Tea Linen

The history of Linen dates back many thousands of years. The term Tea Linen is a generalised term used for describing the Linens that are used at teatime. Tea Linens have had a long association with all types of different tea occasions. For example Afternoon Tea, Formal Tea, High Tea and even nowdays, occasions like Bridal Shower Teas.

Traditionally, the tea table would be covered with a white linen cloth, also known as a tea cloth. Cloth napkins were also used after the mid to late 1800's.

Linens were considered family heirlooms and passed down from generation to generation. The life of each piece of Linen was precisely recorded in a Household Journal by servants.
 
Tea Linen pieces that you might use. . .

Milk Jug Cover - A small covering for milk jugs to keep the flies and insects out of the milk. Usually hand crocheted and has small, decorative glass beads around the edges for weights. Sometimes sea-shells were used as weights instead.
Napkin or Tea Napkin - A small piece of Linen or other cloth, usually square in shape, that is used for wiping your fingers or mouth upon at meal times. A Tea Napkin is smaller in size and usually reserved for teatime.
Tablecloth - A large cloth used for covering and protecting tables at meal times.
Tea Cosies or Tea Cozies - A Tea Cosy (or Tea Cozy) is an artistically created cover that has been designed to fit a teapot. Their purpose is to keep your teapot and tea hot. Their history dates back to the mid to late 1800's and they were often lovingly handcrafted. Traditionally, Tea Cosies were knitted, hand embroidered, crocheted or quilted. Tea Cosies today can be any shape size colour or material.
Tea Table Cloth or Tea Cloth - A small cloth that is used for covering your tea table, often decoratively embroidered. The term Tea Cloth is sometimes also used for a cloth that is used for drying dishes.
Tea Towel - Similar to the Tea Cloth, a Tea Towel is a small towel used for drying dishes.
Tray Cloth - A small cloth especially designed to cover and protect your tea tray when serving tea.

White Linen

The most popular Table Linen, up until the early 20th Century, was white and in particular White Damask. Coloured Damask Linens were used in the early 20th Century but were considered for use only at informal luncheons. Formal occasions called for all-white table linens.

Cloth napkins were used prior to the invention of forks

Cloth napkins were used due to necessity, prior to the invention of forks. The cloth napkin was embraced by many countries worldwide, albeit one in particular.

This observation was recorded in a letter sent home by a Frenchman visiting America in 1782;
"The table is covered with a very generous cloth which overlaps the table and also serves the purpose of being a napkin. Each person seated at the table uses the extra large overhang of tablecloth in front of himself. Laundry day, I'm afraid, also isn't very often."