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So I know this is fairly OT, but I think there is some experience out there to help me.
My sister-in-law uses cloth napkins and goes through a lot with three kids, so I thought that maybe I'd make her some for Christmas. Looking at fabrics, I remembered that she'd commented on how most napkins you can buy aren't really very soft. So, trying to find a fabric that would be a decent napkin and is soft. I found some flannel(ette?) and thought, hmm, maybe this will work, and it comes in fun prints. I know that several of you have made your own baby wipes from old receiving blankets, and if something can be a wipe, it should be a decent napkin, right? Do they stand up? Do they stay soft(ish)? Any tips? Good idea? Bad?
Or do any of you have any other fabric suggestions for me?
Thanks! |
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| yep! Old recieving blankets make great napkins/face wipes. As a matter of fact, we've been paper product free(excluding TP) for over a year and love it! Our 10 x 10 squares make great napkins/paper towels/kleenex/face&hand wipes/etc. You'll save tons of money and they only add a small amount of laundry. We love 'em! |
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I think this is an awesome idea and they should stand up well IF you get good quality flannel. If you don't they will very likely pill possibly making them not soft. I would stay away from places like Wal-Mart. Places like Jo-Anne's and Hancock have good flannel, but I have never been able to figure out how to tell which of theirs is good or bad until after I have used it and one starts pilling badly. Quilt shop flannel would be an excellent choice, but it is not usually cheap, may be hard to find in some places, and your choice of prints will be fewer.One kind of flannel that is usually pretty safe in being soft no matter where you get it (still avoiding Wal-Mart, though) is woven plaids that are intended for flannel shirts and such. I don't know why, but these seem to hold up the best. Regardless, I am sure whatever you do will be great! This is an excellent idea!
If you do want to explore different fabrics, ask someone at a fabric store if they have any suggestions! |
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Thanks for the tip to skip WalMart on this one. I'll have to watch for some sales at the better places!
I'm really a novice sewer, mostly just straight lines. How important is it, do you think, to pre-wash the fabric before I sew it up? In the case of the flannel, it seems like it'd be a little easier to work with before washing, since I know it will soften and maybe fray a bit. Whaddya think? |
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| Always wash first! It will shrink when you wash it making your stitches off. You can iron it after you wash it and trim the fraying to make it easier to sew. Wash it as one piece and cut it after washing. Make sure you wash and dry it as you think your sister will do so that it doesn't shrink more later. |
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Okay, I knew there must be a reason my mom always made me wash things first, but didn't think about what would actually happen! And thanks for mentioning washing _and_ drying as SIL would, since I would line-dry the fabric, but I know it will be the dryer for her, so I'd better do that, too.
Do you have Hobby Lobby near you? Is their flannel more on par with Jo-Ann's or more like WalMart? (HL is much closer than Jo-Ann's). |
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| There is a Hobby Lobby here, but I just moved here and have never bought fabric there! I always used to go to Jo-Ann's, but there isn't one here and I have been going to Hancock Fabrics. I would think Hobby Lobby would be better than Wal-Mart and would be just fine. I think my mom has bought stuff there. Probably a safe place to go! |
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