From paper to fabric

Tissues and Napkins

I am just a beginner in terms of the zero waste management. That´s why I am going to start very slow:

A very easy step are Paper tissues and napkins.

During the last never-ending German winter, the consumption of paper tissues rose up to an immeasurable amount, including the little plastic surrounding around every ten tissues. Since outdoor activities were cut down to the minimum anyways, I had plenty of time for my next project. I simply took an old bed sheet and cut it into equal squares. I sewed up the edges, and that was basically it. Now I never have to buy a single tissue again. When the tissues are used, I simply throw them in the washing machine and then I have fresh ones again.

Since the weather finally decided to lit up again, it didn´t take us long to start off with the barbecue season. To an evening on our beautiful roof terrace some guest brought paper napkins with them. The napkins turned out more than necessary, but I couldn´t offer any alternatives to the paper ones.
But that will not happen again ;-)

Since the optical demands are somewhat higher with napkins placed on the table, then with tissues that are hidden in the pocket, this time I didn´t use old fabric rests. I bought new and beautiful fabric from an organic fabric delivery. Also with the sewing I made a bigger effort this time. With a nice `envelope corner´ the edges are hidden in the hem.

Now it is time for a barbecue again…

UPDATE 09.Mar.2014

Thinking about how far I have come until now, It is very unlikely that I would buy new fabric for a job like that again. Thinking of all the money I spend on the organic fabric, the energy that was needed to send it to me and the packaging it was wrapped in. There is always a creative way to get old a suitable fabric I guess. But sometimes it requires a little bit of patience.

Also for traveling these tissues and napkins are very useful. Especially in places where the food is so spicy that I brings tears to your eyes or you eat a lot of street food, you don´t have to rely on all the paper towels, they want to give you.