If you read me over at Swistle, you know I have been obsessed with enthusiastic about cloth napkins recently. I initially tried them because of a feeling of wanting to purchase clearance merchandise no matter what it is environmentalism, but it turns out we LOVE using them. They’re soft and comfy! And I don’t iron them, and no one cares!
Well, so now I have to buy more than we need, to vent some of my enthusiasm. I don’t even know how many I’ve bought so far, but…many. I could sew clothes for ALL the VonTrapp children out of cloth napkins and still have enough napkins for them to use at dinner.
I bought my starter supply at Target, where they had a bunch of kinds at 75% off. I was hoping they’d have them online, too, so I could direct you to a supply of your own if you wanted to join me in this new shopping environmental endeavor, but unfortunately not. They did have these orange ones similar to ones I bought; the color is PERFECT because it is the same color as tomato-based sauce stains, though the whiteness in the border would make me pause (mine have no white). A set of four is on clearance for about $6.00. [Update: Now they're at 75% off, for about $3.] These are the basic cloth-napkin size: about 20 inches square.
These Kaleidoscope napkins from Crate and Barrel are a better size for children or for not-very-messy meals: they’re more like 7 inches square. A set of six is on clearance for about $6.00. I bought a set: I love that pattern, and kid napkins is one area where I can justify a little more shopping.
I also bought two of these Retro Drop napkins from Crate and Barrel, because they were on clearance for NINETY-FIVE CENTS EACH AND I AM NOT MADE OF STEEL. Or is it stone I’m not made of? Whatever, I bought the napkins.
Etsy has so many awesome options (just search for “cloth napkins,” though be prepared you may also get matches for another kind of napkin entirely), I had to spend like an hour window-shopping to choose which ones to use for the photo. I would totally buy these (or any of the others by Juniper Berries) if I was not already OUT OF ROOM. Seriously, I have to stop. Adding them to my cart MEANS NOTHING.
I found these cute flower napkins on the Pier 1 website. I guess you can’t order online, though? Which is good. Yes, good. I have too many napkins already. On sale for $1.78 MEANS NOTHING.
If you can sew, cloth napkins are a great excuse to buy cute fabrics. Design Sponge did a tutorial last year on how to make them yourself (and check out the comment section on that post for more tips). I’m more of a shopper than a crafter, but I admit I’m tempted by the thought of all the fabric I could shop for.
Do you read Irregular? Tammie is a little bit ahead of you on the environmental/shopping/fabric/sewing…slope? Bell curve? It’s been fun to watch her start to sew simple things like napkins, flat curtains, etc., because she has never done it before and makes me feel like I could do it too. Maybe.
*LOVING MY CLOTH NAPKINS*
Nowheymama | March 11th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Okay- I haven’t switched yet…but know I need to. Don’t buy paper plates any more and no more bottled water. Have the water filter hooked up to the sink. And really nice refillable water bottles (with freezer thing in the middle) so this is the next step. Promise will try it soon.
eileen | March 12th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Preach on, sister!!
I love cloth napkins!!
We switched years ago and it drives my mom nuts. When she comes to visit once a month she actually brings a jumbo pack of napkins for me. She insists that cloth napkins create way more laundry and are a hassle.
I use the paper napkins to wipe down my counters.
I find cloth napkins at the thriftstore. And have had to let some nice big one go because they were not absorbant at all- even though they were pretty and nice big resturaunt style.
Deanna | March 13th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Well, we did cloth diapers, and THAT was a lot of laundry. Cloth napkins? Easy.
Robyn | March 13th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I love my cloth napkins! I don’t iron them, either. I decided to go to cloth last fall, and found out it’s so easy that I wondered what took me so long to make the switch! I’m going to check the Target links and see if they’re still on sale. I could use some nice spring designs. I just bought a new basket (at the thrift store) to keep the napkins in on the table.
Daisy | March 14th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I switched over a couple years ago and got started by buying bar towels. They were very cheap: about $5 for 12 and are the right size and very absorbent. Great for kids. Now they’re fraying so I’m going to turn them into cleaning rags and make more traditional napkins.
Jennifer | March 18th, 2009 at 3:04 pm