I’ve gone back to tablecloths

I can't imagine starching a cloth, ironing it and then someone knocking a glass of wine over it!

I don't have to imagine it!
Although the tablecloth wasn't starched. The carpet was new as well

Sounds lovely karmalady 😃

I made a lovely tablecloth while lunch was cooking, from pre-washed stash. Lovely colours for spring, pale creamy lime and white leaves and sprays. Soft cotton canvas/twill. It is on the table now, over a white protector. I love it

Just a rectangle with 4 machine-hemmed edges.

In domestic science classes in 1960 we were taught how to starch a tea towel. I can remember thinking what a palaver for a tea towel. At least when I had a damask tablecloth years back there was spray starch.
I can't imagine starching a cloth, ironing it and then someone knocking a glass of wine over it! As Shirley Conran would say. Life is too short...

I got rid of all my white damask tablecloths as they needed so much ironing and looked better starched.

However, we do have a few tablecloths and one used to stay on the dining room table, over a protector, all the time to protect it from the sun, but I've decided to leave it uncovered now except when we're eating.

We never cover the kitchen table, it needs replacing anyway.

I only use tablecloths at Xmas or when guests come. Most of the time we have a lovely solid wooden table that I wax every so often, is nice to see the wood so I wouldn’t cover it ordinarily.

I protect my Ercol table with a cloth. The table, chairs and sideboard are from my parents' house. My Mum's pride and joy since the 60s. On a lesser table I use rush mats. I dont like the sound of clatter on a table.
I used to love the square heavy starched cloths in a nearby French restaurant. Sadly closed now. Thick white napkins and white china. So French.

I do like a nice tablecloth 😃

Lincoln Cathedral currently has the 5,000 year old, 13 metre long “Table for the Nation” on display. A truly amazing creation. They were setting it with table mats ready for some sort of function. I had no idea they actually let people eat off it and made DD laugh when I said “Blimey, I’d have a cloth on that straight away!”

I want to protect my ercol light oak table, so I protect it from the sun and while eating. I think I will make another tablecloth in a pale thick cotton weave, makes the room look nice. Easy to make

I love a nice tablecloth, a good pure ironed cotton or linen.

I cannot stand rubbish, slippery polyester tablecloths

a couple of advertising post appeared earlier, I did report

I bought a linen one from Aldi with lobsters and seashells on it. It is a good large size, I love it. Especially as it was as cheap as chips.

Calendargirl

I’ve never had to ‘go back’ to tablecloths as I’ve never stopped using them.

Also wear a pinny and have chair back and arm covers (antimicassars) on my suite.

I’m not ancient, but realise I must sound like a proper 👵🏻

We are twins! My neighbors call me the apron queen. When the local nursery were having a fundraising afternoon tea, they asked to borrow my aprons. I had some very pretty, maid styles^ ones lurking in a cupboard.
However, as I am extremely careless, I tend to wear ones with a bib.

I have beautiful damask ones, inherited from my mother, We use oil cloth ones daily to protect my lovely table.

I use one every day for our meals especially in the evening inherited this from my mil it always looks nice and homely .

That’s very true Gundy. I recently left a review on Trip Advisor for a small restaurant. I commented that we didn’t like the bare tables which felt quite “clattery”. I assume they don’t want to wash them but a nice fresh tablecloth always looks good.

All the tablecloths I have do not need ironing.

I rotate my dining table look between table runners/placemats, which is more casual - to a full cloth (for various occasions), which is more formal. My four sets of dinnerware are all interchangeable for either presentation.

I love the look of a cloth covered table. To me, I think it elevates your dining experience to a different level. Think of restaurants with or without cloths. I much prefer “white tablecloth SERVICE” when going out for a special occasion, over bare tabletop casual (and sometimes service to match.)

I use tablecloths virtually all the time. I like polyester cotton ones as they are easier to iron and have a number of pretty vintage cloths. We use place mats and coasters, too, l have two beautiful heavier tablecloths that my grandmothers embroidered for me. I put these on an occasional table and have some ornaments on them. One has a pattern of hyacinths and is the winter cloth and the other has a pattern of summer flowers so is used in the summer. It is a lovely, tangible way to remember my grandmothers and their love for me.

I took mine off today because we were using the table for a committee meeting. It looked kind of bare and boring! Maybe there will be a resurgence? 🌠🎆

My paternal GPs had a huge table (when all its leaves were inserted) which requited a tablecloth the size of a tennis court - or so it would seem. Somehow or other, I became heir to the cloth but not the table for which I am duly thankful! My cousin has the table but currently lives across the Atlantic. I'm still hoping that one day she and her husband will re-migrate to England and I'll be able to offload the cloth at last! Other granny did beautiful hand embroidery and I have two of her (much smaller) table cloths to remind me of the days when she tried, in vain, to teach me that skill.

travelsafar

I have a beautiful hand crochet lace tablecloth made by the aunt of someone I know. She had inherited several of these tablecloths and decided to put them into an autumn fair sale so I bought it for 5.00. It's pure white cotton yarn and looks beautiful on my round table with a vase of fresh flowers. I love it.

That’s a bargain. Sounds lovely travelsafar

I always put a tablecloth on my dining table. I have lots, from white damask to Provencal prints and also several hand embroidered ones.
In the kitchen I use place mats to prevent scuffing of the worktop.

I’ve even got one on my garden table and it looks wonderful

I’ve been buying those fancy patterned wipe down tablecloths for a number of years now and they are brilliant, however at Christmas I put a material one I had in the drawer which was nicely ironed on the top and it looked rather nice. No need to change this wipe down one for years on end. Give it a try.

I have a beautiful hand crochet lace tablecloth made by the aunt of someone I know. She had inherited several of these tablecloths and decided to put them into an autumn fair sale so I bought it for 5.00. It's pure white cotton yarn and looks beautiful on my round table with a vase of fresh flowers. I love it.