Napkins

What a paper napkin is made for

Paper makes up most of our range, and a paper napkin is made for one sitting. It does its job through the meal and is cleared away with the plates, so there is nothing to wash or iron afterwards. Most of ours come in packs of 20, which suits a summer barbecue, an afternoon tea or a family party where spills are part of the fun.

When cotton and fabric napkins suit better

For a dinner party, a Sunday roast or guests at the weekend, fabric napkins dress the table and go back in the drawer for the next occasion. Cotton is among the fabrics we stock, and many of our fabric napkins come in sets of four, so two sets lay a table for eight. One or two carry a hemstitch border or blanket stitch, a small detail that shows when the napkin is folded on a plate. Plenty of homes keep paper and fabric napkins side by side and choose by the meal.

Choosing a napkin size from 25cm to 45cm

Where we list a size, our napkins run from 25cm to 45cm in length and width. The smaller end suits drinks, nibbles and cake, where a napkin needs to sit in one hand or under a glass. The larger end opens out across a lap at dinner, or folds to sit neatly on a dinner plate. If you are buying for a particular table, picture how you will fold the napkin, in half, in quarters or into a triangle, and check that it will suit your side plate once folded.

Multicoloured napkins and Christmas designs

Many of our napkins are multicoloured, an easy way to bring colour to a plain table without changing the plates. For a quieter look, a few come in white, cream or natural, and a few in blue, rose, green or grey.

We also stock Christmas napkins, ready for Christmas dinner, a Boxing Day spread or a plate of mince pies with the neighbours. Save them for December and use the rest of the range for the other eleven months.

Storing paper napkins and caring for cotton ones

Paper napkins keep best flat and dry. Store them in a drawer or cupboard, away from the steam of the kettle and hob and out of strong sunlight. Once a pack is open, put the rest away after the meal rather than leaving them on a damp worktop.

For cotton and other fabric napkins, follow any care guidance on the product page. As a general habit, shake off crumbs once the table is cleared, deal with marks while they are fresh and wash pale colours apart from dark ones. Fold them flat once dry so they are ready for the next meal.

Laying napkins with plates, bowls and cups

A napkin is the easiest part of a place setting to change. Lay it to the left of the forks, on the side plate or folded on the dinner plate itself. For a buffet, roll knife and fork inside a napkin so guests can pick up the lot in one go. At teatime, a paper napkin tucked beside a mug or under a cup and saucer finishes the tray. Napkins are an easy addition to an order of plates or bowls, and we offer free delivery worldwide on all orders over £99.