Which has led me to cloth napkins. You see, we are not fancy, sophisticated people around here and truth be told, we usually just end up using paper towels as napkins for most meals. And while the majority of those end up in the compost bin, we could probably all benefit from not using them in the first place. So I dug through my fabric stash (bonus points for using fabric that I already had, right?) and picked out those fabrics that I'm really not in love with anymore and cut squares that measured 20 x 20, aiming to get as many squares out of each piece of fabric that I could. And then I just sewed a hem around all four sides. I will say that I attempted to get all fancy and do proper mitered corners, but in the end I ended up doing some made-up version of a mitered corner and while they may not be perfect, they're certainly good enough for me (and for napkins).
I think they look great and it really is a nice way of reducing waste. Hmmmm, might have to work on that myself.
ReplyDeleteOh, they're beautiful. They make me smile when I look at them.
ReplyDeleteAlthough pictures of O make me smile more. :)
I think about doing this every time I tear off paper towels for a meal, which is every meal - good for you, and great way to use existing fabric!
ReplyDeletewhat a great use of your fabric. i love the idea of having napkins but i just don't have the patience to make them.
ReplyDeleteWe don't use any sort of napkin - does that make us little piggies? I like these though. Corners look great! Good work on the cleanout and waste-less resolution, I'm right with you.
ReplyDeleteYay for napkins! We always had cloth ones growing up. Now I use a baby wipe, if anything...
ReplyDeleteOh, you are so good. I should totally do this. I might try two-sided ones, just to avoid mitering the corners!
ReplyDeleteSuch a simple fun idea. Might have to idea-jack you. =)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea - I had grand visions of making some for Thanksgiving but my two year old couldn't fit in in her/our busy schedule - so maybe for this year! Your blog makes me smile and I suspect that our dear daughters may have been separated at birth ;-)
ReplyDeleteSo, um...I just buy bali batik fat quarters in the bin next to the checkout at the fabric store then serge the edges. BOOM - napkins! I do love cloth napkins instead of paper, though. Feels so klassy. ;)
ReplyDeleteThis is a really lovely use of well loved fabrics that shouldn't be cut up too much - and perfect that you can use them again an again and see those fabrics everyday!
ReplyDeleteWe were just talking last night about ditching paper towels, not buying them anymore, and using our napkins, dishtowels, rags, etc... for everything. So tired of all the waste! So, I'm with you!!!!
ReplyDeleteXO
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We got off our paper towel dependence and it feels great. I was already doing tons of laundry anyway, I don't even notice napkins. Your mitered confers look way easier. I feel you on the not wanting to buy or accept junk. If only I could stop my mom from "gifting" me crap!
ReplyDeleteThey look great! I downloaded an ebook on simplifying for the New Year--and one of the chapters was about going paperless in the kitchen and switching to all cloth (napkins, paper towels, etc.). I pretty much decided I was going to ignore that chapter (I will go down fighting before I give up my paper towels), but now I'm a little bit inspired to make some napkins. Maybe. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are so freaking smart! Love this idea! My fella may love me if I do this!
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