Make Cloth Napkins to Save Money
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We’ve gone to cloth in our house – not only with diapers and re-usable wipes, but now in the kitchen as well. I’m talking about cloth napkins. Remember those fancy napkins they would give you at restaurants when you went out to dinner at places that didn’t have a drive-thru or a kids? menu?
Cloth napkins are great for casual dinners at home with the family and are much more environmentally friendly than their paper counterparts – just think of how many uses you can get out of them before they require laundering! What’s more, they can last for years with heavy usage, and won’t clog up the landfills or your trash can like those thin little paper napkins.
You can easily make your own cloth napkins at home with minimal effort – it’s even a great project to get the kids involved with. You don’t even need sewing skills; you can either finish the hems by sewing, or you can simply raveling the edges for a casual, fringed look.
To make cloth napkins, begin with 100% cotton fabric, which can be found at craft stores, fabric stores, or even discount stores such as Wal Mart for just $1-2 per yard.
Next, wash and iron the fabric. When it’s dry and smooth, carefully and evenly cut out 14-inch squares to make dinner-sized napkins. Fringe the fabric edges by gently pulling out the strands of string along the edges, starting at the top of the cloth. Pull about 1/2 inch of strings on all four sides for even seams.
Choose a different color or pattern design for each member of the family so everyone has their own designated napkin. Or, you can use a different napkin ring for each family member. Use the napkins over and over again until they require laundering.
To wash, simply toss the napkins into the laundry with like-colored fabrics on the gentle cycle and medium heat. Dry on low heat and remove promptly to reduce wrinkling. You can also line dry the napkins in the summertime. If they do wrinkle, iron with a warm iron to smooth out the fabric.
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Kimberly says...
Great advice! I have used cloth napkins at home for a while now, and I’ve also found Goodwill, Salvation Army and other thrift stores an excellent place to purchase cloth napkins for VERY low prices. I don’t feel weird about buying used napkins, because I take them home and launder in hot water with laundry soap and a quarter cup or so of baking soda. I have some wonderful designs I’ve purchased this way and never spend more than a couple dollars for whole bundles of them!
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