Friday 6 July 2007

Variations on a Tablecloth


My first vintage tablecloth (the one on top of the pile and still my favourite) was given to me by my Grammy, and I think my Aunt is only slightly peeved that it skipped a generation. I don't think I have too many...yet (ya ya, the first sign is denial...) It's the weight of the cotton and the linen, sometimes the workmanship on something so mundane, and of course the wonderfully cheery, optimistic prints that are so appealing that I can't resist. At the thrift stores it's a whole lot of fabric for a very small price, and every single one so far has been spotless, remnants of practices of another era....

The tablecloth on the table is a double, from when I fell in love with all things French Provencal. From the extra one I whipped up some napkins today - so genteel! (Not to mention practical and green.) Napkins from cotton tablecloths is really easy because you don't even have to measure. Fold in half, rip, fold each of those pieces in half, rip, etc. Then hem. It's fast and it makes for nice square corners. The one tablecloth will make 16 napkins about 12" square. (Only 8 more to go!) The napkins might not all be exactly the same size, but if your guests start comparing napkin sizes, I think there might be a larger problem there....


There's some vintage tablecloth love on Flikr here. I haven't yet dipped my toes into the Flikr pool...It's looks very very deep and interesting and I think it might suck me in! :-)

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