fabric for home-sewn table napkins

**Early Bird** · 07-07-2007, 06:48 PM

I have made cotton napkins in the past. But my 10-yr-old napkins are wearing out, and I'm ready to make a new batch.

Somewhere I read about using flannel for napkins. I'm wondering if they pill after a few washings.

And I have some old linen tablecloths. What advantages/disadvantages would there be to using those?

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**bumplett** · 07-07-2007, 06:52 PM

I would think most cloth napkins are made of linen type material ??

I've mostly used cotton blends, but there's no way my napkins could last 10 yrs - I'm impressed!

when mine get ratty, I just use them to clean with

**Michelle** · 07-07-2007, 08:17 PM

When I make mine, I use either quilter's cottons or homespun fabrics on one side and flannel on the other. I haven't had a problem with pilling, but that could be because I use quilter's flannel (more expensive but better quality).

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 07-07-2007, 09:39 PM

I got about 20 yards of muslin (low-med quality...not super fancy) for only 50 cents/yd. We made a whole bunch of about 10 inch square (finished) napkins and have only used them since... That was about 5 years ago and they're still in great shape!

**Early Bird** · 07-07-2007, 09:50 PM

Here's how mine have lasted 10 years:

I made a BUNCH of them when the kids were little. At least 40; maybe more like 60. So the same napkins weren't used every meal. Or even every day.
They are FADED. Because I bleach them with the towels and kitchen linens.
I made them double-sided, of quilter's cotton. In pretty prints. Purchased on sale, of course.

**Early Bird** · 07-07-2007, 09:54 PM

Here are the fabrics I own to choose from:

some old linen tablecloths, to cut up and hem. I don't think I'd make those double-sided.
A few pieces of quilter's cotton. I could probably make 25 napkins like I made before out of my cotton stash.
Some mystery fabric from the thrift store. I think it's cotton, but I'm not sure.

**peanut** · 07-09-2007, 01:50 PM

I used an old linen tablecloth. The advantage for me is I just throw them in the washer with the other table linens. They can be treated roughly and still come through with shining colours. I have one set made with a loose, soft linen, that started as a tablecloth 20 years ago. That is wearing through now, after about 10 years as napkins. BUT I also have some made from a thicker Damask linen, and they have lasted 22 years now with no signs of wear. So I think it's really the quality of the linen that matters.

I have cotton napkins I just serge the edges of as well, but I don't like the feel of them as well as the linen ones. They both need to be ironed to look nice, imho. But we rarely iron them for family use.