Think Table Linens

Any meal, whether a casual get together or a formal dinner party, can be given an extra special touch with the right tablecloth. Many people love to set a formal table, as there are so few chances to show off your elegant tableware. The elegance of your place settings can be further enhanced with the use of the perfect tablecloth.

Making your own table linens was the norm in years gone by. These homemade tablecloths and napkins would be carefully embroidered with a host of designs, including fruits, flowers, and others. Some people would embellish their runners, tablecloths, and napkins with a cross stitch pattern. These days people are more likely to make their own unique table linens using fabric paints.

Table linens these days are most often purchased, often in sets which include napkins and napkin rings, tablecloths, and runners. Some even include dollies and table pads.

There should be at least 15 inches of tablecloth hanging off the table for a formal tablecloth. If you are using one tablecloth it should match the shape of the table. Some people like to use more than one tablecloth in contrasting colors to add elegance to the table. In this case it may be fun to place a square tablecloth over a round one.

Placemats are becoming more popular than ever these days. You can find them in a great variety of materials, shapes, and sizes. You can find placemats that work well for both casual and formal dining occasions.

In days past it was very popular to use dollies under drinking glasses when entertaining. This is no longer a common custom.

There are standard sizes of napkins for various occasions. Napkins for cocktail parties are usually six inches, those used for luncheons are typically 20 inches, while formal dinner napkins are usually 24 inches. Napkins can either be in the same color and pattern as the tablecloth or a combination of complimentary colors. Napkins are also useful for lining bread baskets and other decorative functions.

Decorations are often placed on top of runners down the middle of the table. Runners are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, although they are most commonly long rectangles that can run the entire length of the table.

You can help protect your table from spills and other damage with the use of a table pad. While there use is not as popular these days, they can really help your table have a long and beautiful life.

Table liners are made from a variety of fabrics, including cotton, damask, chintz, polycotton, and calico. Choose the colors, patterns, and materials that are the best match for your home and your style.

–  History of printed table linens

Printed table linens seem to have appealed to women throughout the ages. While fine damasks and laces where once all the rage, these days the focus for many is on the print table linen. This article chronicles the rise in popularity of the printed table linen through the decades.

Printed Table Linen History
While the printed table linen was a definite staple in the 1940s and 1950s, no one could have forecast its amazing comeback in popularity. While it was definitely enjoyed in its heyday, its newfound acceptance is a surprise.

There is a great demand for all sorts of the bold patterns of the past, including tropical prints, bold geometric patterns, cartoon figures, and many types of fruits and flowers. These textiles from the past are making quite a stir in today’s marketplace. They are especially hunted by modern day collectors. One idea for their newfound popularity is that they bring back memories of a happier time for many in our country and our families.

Fashions always change as time goes by. Just as with clothes and shoes, fashions for table linens change as well. You will be able to get fairly accurate dates for the pieces in your collection if you study the history of printed table linens. Some people enjoy the challenge of assembling pieces through different decades over the span of more than a hundred years of table linen production.

Your collection could include samples of the best from each decade, such Turkey Red Victorian fringed damask from the 1890s and fun space age geometric shaped table linens from the 1950s.