How do you handle parties and napkins?

Makinroom4baby

We are going to be switching to cloth napkins soon, but we are just a family of 3 so I wonder how we would be able to provide enough cloth napkins when we host any family gatherings. How do you all work this out? I have a LARGE family! LOL!

uncannycanuck

You could do paper napkins on special occasions and compost them.

We're heathens and don't generally use napkins, paper or otherwise, unless it's a "eat with your hands" kind of meal.

Mrs.MauiBride24

You'll still need a good supply for a family of 3 unless you plan on doing laundry a lot, so I bet you'll have a good stash that could cover one party.

LolitaC

I dont have that big of a family, so I've just put out all of the cloth napkins when we've had people over.  

cyprissa

I have enough cloth napkins to go around for dinner parties and for cocktail parties I buy napkins that aren't bleached and have recycled content and then compost them.

If you don't care whether they are organic or not you can get cloth napkins super cheap. Check Crate and Barrel Outlet, Pier1 sales, and second hand stores...you can find some really pretty vintage napkins with embroidery at some places. 

For cheap organic click: http://www.reusablebags.com/store/litter-free-lunch-reusable-organic-cotton-napkins-p-1675.html

ariel06

If you sew, filminthefridge has an easy cloth napkin tutorial.  I think she did all the napkins for her wedding. 

ArcticFox

I use regular paper napkins.  I lot of brands now have recycled stuff.  I forget which brand but they are really pushing their new recycled paper napkins.

pattymctatty

There's just two of us and we have plenty of napkins... At BBB, you can get a 12 pack of plain napkins for $5. Plus, napkins are fairly cheap, so there's plenty of cute options out there too!

b55c

i know the whole idea of going green is to do it all the time but when i think about bigger parties like that, i cringe!  for the last large gathering i had, we used the 'greener version' of paper napkins and corn based utensils that will decompose.  oh-and solo cups that were recyclable. 

pixieprincss

We can handle all "real" stuff for up to 25, but after that we have to go to disposables. Just choose unbleached, recycled paper and compost if possible.

SuperGreen

pattymctatty:

There's just two of us and we have plenty of napkins... At BBB, you can get a 12 pack of plain napkins for $5. Plus, napkins are fairly cheap, so there's plenty of cute options out there too!

This is what we do too.  I have a ton of napkins for just the two of us, if they were all clean at once I have probably 20+.  If I had to host a large party I would pick up more cheap cloth napkins rather than going to disposable.

Even recycled paper napkins take a lot of energy to repurpose all that paper pulp, form it back into napkins, and ship it all over the country.  A $10 investment in cloth napkins at BB&B would eliminate all of that, and you'd never have to buy disposable napkins again.  They're not cheap here!

young~love

My hubby and I have switched to cloth napkins and we stocked up at ikea. You can get them for a great deal. And when you are not using them for big events just store them in a bin.

Lady*Timot

I went one summer and bought all kinds of mismatched cloth napkins at garage sales.  I prob have 25 or so...we host often and I've never run out of anything.  I don't have more then 4 that match..haha