Tablecloths - does anyone still use them?

[NorthernLiner]

I have a thing about tablecloths (see also tea towels).
I just counted the ones in the sideboard and there's 16, which does not include
the Christmas ones, which are upstairs in the linen cupboard.

Do you have a tablecloth on your dining table?

Yes I have an oil cloth tablecloth that matches my curtain and cushion fabric. I have a plastic wipeable one for when my grandkids want to do crafts, a birthday tea one and a Christmas one. I did donate some lovely embroidered ones that I never used a few years ago. I have a very old table that has seen a lot of wear and I keep thinking I should replace it but it’s the perfect size and expands so easily when we need extra space that I just keep the scuffed surface covered and it’s perfect.

Only on special occasions. I have a few runners though. I use placemats every day and for Christmas crochet these (set of four) plus a runner.

Yes, and if anyone has recommendations for nice ones I'm here for them!

Only at Christmas

Only use a table cloth at Christmas

They are still very commonly used in Portuguese and Spanish homes. I only use cloth ones for special occasions. I have a John Lewis oil cloth one outside and sometimes inside.

I’m too lazy to be washing and ironing tablecloths but a white damask or fine linen tablecloth does look lovely, - and shows every tiny mark and stain.

No! I was born in the 70s, and definitely remember them on the table as a child. And when my parents died recently, I threw out loads that I remembered, particularly the Christmas ones. But I haven’t seen a tablecloth in use in a home for decades. We do have a couple of long runners for Christmas which I had made.

I love setting the table ! We only eat supper or dinner in the dining room though (or lunch if we have guests). We have a long table which has at least one tablecloth, often two ( one rectangle, circular one on top) place mats, coasters , napkins, four candlesticks with candles every night except very high summer, vase with flowers. And quite often extras….little brass and enamel frogs,tiny fish vases, pebbles, shells, glass fruit. I set it once a week and it lasts all week.

So I have quite a few tablecloths, but nearly all non iron fabric, glass mats , leather mats, some very useful Morris quilted one which show no mark and numerous sets of napkins ( and rings).

And I hate going to restaurants which don’t have cloths, they are so noisy.

Yes! Especially if we have people over for dinner as they can be real messy eaters and we can't afford for our table to stain

Why yes I do. And place mats. Maybe a 'runner' in the centre if i'm feeling proper fancy.

Yes, I do. I have polyester-cotton tablecloths in a variety of patterns and we often use matching serviettes. My grandmothers, who died many years ago, each embroidered a tablecloth when I got engaged. I have an occasional table in the living room and put the cloths on this with ornaments on. I alternate them according to the season. At present I have my paternal grandmother's cloth on it as it has a pattern of hyacinths. The other one is edged with lace and has more summery flowers. They are so beautiful and every stitch had so much love in it that I am proud to display them. In the same way, I have two shawls that were knitted by my maternal grandmother for my babies - who are now long grown up. I have two child size chairs on either side of my bedroom with a shawl on each. On one chair l have my childhood teddy bear and koala with a couple of other soft toys. On the other l have my daughter's doll with some of her baby clothes (l don't have many).

No, I have a nice natural wood table and a tablecloth is just extra laundry, unnecessary expense and impact on the environment.

Did you make these?!
Very festive 👌

I find nice everyday tablecloth at TKMaxx. They often have Ralph Lauren ones which are well priced and don’t need ironing.

I have bought beautiful Irish Linen white damask table clothes on etsy. The older generation has barely used them and saved them for “best.” The prices are so low that I feel guilty!

Yes, always. Our kitchen table is very old and rather scruffy! I have two gorgeous Society of Wanderers linen tablecloths which I tend to rotate along with a couple of cheaper ones picked up from a market in Italy. Love a nice tablecloth and keep an eye out for interesting ones whenever we go away.

I do!
I am from another country, where it's still the norm using one. I find it practical as you only need to give it a shake and then reuse it for the next meal vs having to hoover crumbles and wipe the table. Also, it protect the table underneath.

I have some for everyday use and a good one for when we have dinner parties. I hate the plastic ones and would never put one on.

This said, we eat a lot at the breakfast table and use nothing!

I use them occasionally. I have my grandmother’s hand made lace table cloths, which she embroidered, as well as the table cloths thst my mum embroidered. They are so beautiful thst I worry about spilling things on them.

Yes, every day and big cloth napkins too. I have a huge quantity of white damask ones from when I was a child - my mother ran a B&B. They get changed about once a week.
We use napkin rings so we know that any grubby marks on the napkins are strictly our own 😁.
I use cotton seersucker ones on the garden table - stops the cutlery disappearing though the slats of the table!

There's dyspraxia in the family.
A wipe-clean tablecloth is a god-send.

I always have a tablecloth on dining room table.

I love them-some gorgeous ones from here- I have a few of these-
https://www.ibbidirect.co.uk/collections/tablecloths-runners

I also love cloth napkins, tea towels and aprons.
Bloody hell I sound old 😂

I do! Can’t resist H&M’s tablecloths and always put one on when we all sit down and eat as a family. I never worry about stains (a squib of vanish does the trick) and I never iron. Rustic wrinkled linen/cotton is fine.

Yep - oilcloth for day to day, and white linen (with matching napkins) for 'fancy'.

I have themed table runners, too, so red for Christmas, tartan for Burns' Suppers etc. So bougie. 😄

No, only Christmas. I've got a beautiful new dining table so why would I want it covered? We use placemats daily.

Only at Christmas

Yes, every day. Beautiful white damask and huge dinner napkins. Mostly inherited but a few from charity shops. Even with DH in hospital I set the table. I feel civilised doing it!