Please Set the Table!

Every night before dinner, we are forever reminding our kids to "Please set the table!" It's the perfect chore for them. And besides, I do so much table setting at work that I'm happy to leave that task to them at home.

I've been setting the tables at T-Party for just about 4-1/2 years now. And surprisingly, I never seem to tire of it. To me, it's kind of like playing house; deciding what dishes should go where, choosing matching napkins, making everything look all pretty. It's strangely satisfying.

Here are the tables I set at T-Party today . . .

All of our dishes are vintage tea and toast sets. The plates have an indent for the cup so there's no need for a separate saucer. I sewed all of our napkins to match from vintage tablecloths and fabric. Do you remember my Ironing Day post about pressing these napkins every week? I spent my morning before coming in to T-Party today doing just that.

When our children set the table at home, I'm not overly concerned about them doing it the "right" way. As long as it looks neat and orderly, I'm happy. But I found this diagram, below, that I refer to from time to time when I have to set our table for Thanksgiving or larger dinner parties (because I can never remember if the wine or water glass comes first).

1. Napkin
2. Salad fork
3. Dinner fork
4. Dessert fork
5. Bread-and-butter plate, with spreader
6. Dinner plate
7. Dinner knife
8. Teaspoon
9. Teaspoon
10. Soup spoon
11. Cocktail fork
12. Water glass
13. Red-wine glass
14. White-wine glass
15. Coffee cup and saucer

Wow; can you imagine setting your table with all fifteen pieces shown in the drawing? Our dining room table isn't big enough!

Susan

Comments

[Bodil Røsvik]

Nice! I like your napkins. Very good idea making them yourself to match the cups and plates!

[Rosie]

Your place settings are so sweet. I copied and pasted your place setting guide to my grown daughter. She is always asking me at the last minute how to set her table when she has guests. Guess I didn't drill that lesson into her too well!

[dana in KC]

Such beautiful settings!

Thanks for reminding us about the way to set a "proper table" with your diagram. I love to see it done correctly---we learned that a zillion years ago in home ec. classes! I also love special settings done with "a twist"---those are fun.

[charlotte]

cute settings there, and it's always good to know what to put on the table when the Queen stops by. xoC

[Jayne]

Your setting looks lovely - so pretty & inviting!

[tammyCA]

Perfectly lovely! I especially love the colorful vintage napkins. I wish I could come there for tea, but being on the West coast it'd be a long drive. ;)
My sister had her baby shower at a Victorian tea house & it was nice, but I prefer the 40s look you seem to have.
Good lord, I never set the table - I still have two "messy yungins" and it is plastic all the way.