Napkin Rings and Cloth Napkins
What can you do with an assortment of thrift store napkin rings? Especially when:
- You don’t use napkin rings (well, very often)
- They don’t go with your decor
- You already have a couple of sets moldering in a closet somewhere
I actually thought all these things about napkin rings not so long ago – and passed them by without a thought in stores, flea markets, or wherever I’d see them.
And then we started using cloth napkins at all our meals. And the way to make using cloth napkins work in a real family is to have each family member use a different, unique napkin ring to identify their napkin to reuse it for a couple of meals.
Because, really – most of the time very little of the napkin is used (and if it is, like with BBQ chicken or something, wash it).
I’ve mentioned using family napkin rings with cloth napkins a few years ago and how it can save money and lessen waste.
We now have a collection of rings so that guests who stay for more than one meal with us can have their own ring, too. And I’ve had enough comments from friends and family (“where do you find all your different rings?”) to know that others would appreciate a gift of mismatched napkin rings.
So that’s were the thrift store transformation comes in:
Make your own set of family cloth napkins with mismatched napkin rings
- Be on the look out for napkin rings and sets in thrift stores and flea markets. They can be had for .99 to 1.99 for a set of four to six. Coordinating with decor is not as important, because everyone will just pick one they like (though I try to make sure they all aren’t floral, for example, to appeal to the men in the families)
- Take them apart and group them in sets of 4 to 6 mismatched rings.
- Package a set of mismatched napkin rings and patterned napkins (the better to hide stains) in a basket (to keep near the table). Oooh – and if you made the napkins from cotton sheets bought at the thrift store? Double awesome!
The ring sets are now ready to give to families who don’t have the time to hunt down individual rings and would appreciate this type of gift.
Because I’m aware that not everybody would appreciate it. But those that get it, do. When I sold fabric items at barn sales and such, sets of these napkins were one of my most popular items, selling out all the time.
So napkin rings can have a new life and be used daily instead of once a year – in your own house or someone else’s.
In this case the transformation is from something unused into something useable. Which is always my top criteria for a good transformation.
Do you use cloth napkins?
This is day 7 in our series (you can click on the button to see all the posts in the category). If you’re wondering what’s up, you can read the introduction to 31 Days of Thrift Store Transformations here. I’m taking a little liberty and using the term “thrift store” to stand for anything you buy used (and cheap!), be it from a store, garage/estate sale, flea market…whatever.
