I am always looking in discount aisles and thrift stores and yard sales for paper napkins. In a pinch, they work well for me.
I was at a friend’s house recently, where we had a gathering for about 20 people. A business was catering the food that came, but when they actually arrived they did not bring the dishes, silverware, napkins or wine glasses for the buffet dinner.
I saw my friend stressed for about 2 minutes, and then she got over it. We talked it through, we decided “forget the cloth napkins,” and we rummaged through her napkin drawer, coming up with 3 different “Fall” patterns of paper napkins (from previous parties) that would work.
We were creative in putting them out on the table, her husband helped her gather 20 dinner plates, she reached for her nice silverware, and the table was complete.
I agree that cloth napkins are lovely, and I use them most of the time (especially when I plan ahead for a party), but for last minute or when you don’t have time to iron cloth, paper works just great.
I love this story because I saw my “reluctant” friend go with the flow, come up with a plan, and this story says that sometimes what we think should be perfect is not how things turns out.
Do you use cloth or paper for a dinner party? Do you have a time where you realized that embracing imperfect actually turned into something really good?
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Hi, I'm Sandy. Five years ago I stocked up on beautiful glasses from the Dollar Store. As I started writing about dinner parties, I realized that this “icon” portrays a great message. 
At a party, I normally use cloth napkins…but I have more than 8 people over, it’s paper napkins all the way!
Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last [type] ..It’s a dog life…
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I have a drawer full of an assortment of cloth napkins that I mix and match. They are easy to throw in the wash once the dinner is over, plus cloth absorbs so much better than paper and adds lots of color to the table. Be on the look out at yardsales, clearance bins or make your own.
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Like Dorothy, over the years I’ve stacked up quite a number of cloth napkins and we use cloth everyday. I wouldn’t have enough matching napkins for 20 but I could mix/match like you did with the paper.
We also always use a tablecloth. When the GD was little and visiting for dinner her job was to choose the tablecloth and napkins. Sometimes those dinners included other guests but is was still her job, her choice. Made for some interesting table settings and some wonderful memories.
Darla
Darla´s last [type] ..Blogging Friends
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There are some super cute paper napkins being made lately!
http://ashleyanderic.blogspot.com
Ashley Hasty´s last [type] ..Cooking Like a Pro
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I use paper..Ikea…99% of the time.
StrawberryCAKE´s last [type] ..Apple Spice Cake with CARAMEL frosting
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Why stress? There’s always a solution if you just think about it rather than fret over it. You and your friend were good to go with the flow.
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Sandy,
thanks so much for permission for the paper! I have been using paper since we moved to our current home because I can’t seem to put my finger on 8 of the same cloth napkin even though I know we have 3 sets somewhere…we had a pastor’s family of 6 living with us for 9 mos. and we gave them much of our space and I’ve been disorganized ever since…this fall and winter I plan to remedy that. My friend Robin, from Houston, actually prefers paper napkins and is always scouring the discount stores for a bargain…such a great idea…I’m heading out to Tuesday morning to try and find some for our family’s Thanksgiving Dinner…20 to 40 people at our house…actually I think paper is an excellent idea;)
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Over the years I have floated between cloth / paper. I usually use paper these days unless it is a very formal occasion. For us that is rare. The paper goods are so pretty and often whimsical I can’t resist! It is our blessing and privilege to have many folks to our home often. To honor the guest and put them at ease is important as well as ease of clean up for us. And I can not find cloth ones that I like. I am a bit fussy about that.
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Paper napkins can be a girl’s best friend!
I use cloth for fancier sit down dinners, though.
Tara G.´s last [type] ..Party at the Marine House
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I love cloth napkins for a special event or for family dinner nights that are a bit more fancy schmanzy, but I am IN LOVE with the IKEA napkins. They are thick and absorbent and almost look like cloth…and the designs are adorable! Right now I am using robin egg blue with white polka dots…I know it is AUTUMN, so I have been adding a bit of brown to go along with my obsession with paper napkins!
lisa´s last [type] ..Grandpa Toms Shrimp and Corn Chowder Our Sipping Soup
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I bought a bunch of cloth napkins, and we use them almost always when we have guests over for dinner. I think of it as a little extra touch! =) We use them sometimes when it is just family, especially because my family members are my most treasured, special people in the world, and they deserve to be treated special. But we use paper sometimes too. =)
Josanne´s last [type] ..A Super Cute Chocolate Bouquet Fall Garden to make!
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I love cloth napkins and even pack them in my lunch for work.. Of course I get made fun of a lot…. but who cares….
Kim´s last [type] ..Snoringtake 2
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I usually use paper. I guess I’m too lazy to want to wash cloth ones after every use (C:
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I love buying beautiful paper napkins on sale. I found my favorite ones at TJ Maxx and Tuesday Morning.
Tracie B´s last [type] ..A Lemon Chicken Meal
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Oh, napkins. . . you’ve touched on one of my favorite things in the world. My friends laugh at me because I have something of a napkin fetish. I just love pretty beverage napkins, and I have a kitchen drawer devoted to them.
Generally speaking, I use cloth napkins for a sit-down meal and paper napkins for other affairs. But I agree with you that paper would work just fine for dinner in a pinch!
Richella´s last [type] ..Prayer warrior
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I would love to use cloth napkins, but have found them so expensive. Does anyone have directions for making them. When my girls were growing up, I always bought discounted ones and it was a surprise for my girls to choose different ones for lunch.
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Oh, yes, definitely. Paper napkins and often (usually?) paper plates too. We’re a large family of eight, and when we have friends over the numbers add up quickly. I am not afraid to keep it simple.
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I use paper for every day but when company is here I use cloth BUT I tuck a paper napkin inside for the ladies who wear lipstick. I am always reluctant to use a cloth napkin at others homes cause I don’t want to leave a lipstick stain. I find that the women LOVE this idea!
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For everyday and even for messy meals with friends I have a stack of white washcloths that we use for napkins—they can be bleached and don’t need to be ironed!!!
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