been hemmed.
What worked best for me is hemming the left and right side first, and then flipping it to hem the top and bottom.
Green napkins...
Blue napkins...
On the green napkins, I used bright green thread, because I thought it contrasted nicely.
I'm totally lying. I used bright green thread because I didn't have any light green thread.
But I think it worked out.
Here's the size of the napkins in comparison to a dinner plate.
I'm so excited to use these! They also work great for wiping off counters and for cleaning. The fabric isn't super absorbant, so I don't think they will work to clean up spills, but let's be honest, cheap napkins don't absorb crap. I think these are going to be great. I want to make more so I only have to wash them once a week. This would be a great way to use up scrap fabric while also saving the planet. Who could pass up a two-for-one deal like that? Basically you'll be Superman, but a cooler version of him with a sewing machine. And brightly colored cloth napkins. I have a huge blue flowered curtain I bought from Salvation Army and didn't use, so I think I'm gong to cut up and make more napkins.
Also, I would be so honored and happy if you guys would put a link from your blog on my blog. Let's advertise for each other, shall we?
5 comments:
I used to know someone who made her own cloth napkins/serviettes because it cost less. So, I have always used them. I make them with 2 layers so they are more luxurious. They are also less of a fiddle to hem - you can just overlock the edges, or you can sew them right sides together, leave a gap and turn them through like a cushion cover.
I tend to leave them at the place settings for the table for a couple days...depends on how messy the meal was. Easy to toss in with a load of clothes. You might find you like the weight of the curtaining fabric better. Sturdier.
Sandy in the UK
That's a great idea! I might experiment with different textures and see what I like best. I never thought about double siding them, though.
I am a huge fan of cloth napkins. And they're fun to mix and match too. Thanks! -Seeks, EOD
We use cloth napkins all the time! And like you, we use them several days and then toss them into the wash... I very rarely use paper towels... cotton terry type towels work great for the kitchen and for rags we use old towels or sweat/or t-shirts. Why not use something that would other wise be tossed into the trash. They are too far gone to be given to the thrift stores... Good for you!
I'm also a fan of cloth napkins, I just wish I had time to make more...
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