Jun 29, 2010

A green way to sell a quick half yard

I thought of you at dinner last night.

At our house, about a year ago, we started to use cloth napkins at every meal. I had recently visited a friend’s house and noticed each kitchen chair had a colorful napkin folded neatly over the back rail. My friend explained they had gone “green” and were using cloth napkins all the time. Folding the napkins on the chair back, still identified who the napkin belonged to, but kept the table clear during the day. She then admitted, they reused the same napkins for a couple of days before replacing them with fresh ones. There were no longer young, shall we say “messy,” children around.

I also remembered a shop owner once told me of a customer who always bought an extra one-half yard of any fabric she really liked. She used this half yard to make two approximately 17-inch by 17-inch cloth napkins. She kept a basket in her kitchen and everyone got to choose what napkin they wished to use. Children and grandchildren love to do this!

What a great way to make a one-half yard add-on sale and save a few trees! First, for display make a basketful of cloth napkins from bolt ends, and even some from bolt beginnings. If you have space a simple table setting will really make the point. The napkin edges can be serged, or it’s nice to make a real hem with mittered corners. Simply fold your napkins rectangularly, or try some fun napkin folds. The Napkin Folding Guide is just one site where you can find 27 different ways to fold napkins.

Now you may not think this is needed, but how about a napkin class or demo? Yes, to us seasoned sewers, these are sort of a no-brainer. But for a new sewer, what a wonderful way to learn some basic cutting, sewing (hand or machine) and pressing skills. And, if you make a basket of napkins in lots of fun children’s fabrics, you will definitely interest and teach some young mothers how to sew, and most likely, some young children a few gracious manners. Hey, napkins would even make a good children’s sewing class — a sure way to make a “green” and “gracious” impression!

Try decorating your samples with ball fringe, crocheted edgings or hand embroidery. This is also a good place to demonstrate machine embroidery and other decorative machine stitches. Now we’re really talking add-on sales.

Jim and I can go a couple of days on one pair of napkins. They wash and fold neatly. Even two- and three-year-olds can help mom or grandma fold napkins and have a big-time sense of accomplishment.  And, if you really want to have a quiet peaceful afternoon, ironing cloth napkins brings all sorts of pleasant feelings and memories to mind (don’t be too impressed — I usually just fold and eat). Either way, Martha Stewart would approve, I’m sure.