Date: 11/7/09 12:49 PM

I want to make some plain white cloth napkins for everyday use. Nothing fancy but I'd like to be able to get grease spots out of them easily. I'm tired of pretreating our cotton poly napkins with Dawn and having to wash with really hot water to have any hope of getting the grease spots out. Any suggestions for fabric? Would I be better with alll cotton?
Thanks,
Jan

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Date: 11/7/09 12:59 PM

Try searching the boards for earlier discussions about making napkins. I have a mental note (accuracy questionable . . . it's been a while) that linen fiber releases grease more readily than most. I'm grateful to the person who mentioned this.

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Date: 11/7/09 1:56 PM

I don't have a fabric suggestion for napkins, but I do have a washing suggestion--Stain Stick by Spray 'n Wash. You can treat the grease stains immediately after a meal and then wash the napkins up to a week later. With Spray & Wash liquid spray you need to pre-treat 1 to 5 minutes before washing the napkins.

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Reply to Irene
Date: 11/7/09 2:19 PM

Quote: Irene

... linen fiber releases grease more readily than most.

We use, on a daily basis, some old linen napkins that I bought for 50-cents each at a garage sale, ages ago. That must explain why they're not stained. I just pre-treat & wash (and of course, iron)

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Date: 11/7/09 2:31 PM

For everyday napkins, 100% cotton would definitely be the fabric that most readily releases grease stains. Once stained, you can throw them in with a load of white clothes that get run on hot with soap and bleach.

Cotton poly blends have to be one of the most difficult fabrics from which to remove grease stains. --Lily

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Lily

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Date: 11/9/09 5:58 PM

Let me share what works for my family. For everyday use I like my 100% cotton napkins made from a double layer of broadcloth-weigh fabric. I sewed the two layers RS together leaving a small opening for turning. Once turned and pressed I top stitched around all the edges. Fast. These launder easily, stains come out without pretreating most of the time, and with the weight of two layers of fabric they do not require ironing if promptly removed from the dryer. Best of all these napkins look great and are a pleasure to use (in our personalized) napkin rings.

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Date: 11/9/09 6:16 PM

I have handwoven white cotton napkins that are over 30 yrs old and they just don't stain easily. Love cotton or linen for napkins ... and they don't slide off your lap!

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Patti

R-r-r-ripping my way to fitting success

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Date: 11/9/09 6:25 PM

Maybe not what you are looking for, but we use patterned cotton fabric so we don't see the spots. Works very well for kids because the napkins are bright and colorful. We just have a big basket of colorful napkins. Maybe we'll get to move to solid colors or white when they are all grown and not so messy.

I have a cotton/linen tablecloth with grease spots that I can't get out and am sad about. I wouldn't think to use the same fabric for that reason on napkins. The stains are very visible on solid fabric. I've tried several things on it too!
-- Edited on 11/9/09 6:31 PM --

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*Jen*
If I stitch fast enough, does it count as aerobic exercise?

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Reply to JenSews2
Date: 11/9/09 7:00 PM

Quote: JenSews2

Maybe not what you are looking for, but we use patterned cotton fabric so we don't see the spots. Works very well for kids because the napkins are bright and colorful. We just have a big basket of colorful napkins.

Us too - huge basket of 100% cotton patterned ones. I don't notice any stains. Of course a nice big floral or construction equipment theme on them hides most anything.

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My sewing blog: weebeaks.blogspot.com

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Date: 11/9/09 11:42 PM

The main thing is to avoid polyester or poly blends. Polyester holds grease stains (and odors) and also doesn't tolerate heat as well as linen or cotton.

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blog: goodworks1.wordpress.com

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