THE BEAUTY OF CLOTH NOT PAPER

Over the years, we have hosted quite a lot of events, parties and meals here at FrenchGardenHouse. We’ve had birthday dinners for over 50, holiday brunches, lunches and dinners for our family, girlfriend get-togethers, cocktail affairs, wedding and baby showers, children’s parties and more. For all of these, I've worked really hard on eliminating all plastic and paper from our entertaining arsenal.

Antique French Napkins

Cloth Napkins are one of the things that truly elevate your event. Your table setting always looks exquisite if there are "real" cloth napkins. I know, paper is easy. But I think you will agree that there is nothing that compares to how linen napkins feel. Even when we have a large group of people over for a casual dinner in the garden, I choose cloth not paper. We've had sit-down dinners here for over 50 guests, family and friends, where each one had a beautiful cloth napkin.

Antique French Napkins | Antique Double Fan Napkin Ring

My trick for that? I use all white for large groups, so I can throw all of them in the washer and dryer, until next time. The beauty of using all white napkins is a great trick, because you can happily mix and match napkin sets that are antique with new.

Sterling Silver Napkin Rings

As long as they are all white, they all will look uniform and delight your guests. For smaller groups, there is such a range of luxurious, beautiful colored cloth napkins!

Blue Linen Napkins

I love cloth napkins so much, that I am an equal opportunity admirer of both antique napkins and new napkins. These navy blue linen napkins were the star of last year's Thanksgiving Dinner Setting >

Natural Linen Bee Striped Napkins

It’s just so much nicer for your guests to be able to use real dishes, forks, and napkins, they are more substantial, and say “you are special.” Which brings me to another reason I prefer cloth napkins.

Antique Fern Napkin Ring

Napkins that are cloth can be washed, and you will find that your guests, who will think nothing of using 2-5 paper napkins for a meal, will be quite satisfied with just one cloth napkin. Ultimately, a good quality cloth napkin is less expensive than paper, and of course there is our environment to consider.

Antique French Monogrammed Napkins

For your family table, you could adopt the "napkin ring system" used by my European Mom. Each one of us had our own silver napkin ring, so that we always used our "own" napkin at the table until it was time to wash them and replace them with a freshly laundered one.

Antique Lace De Venise Napkins

Some of you have emailed and asked about the how to's of using and cleaning cloth napkins, so here are a few tips. {And yes, I know, most of you are probably thinking...no...duh. } But hopefully there is some encouragement to be found in these easy "tips' for serving up your table settings in luxurious style.

Ruffled Linen Napkins

TIPS FOR USING CLOTH NAPKINS WITH STYLE AND EASE: 1. I’ll admit, for the linen napkins I use, I don’t iron them. I take them out of the dryer right away, and fold, and store. that’s it. I don’t mind if they are a little rumpled. 2. I set the table with one napkin per place setting. These days, napkins are so pretty, that it’s a shame to just fold them, I like them on top of the plate. 3. I put a few extra napkins on the table near me, because they can do more than wipe and cover. I use napkins at the table to line the breadbasket, to use as potholders for a serving dish that is a little warmer than comfortable to hold, and I also dispense napkins as needed to guest who may want/need more than one. {as is often the case when my darling little people are over.} 4. After the party is over, I gather the napkins in a pile, and check if there are any big stains that need attention. I will spray or rub a stain remover on the spot {although this is almost never necessary} and either put the napkins in the laundry room in a bucket of water to soak, or directly into the washer. That’s all there is to it! I'm giving you a little preview peek at my latest napkin obsession: these gorgeous linen napkins embroidered in red for the holidays!

{Coming soon - I love these, and am very excited to be able to get them for our FrenchGardenHouse French Holiday Collection.} I hope you will consider switching from paper to cloth... and enjoy the luxurious feeling of linen at the table. DO YOU USE PAPER, OR HAVE I SWAYED YOU TO USE CLOTH?

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34 comments

Thank you so much, it’s always a joy when you visit! Sometimes I love ironing, too, it’s so relaxing!

Hope you are having a gorgeous week, friend,

Lidy

Absolutely love cloth napkins. I have several sets of white napkins. And a lot of colored napkins. When we entertained 66 people at our house last December, everyone had cloth napkins on Lenox China complete with stemware. It just makes a difference when you use the real thing. And your guest feel special that you made the extra effort to make them feel special. ??

Joyjc

Hello Lidy! I LOVE cloth napkins for special occasions but often I do use them just when it is me. You are absolutely right ~ it is so easy to just pop them into the washer that it’s really not a chore. Lately I have been on an ironing kick but usually I do what you do and just fold them right out of the dryer to use another day. Even here in our little prairie “home” in our 5th wheel RV I have an entire storage box of linens. :) I love your new napkins!!! I’ll have to browse your site for them. <3 And those engraved antique napkin rings?? I've wanted some for at least 20years… sigh! Happily sharing your post and pinned a bunch of pics.

Barbara Chapman ~ French Ethereal

Gloria, you are so sweet! Thank you for your kindest compliments about my napkins…I remember almost all the ones you bought from me, especially those
golden ones with the cherubs..they were a favorite.

Hope you are having a gorgeous autumn week over there in Raleigh!

Lidy

Lidy knows how much I love cloth napkins. I have purchased both vintage and new from her FrenchGardenHouse website. They complete the table. I usually iron them flat but do not iron the folds. That way I can fold them any way I want on the table. I occasionally do a creative napkin fold.
I also use my old cloth napkins( tattered and worn) for clean up and around the kitchen. I have loved every set of napkins I obtained from FrenchgardenHouse. High quality items, I have never been disappointed. I do need to think about collecting napkin rings.

Gloria

I have used cloth forever my kids and grandkids expect cloth. People have given me cocktail napkins so I use them also. For the 2 of us or 20!

Linda

Interesting post! I’ll tell you my cloth napkin story. The first time I had a dinner party, I had good friends over, and was excited to set a “real” table with real cloth napkins. In our family growing up, I don’t recall even having napkins to use, but we weren’t slobs, I promise. So my first party, I wanted to use cloth. My friend said, “oh I don’t want to use your nice cloth napkin…just give me a paper one.” That so deflated me & my efforts at a “perfect” table. I didn’t say anything…just gave her paper. All that to say, I rarely use cloth, but it’s not b/c of her. I just never go that formal.

Florence @VintageSouthernPicks

Hi Lidy, I always use white cloth napkins and love the special look. (Confession: I do use paper napkins for things like pizza, spaghetti or chile.)
Thanks for the tips. Hugs, Pat @ Bringing French Country Home

Pat

Exactly!! And yes I follow your blog – I look very forward to your emails!

Rhonda Bridges

Sue, I love that you find contentment in washing and ironing them, it’s a lost art! There is something peaceful about ironing, I think, don’t you?

Lidy