Cloth Napkins, the cheap (um, frugal) way!

 Years and years ago, I decided a) we were spending way too much on paper napkins (I swear our family of five went through a few packs a week) and b) I shouldn't have stuff in my house I wasn't using, including the cloth napkins I'd somehow inherited from my mom.  (A whole different question was where those originally came from...I never remember them being used in my childhood home.)

Aren't these pretty?

Once the upfront cost of acquiring them is taken care of, cloth napkins are really inexpensive and easy to use.   After each use, the kids just throw the napkins in the washing machine and they get washed along with the normal load. 



My mom's old napkins...they're probably 25 years old, if not more.

Initially, I used the  mismatched napkins I'd inherited, but I eventually supplemented my stash.  I bought these napkins a little more than six years ago and they've served us well, but they're tired looking, wouldn't you say?

My poor napkins...they've served us well for 6 years, but they're tired.

It was more than past time to get new napkins, but even knowing I'd most likely get five or more years out of my napkins, I just couldn't make my self pay anywhere from $2.50 (Target) to $5.00 (World Market) for any of the napkins I liked.  For 12 napkins, I was looking at anywhere from $30 to $60!   Not acceptable to me.  So, I came up with an alternative:  I bought a rectangular table cloth I liked and made my own napkins.  

Target tablecloth...busy enough to hide stains.

I found the tablecloth at Target for $15.99 (I think...maybe it was $16.99.)  At 60 x 80 inches, that allowed for 12 20-inch square napkins, bringing the cost of each napkin down to a much more acceptable $1.33 (or $1.42 if the tablecloth was $16.99). 

Not too shabby for one afternoon's work.

It took me one afternoon to make all twelve napkins.

Look at that mitred corner!  It is perfect!

I even practiced making mitred corners.  Some turned out really well. 

This mitre isn't so well done...still, I'm pleased.

Some didn't turn out so well.  Overall, this was a pretty successful exercise. 

I love this fabric on my dish towel.  Isn't it pretty?

And, if you did the math in your head, you know I ended up with a four inch strip of fabric leftover after making my 20-inch napkins.  I couldn't resist using some of that leftover fabric to embellish a kitchen towel.

Not bad for $16, wouldn't you say?

  

"Make It Yourself" Monday

Last month, I told you I was already thinking about Christmas presents. Yes, it was July, but if I'm going to have any chance of having a hand-made Christmas, I've got to start working now. Truthfully, I'll probably be doing a lot of thinking, planning, and plotting this month. I don't see myself having a lot of time for sewing or crafting before September, but I really want to have a plan.

To that end, I'm designating Mondays as "Make It Yourself" Monday. Every Monday I'll share with you the ideas I have for something I'll be making for Christmas. Yes, it seems early, as Back to School hasn't even happened yet, but last year I started just too darned late and didn't want to sacrifice participating in the holidays to keep sewing. This year, I'm determined. Hopefully, you'll find a few ideas from my ideas (even if they're ideas for things you can buy for people on your list) and maybe you'll even have suggestions as to how I might make an idea even better. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

So, without further ado, here is my first frugal, hand-made Christmas idea:


See these tablecloths? I got them on clearance at Target last year for $6.00 each. Each tablecloth measures 60 x 120 inches. So, what am I going to do with these tablecloths, you ask? I'm making holiday napkins! Have you ever priced cloth napkins? Seriously. $2 a napkin? Oh, come on! I knew I could do better than that and when I saw these tablecloths it all clicked together. At 20" square (a nice size for a napkin), each tablecloth will yield 18 napkins. You can't beat that price for the fabric alone! Some clever seasonal napkin rings (make them yourself ideas to follow as I find them!) and you have a few nice gifts or a terrific addition to your own holiday place settings.

Never thought about making your own cloth napkins? Skip To My Lou has an easy mitered-corner napkin tutorial if you need a little guidance. Otherwise, napkins are a pretty easy sewing project. Another idea for inexpensive yardage would be to get a flat sheet in a fabric you liked (clearance priced, of course).

So, there you have it, my first Make It Yourself project suggestion. What do you think? If someone who knew you and and knew your tastes gave you some table dressing for the holidays, would you like it?