Going Green Napkins

With the dreary winter we have had, it does some good to focus on something green! ☺

I made these eco friendly paper towels back in June, but didn't want to post about them until they have been put to the test of everyday use.  They were very simple to make.  I cut some 8in x 8in squares out of scrap flannel that I had left over from cloth diapers I made forever ago (Don't you love when those fabric prints come back around into something new and different!).  Pre-shrink your fabric before cutting your squares though, so they stay the right size.  I have a serger, so I just did an overlock stitch around the outside edges.  I suppose you could cut a bigger square and hem the edges, or possibly just trim them with pinking shears and have a little fraying going on.  Overall, it was very easy to make quite a few of them in a short amount of time.

Now, the answer to the question...How did they hold up to the abuse of a family actually using them?...Great!
I thought these things would look so nasty in about a month, but to my surprise, they remained clean and just slightly pilled.  This picture is after 8 months of use.

This is what we do with ours.  We keep the clean ones in a regular napkin holder.  I hung a plastic bin, that I found at Hobby Lobby, on the kitchen cabinet in front of the sink to put them into after use. When it gets full, I just throw them in the wash with a load of towels.
Making this change couldn't have been easier, and it has cut our paper towel use down considerably.  We love the feel of the soft flannel so much better too.  It's better for the earth and the pocketbook!
Give them a try.  You'll be glad you did! :)