Placemats, tea towels & aprons

Choosing tea towels

Good tea towels dry glasses without leaving lint, and soften with every wash. Cotton and linen are the most absorbent, and a flat or herringbone weave dries better than a thick, fluffy one. Organic cotton avoids synthetic pesticides in the growing. MadeKind sells organic cotton striped tea towels in charcoal grey and sage green, singly and in sets of two, and Wild & Stone makes organic cotton herringbone weave towels in a set of two. So Just Shop sells dotted line towels in yellow and navy and a pink floral block print tea towel. We checked each brand for how its linen is made and what it is made from.

Fabric placemats and cotton placemats

Fabric placemats protect the table and add colour without a full tablecloth. Tikauo makes cotton placemats in sets of two, hand-printed in its Bahar, Gulzar, Firdos, Shalimar and Alia floral designs, from recycled cotton and handmade in India. So Just Shop sells recycled sari placemats in a set of four, round jute place mats and palm leaf place mats. Wild & Stone makes organic cotton herringbone napkins in a set of four.

Cotton aprons

Cotton aprons keep flour and splashes off your clothes and wash easily. Tikauo makes floral cotton aprons in its Shalimar, Bahar and Firdos prints, and So Just Shop sells the On Board and Sewing is Believing aprons. Choose an apron with a long neck strap you can adjust and a pocket for a cloth. Eco Green Living also sells certified compostable disposable aprons in packs of 50 for professional kitchens.

Coasters and caring for kitchen linen

Habulous makes flower stoneware coasters by hand, Sop makes a hand-thrown ceramic coaster, Bouclé sells a Charlotte Manser coaster, and So Just Shop sells coasters in recycled sari and coconut palm leaf. Wash new towels before first use to remove any finish and boost absorbency. Skip fabric conditioner, which coats the fibres and makes them less absorbent. Air dry hand-printed placemats to protect the colours. Dinnerware has handmade plates and mugs, Cushions & Covers has matching Tikauo prints, Tools & Cloths has dishcloths, and How to bring more hygge into your life has ideas for the table.