Table Setting — The Monograms

“When the bride-to-be is marking her trousseau linens, it is best form for her to use the initials of her maiden name. However, there is no hard and fast rule for this marking, and she may if she prefers use the initials of the first and last names of her maiden name and the initial letter of the groom's last name.”

Monogramming

The pattern or design of the cloth and napkins and the type, design, and size of the monograms embroidered on them should make a perfect unity.

For table-cloths, the size of the monogram should be from two and one-half to five inches. For dinner napkins from one to two inches. For luncheon and breakfast napkins and doilies, from three-quarters of an inch to an inch and a half.

When the bride-to-be is marking her trousseau linens, it is best form for her to use the initials of her maiden name. However, there is no hard and fast rule for this marking, and she may if she prefers use the initials of the first and last names of her maiden name and the initial letter of the groom's last name.

If an initial is used instead of a monogram it should be the initial of your last name. When only one letter is used, it is usually a block letter-sometimes ornate-since a single letter in script is not very effective-looking.

How to Measure for the Placing of the Monogram

Spread the cloth on the table, place the end of your measuring stick at the corner of the table, and point it in the direction of the corner diagonally opposite. Measure from twelve to fifteen inches, mark this off, and place your monogram there unless it will, in this place, interfere with the design in the damask. In that event, raise it or lower it to make it artistically well-placed. On a table-cloth of two yards square or less usually only one monogram is placed. Larger sizes usually have two monograms diagonally opposite each other. 

Dinner napkins should be marked with a smaller monogram of the same design as that used on the table-cloth. They are now usually embroidered in what is known as the “center of the side.” Fold the napkin into thirds, and again into thirds in the opposite way. On the top of the center square with the selvedge toward you, place the monogram in the approximate center. Tea napkins may be monogrammed with the two or three initials used on the other napkins. In very fine linen ones, cut-out monograms are often used. — From “The American Woman’s Cookbook,” 1951

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