Tea Towels as Napkins?

[AlmostChristmas2019]

I wasn't sure whether this would be better in Housekeeping or Home Decoration - hope I made the right call!

Main question in bold, because this got long for such a minor question

While looking for cloth napkins for Christmas, I came across a hand full of articles and reviews that suggested using tea towels as cloth napkins.

In theory I like the idea and was also going to stock up tea towels, so this would be very convenient. In practice, I am not sure I'd be all that thrilled to use them when I'm hosting. Tea towels are bigger, a different size, and slightly thicker than cloth napkins in my experience. For everyday use I wouldn't mind that but I think I would feel weird to use tea towels as napkins for dinner parties or when we have friends over that aren't thaaaat close to us. Thus far, we have worked our way through the remaining piles of paper napkins but I really don't want to buy another pack.

So I guess my question is, would you mind being given a tea towel as a napkin? I have attached a picture as an example of the kind of towel I think could work for this.

I think I'd be briefly puzzled and then not think about it again but would like other people's opinions on this.

(As to not drip feed, we already have wee flannel squares for everyday use, as I don't like the idea of keeping a big napkin around for several days to accumulate stains and dirt before I wash them. I know that in theory that is okay to do, I am just not comfortable with it. I am explicitly looking for cloth napkins for "nicer" dinners with friends)

No - that is just weird!

We used tea towels for the DCs when they were small, but past the bib stage, but not for adults! They are just too big. I would feel that someone thought I was a really messy eater if I was given a tea towel instead of a napkin!

Could you cut them in half so they make two squares and then hem the cut edges? That way you would get the look you're after without the 'teatowel-ness' IYSWIM.

Apparently that is "the" ikea hack, @SilveryMountainStream - to cut and sew tea towels to the size of cloth napkins. So you're not wrong

I was orgionally going to add "or vice versa" to the title but thought the question is already weird enough. My thought was, why not buy nice cloth napkins and then also use them as tea towels.

Either way, do you think the shape would make much of a difference?

I don't know - it might just be an idea I need to warm up to. Right now I am with @Seeline in finding it a little weird.

Tea towels (even modified) are too casual for a “nicer” dinner.

You’d probably want to soak dinner napkins overnight before you washed them.

A polite guest wouldn’t voice a negative opinion about your napkins.

Yes, it would look weird and as if you didn't know the difference. I wouldn't say anything of course but if the hostess handed me a teatowel I would wonder if she was expecting me to dry dishes before the meal. Buy some nice cotton or linen ones and cut them into squares, not towelly type, or just buy fabric and sew them.

I think you'd need to make them square or they would be a bit odd.

I don't think the thickness is an issue. You might be able to get away with a good shake rather than ironing them. I'd be inclined to stick with real ones for guests though, and they'd probably need ironing which reduces any environmental benefit.

I'm all for minimising but I wouldn't use anything that is used on people (napkins, flannels, towels etc) to dry a roasting pan. It just doesn't seem hygienic.

I'd have more of an issue with you using the same item as both a tea towel and a napkin, and if you're getting two lots then you might as well get the right thing.

But I also have a colour coded system of cleaning cloths so I might just be a bit mad.

A linen tea towel with a nice pattern might just work. A waffle tea towel or one that says 'glass cloth' won't.

In a way I am glad I am not the only one who finds the idea a little strange

Now I am just left to wonder who started the whole tea-towel-as-napking thing

Thanks ladies!