Linen Napkins – Thin Black Stripes – Set of 2

Thin Black Stripes Linen Napkins by Linen Tales

The Thin Black Stripes linen napkins by Linen Tales are a pair of striped fabric napkins made from pure European linen, woven in Lithuania and stone-washed for softness. Fine black lines run at regular intervals across an off-white background.

Thin Black Stripes linen napkins are a pair of fabric napkins from Linen Tales in Vilnius, each measuring 40 by 40 centimeters and tied in a set of two with kitchen twine. When serving fish, they sit next to the cutlery, under the shellfish, and finally, over the finger bowl.

Narrow lines on off-white

The base has a slight cream tone, with black lines running across it so narrow that they appear as texture from two steps away. Only when held in the hand does the pattern resolve into individual stripes that give the fabric its order. On a zinc table, alongside simple white tableware and a glass of Muscadet, it creates the image of a seaside bistro. A pattern that hasn't gone out of style for a hundred years saves you the trouble of deciding.

Friday fish dinners and the hands thereafter

Mussels, crabs, and sole are meant to be eaten with your fingers, and afterwards, you need more than just a slice of lemon. A piece of linen absorbs fish broth, butter, and lemon juice without falling apart during use and smells neutral again after a wash. Placed over a warm finger bowl, it also transfers warmth to cold hands. The place setting remains tidy because the narrow lines easily hide small splashes of broth and butter.

The hem allows the stripes to run to the edge

Because the mitered hem is folded at the corners, the border remains slim and the striped pattern continues uninterrupted to the edge. A thick folded corner would distort the lines, but here the spacing remains uniform across the entire surface. Each of these four corners is sewn individually by hand at the workshop in Vilnius. As a result, the napkin lies perfectly flat on the plate, displaying its stripes without any distortion.

Stone-washed so the lines stay straight

Before being cut, each length of fabric at Linen Tales goes through a stone wash, which breaks down the fiber and softens the material. Because the fabric undergoes most of its shrinkage during this process, the stripes do not distort during later use. Their spacing remains uniform over many wash cycles, and the light background retains its composure. The pre-wash produces linen that drapes softly from the very first time it is laid out.

Wash at 40 degrees, without any bleach

Wash the linen napkins on a gentle cycle at 40 degrees and use a mild detergent without bleach, as bleach attacks the black lines and will cause them to turn gray over time. Spin at a maximum of 600 RPM and then air-dry the fabric, hung up rather than folded. Avoid fabric softener, as it leaves a film on the fiber and reduces its absorbency. Iron on the reverse side while the fabric is still damp; this will keep the lines crisp.

Thin Black Stripes Linen Napkins – Materials and Dimensions

• Origin – woven and sewn in Lithuania
• Material – 100% linen, EUROPEAN FLAX certified
• Certification – Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX
• Size – 40 x 40 cm per napkin
• Fabric weight – 215 g/m²
• Finish – mitered hem on all four corners
• Contents – set of 2, tied with kitchen twine
• Color – Thin Black Stripes, fine black stripes
• Care – machine wash at 40°C, no fabric softener

The light-colored base may vary slightly from batch to batch, as linen is a natural raw material that is never dyed perfectly uniformly, and each bolt of fabric has its own specific tone. We also carry the same pattern as a tea towel by Linen Tales, allowing you to coordinate your table and kitchen.