I started making our napkins 20 years ago when our 3-year-old son went through so many paper napkins. Originally I cut up linen tablecloths I found at garage sales and hemmed them, but changed from that to terry-cloth washcloths a few years later. I still have some that I made 15 years ago, I use these as rags for cleaning now. The secret to making them last is to purchase inexpensive ones you can get in a bundle of 12 at Walmart. They are plenty thick enough, but not so thick that a crochet needle will not go through the edge. I do a simple stitch around each one. I prefer a scrol??? stitch.........I am not familiar with crocheting terms as I just made this one up myself. You can find edging stitches on YouTube, demonstrated very well by many generous people. I have given these as baby-shower gifts and to family members to use as dishcloths, napkins and washcloths. Each member of my family has their own color, so it is easy to sort the laundry. I have autum colored ones for Thanksgiving, and so on for each holiday. It is easy to do when I am sitting down to help with homework or traveling or waiting at the doctor's office, etc. I even do this when I am substitute teaching! They last forever, it seems. I got the idea from my husband's grandma, as this is what she did to make them last during the depression.
