A Goose Eye is a pattern of concentric diamonds, different from a Bird's Eye only in scale. These eight-end twill napkins are woven with a straight draw border on all four sides and are based on a fragment of linen woven in the 15th century now owned by the Victoria & Albert Museum. The eight-end weave structure allows the yarn to pack in densely creating a luxuriously heavy, smooth fabric.
 
I prefer to make large napkins; open them full size for formal occasions, or fold them up for everyday use. Woven of a creamy bleached white singles linen yarn, they will gently soften through use, a testament to the many meals they've witnessed. Linen has a uniquely elegant versitility, beautiful when line dried with casual wrinkles, or ironed to bring a high gloss to the Goose Eye pattern. A well made linen napkin is an investment that will serve dutifully on the table for decades. 
 
*Diaper was originally the name for a family of linen fabrics woven with an all-over geometric pattern that was popular for table and kitchen linens as well as drapery and clothing. The name entered Middle English from the Old French "diaspre," and was in use by the 15th century. When these textiles were worn out they were reused for baby clouts or napkins, (hence the British "nappy,") and in the United States eventually the fabric name stuck to that child-rearing essential. Don't be ashamed to cover your table with beautiful, absorbent linen diaper.