Most homeowners have a drawer in their kitchen stuffed to the brim with tea towels of different shapes, sizes, and patterns. There's a good reason why: When your kid leaves a few (too many) stray crumbs on the counter or you're in search for last-minute dining room décor, these do-it-all kitchen cloths come in handy to wipe up any spills, dry dishes, and add a touch of elegance to your dining room table.
Okay, but exactly is a tea towel?
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a tea towel as "a cloth for drying dishes." Often made of linen, cloth, or a combination of the two, tea towels date back to England in the 18th century, when they were used to insulate tea pots at tea ceremonies (hence the name), dry fine china, and cover baked goods. During this time, people also used tea towels to practice embroidery, often gifting friends and family tea towels stitched with flowers, initials, or other designs. As the times changed, so have tea towels: By the 19th and 20th centuries, most tea towels were reportedly made with striped or checked cloth for a more decorative touch.
What's the difference between a tea towel and a dish towel?
Call 'em tea towels, call 'em dish towels: The only time that you shouldn't use the names interchangeably is when you're using a towel made of terry cloth. By definition, tea towels are only made of linen or cotton, whereas dish towels can also be made of terry cloth. Both types of towels, however, are roughly the size of a hand towel, ranging from 16″ x 28″ to 18″ x 30″.
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Even though tea towels aren't quite as absorbent as other options (paper towels or terry cloth, especially), they have several purposes beyond the kitchen. When you're not using tea towels as way to protect your countertops from hot pots, dry leafy greens, or line cabinet shelves, they can be used to dress up your home or as a substitute for traditional gift wrap.
Unique Ways to Use Tea Towels
Napkin or Placemat
If you're hosting a holiday or dinner party, personalize your tablescape by using a mix of different tea towels. Choose cloths in similar color palettes with small, repeated patterns. When setting the table, flatten each towel and use it as a napkin, or fold it in half and sew around the edges for a DIY placemat.
Candle Holder
When gifting a pillar candle, don't just stick it in another boring gift bag. Take a bold printed tea towel and fold it in half, then in half again, to equal the candle's height. Wrap the towel around the candle, secure it with a satin ribbon, and dress it up with an long-stemmed match. Just remind the recipients to remove the tea towel before they light their new candle.
Bread Bundle
For a last-minute hostess gift, cut a baguette in half and wrap it in a towel. Attach a jar of your favorite jam for extra sweetness. But really you can wrap up just about anything — chocolates, flowers, you name it — in a tea towel to add a homemade touch (or if you run out of wrapping paper).
Pillow
It's easy to turn a patterned tea towel into a customized pillow. To make, simply fold the towel in half lengthwise, keeping the crease at the top. Sew two of the towel's open sides shut at the edges, then stuff with batting or a pre-made insert. Sew the towel's remaining open side shut to finish it off.
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.
