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All Set with Cotton
There’s no better way to toast nature’s bounty than with nature’s own fabric! Bring these inspired cotton ideas to your Thanksgiving table for an abundance of holiday charm.
Set the Scene
A leaf or scroll-patterned damask tablecloth in a rich autumn hue offers understated elegance without any effort on your part. If you’ve got a more basic tablecloth—and you’re feeling creative—try enhancing it with one of these festive solutions:
- • Choose a cotton runner in a contrasting color and place a permanent pen at each table setting. Before serving the food, ask guests to write what they’re thankful for on the runner. You’ll create a keepsake that you can use year after year, when future guests can add more thanks—and memories—at Thanksgiving meals to come.
- • Attach real (pressed) or artificial foliage to the surface of your tablecloth using double-sided tape. “Scatter” leaves in a random pattern or arrange in an artful design. Top it all off with a sheer cotton cloth, such as organdy.
The Name Game
Give each guest a seat of honor—and more—with place cards that serve double-duty as:
- • Drink Tags – Write guests’ names on individual tags and tie to the stems of wine goblets with luxurious velvet or earthy twill ribbon. When the main meal is over, guests can take their glasses and put them down again without worries of a mix-up.
- • Entertainment – If your holiday includes a kids’ table, head to your local crafts store or look online for ready-to-customize canvas placemats. Label individual mats using fabric marker and set one at every child’s place. Put a basket of fabric markers in the center of the table and encourage little artists to personalize their placemats while dinner is cooking.
- • Party Favors – Fill sheer cotton sachet bags with potpourri in the scents of the season (think cloves, cranberry, apples and cinnamon) and attach nametags to each. Not only will guests easily find their place, the aroma will enhance the atmosphere at the table.
Fabulous Folds
Crisp, classic and easy to wash, it’s no wonder 100% cotton napkins are the top
choice of the world’s finest restaurants and caterers. Take another hint from the
pros and try one of these surprisingly simple five-star napkin-folding techniques:
- • Angel Fold: Iron napkin flat and fold into quarters. Lay the remaining square diagonally with the folded center side on top. Fold two pleats on either side, leaving about 4” of space at the top center for the angel head. Slip a napkin ring over the top portion and fan the bottom portion of the napkin outwards, like an angel’s wings.
- • Roll-Up: Iron napkin flat and fold into quarters. Lay the remaining square diagonally with the folded center side on top. Roll each side two times towards the center. Secure with napkin ring or a beaded elastic bracelet. Place on the table with the smooth side up, folded side down.
Under-Cover Style
In your hurry to dress up the table it’s easy to forget about the chairs. Whatever your party tone, set a more memorable scene with one of these savvy suggestions:
- • Formal Feast: Cover dining room chairs or folding chairs with sophisticated slip covers made from washable cotton damask, twill, duck and more. Look for a neutral color that you can use for entertaining all year ‘round.
- • Casually Cozy: If you’re going for a more rustic, farmhouse feel, consider draping open quilts over chair backs on either side of the table. Alternatively, you can fold chenille or flannel lap blankets over the backs of every other chair, or only on the chairs at the head and foot of the table—don’t worry about matching, just have fun!
