Cindy in C-ville Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 A couple of years ago I bought a bunch of cloth napkins, but I don't like them because they wrinkle. I'm looking for plain napkins that wash/wear well and do not require ironing to look good. Suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renthead Mommy Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I wanted napkins for awhile, but didn't want the hassel of having to hem them. Finally I realized I had a bunch of fat quarters (a quarter yard of fabric, but it's cut into a square, not just a long strip cut off the bolt) that I'd had forever, wasn't going ot quilt with and really liked. I still didn't want to hem them so I cut the edges with my pinking (zig-zag) sheers. After the first couple of washes you get the frayed edge and they work great. There is no ironing (:svengo: just the thought of that! For anything really!). I just toss them in the wash with with everything else. Mine are a little wrinkled because I dry them on the line, but if you toss them in the dryer they are just fine. Just fold them as you wish. I used my fat quarters and a bunch of other scraps that I had that were big enough. So we have a mish-mash of napkins, but I like it that way. Everything from prints, to kid prints, to NY Giants! They are cheap, you can pick out any fabric you want and just cut it to size. I think we are actually going to make seasonal ones this year too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyerin Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 We just a bunch of white washcloths. TONS of them. My kids pull them out for napkins when eating, for kleenex, for spills, for helping clena, you name it. I love my big basket of multi-purpose wash cloths. I do have "real" cloth napkins that I use when guests are over, and they wrinkle, too. But day-to-day when it's just us, the washcloth wins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 The ones I have now were hand me downs from relatives and people I clean for. Some of them are on the fancy side but not my style at all (like pink lace corners) so I use them for every day. I would check thrift stores, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I've found PB napkins to hold up well without linen-like wrinkling. We use nothing but cloth napkins, and these are my favorites. Terri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 We use bandanas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 We have lots of cotton napkins - twill restaurant style, lighter broadcloth one's from rummage, some I've made from yardage. They don't have to be ironed. The only ones I have to iron are the vintage linen. We had some polyester. I don't care for them; they're just not absorbent and I've had a dribble roll right off (luckily mostly to the floor, where the doguum cleaner is waiting to pick it up). They also don't fold nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I'd try a restauarant supply place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 My mom uses fingertip towels--they look like a smaller version of a handtowel you'd use in the bathroom. I really like them because they are a lot more absorbent than traditional cloth napkins. They are more casual, though, so you might not like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 My nicest textured napkins that can go from dryer to basket without muss or fuss, are soft cottons ones from India. I have some Pier One napkins that are perfect and I enjoy the colors. I try to keep the colors coordinated so they look pleasant to me piled in the basket. :D:tongue_smilie: I have some OCD issues, I suppose. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjselmk Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I say run away from polyester, there is no absorbancy! We always buy ours at the thrift store or garage sales. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Here is a nice easy pattern for cloth napkins, written for beginners. They are two-sided, which is easier than hemming. We use cloth, and we just fold neatly, I do not iron them. Some of them wrinkle less than others; the less-wrinkly ones are less absorbent and I prefer the others. High-quality fabric does make a difference. Use a nice quilting cotton rather than something skimpy that will "wash up like an old rag", as my mom says. Cheap fabric is just that. We have bandannas, thrifted napkins, home-made (serged edges/rolled hem), and napkins (handkerchiefs) from Dharma Trading that I tie-dyed in a rainbow of colors. I put them in a nice basket and don't stress about the wrinkles. I have experimented with rolling rather than folding; this might be a better "display" approach for you where the wrinkles aren't as prominent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in C-ville Posted September 5, 2011 Author Share Posted September 5, 2011 Although I'd love to think I'd take the time to just whip up a few dozen, it's not going to happen. They don't need to look pressed out of the dryer, just not weirdly wrinkled like these cheap-o ones I bought from Wal-Mart. I'm thinking about tea towels or flour sack type napkins. More ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baseball mom Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I say run away from polyester, there is no absorbancy! We always buy ours at the thrift store or garage sales. :iagree: I have a few of the polyester (came in bundles I got at yard sales) and don't like them. But if you are wanting that kind, Sam's Club had some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I had a friend make me a few dozen napkins from a nice flannel material. No wrinkles and they are nice and soft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I think once you really get going with cloth napkins, you end up with an eclectic mix. So buy one, try it out, see if you like it. Then try another. And so on. You'll eventually narrow down what you like and what you don't. But don't feel like you need to get it exactly right the first time. The ones you love will migrate to the top of the pile and be used frequently; the ones you don't will be at the bottom and only used when you're backed up in the laundry department or have a lot of people over. We probably have 30 or so. I gave up keeping "nice" ones aside for special situations, because we never used them. Better to use them all, every day, and enjoy them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I second the thrift store idea--since they don't iron things before they put them out to sell, you'll be able to see what they will look like with just a washing. I don't iron mine (but I don't use them all the time)--I just pull them out of the dryer before they wrinkle. I don't like polyester. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I would look here: http://americanchairstore.com/ and see if they have anything you like. Vermont Country Store also has a "mountain weave" napkin. http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/Shop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I bought some nice cotton broadcloth from a place online and hemmed up the edges. I never iron them and they rarely look wrinkled. I got 8 different patterns, 4 of blue/ecru and 4 green/ecru to match my kitchen (all the blues and greens match each other). Each family member has their own pattern and we have a guest pattern. This way we use a napkin for a day or more before washing unless it gets visibly soiled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in C-ville Posted September 5, 2011 Author Share Posted September 5, 2011 I think you ladies who have sewn napkins need to start a business. I'd buy from you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I think you ladies who have sewn napkins need to start a business. I'd buy from you! Check etsy - tons of options there, they even have a category for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helena Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I was buying dish towels at Sur La Table, when a woman told me they make excellent napkins. I think she said she cuts and sews them to make two per towel. They keep their color in the wash (even if you use a little bleach), they're soft, and absorbent. They're the best dish cloths. I'm tempted to give cloth napkins another go. http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-532366/Striped-Kitchen-Towels%2C-Sets-of-3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I find them at rummage sales, TJMax and around. When they about a dollar a napkin I'll buy a bunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domestic_engineer Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I have some Pier One napkins that are perfect and I enjoy the colors. :iagree: Get them when they are on clearance, after the season has passed. I do not like polyester napkins as they don't absorb very well. The ones that I picked up at Walmart on clearance are working OK - but I look for heavier, broadcloth-type napkins ... the fabric that is often used in the plaid pattern in country decor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrissymama Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 We use washcloths from Target, kind of like these... http://www.target.com/p/Home-Striped-Solid-6pk-Wash-Pack-12x12/-/A-11277837 I have lots of sets, and actually none of them are that pattern, but they come like that. I have a lot of seasonal ones and then some basic ones. They hold up really really well and are great as napkins, think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatCyndiGirl Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Thank you for asking this. I would like to have a lot more cloth napkins, but since I am afraid of my sewing machine me making them is NOT going to happen! I'm leaning toward bandanas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglei Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I agree with the previous posters who suggested yard sales and thrift stores. I have found some really nice napkins this way - some were still brand new with the store tags still on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in C-ville Posted September 6, 2011 Author Share Posted September 6, 2011 We use washcloths from Target, kind of like these...http://www.target.com/p/Home-Striped-Solid-6pk-Wash-Pack-12x12/-/A-11277837 I have lots of sets, and actually none of them are that pattern, but they come like that. I have a lot of seasonal ones and then some basic ones. They hold up really really well and are great as napkins, think. Cute idea! Do you set the table with these in the "regular way" or do you do something different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauranc Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 We bought a bunch of white cloth napkins at Ikea, and love them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.