Serviettes (also known as "napkins") with a buttonhole in one corner — a low-cost way to reduce the risks of damaging or messing up your clothes with food spills. And as I become sloppier with age, things like these continue to grow in value.
I first saw these on an airplane to Australia a number of years ago, and thought they were a terrific idea — just button the serviette onto a shirt button, and (if the serviette is large enough) you have great protection for your shirt and lap.
I looked in several stores for serviettes with buttonholes in them, but could not find any for sale. So I had to read through the instructions for Ms. Eclectic's sewing machine and figure out how to put buttonholes in one corner of each of our serviettes. We now have at least three sets of four (each).
If you come to dine with us, wear a shirt with buttons up the front. Don't wear a turtleneck if you want to have the benefits of the buttonholes in our serviettes.