Ditch the Disposables

So I have read about the Ditch the Disposables challenge on various blogs that I visit (Heather and Monique), and went back to the source and read about it on Crunchy Domestic Goddess's blog too. I've read it, and each time thought that there wasn't really much I could do. I use reusable bags here, and most everything else is sort of out of my control...or would be too weirding out to do (like using wash cloths for the bathroom). So I figured I'd opt out of the challenge this time, because there wasn't really anything I could do, but I'd keep it in mind, and try and reconsider when we're back to living on our own.

But, with all this milling around in my head today, Janardan asked me in the morning for a napkin. He is always wanting napkins when he's eating his breakfast, and I don't like to give him a napkin every morning, because he doesn't want one. So we were keeping a stack in our bedroom, but naturally it got low, so now there are no napkins. But with all this challenge business in the background of my thoughts - it all came together in a culminating aha moment. 

I could ditch the disposable napkins!

So I went hunting around the room for a good fabric that would make good napkins. I really wasn't thinking too well, now that I think of it, because I totally skipped over my fabric drawers...and just checked where I have some project fabric in the closet. But perhaps this morning it was fortuitous, because I ended up remembering that just outside of our door is a box of Janardan's old T-shirts. I grabbed four off of the top of the stack and asked him which one I could cut up. So I cut one up and gave it to him, while I proceeded to cut the rest of it, and sew the edges down into nice hemmed sides...to very uneven napkins, but hey - it's better than rolly edges. 

I cut up a second t-shirt later tonight, and made 4 more napkins. So I too am trying to do my part to ditch the disposables! And here below is the beginning fruits of my labors (with two others already in the laundry basket from use!)