Most kitchen linens are afterthoughts - functional necessities grabbed in bulk, forgotten until they're stained or tattered beyond saving. But here, 30 miles out to sea at our Main Street studio, Master Weaver Becky Peraner has been perfecting the craft surrounding this stalwart kitchen accessory for decades. With the rhythmic "clack-clack-clack" heartbeat of a working loom, Becky transforms a simple kitchen cloth into a living piece of Nantucket's textile history.
Small-Batch Quality in a Mass-Produced World
"Most people don't realize what goes into making these," Becky says as her fingers dance across the cloth with the relaxed grace of a seasoned professional. "Each signature cotton weave towel takes about 40 minutes just on the loom. Then there's the washing, the pressing..."
It's this devoted time and energy that transforms our kitchen towels into one-of-a-kind items meant to be lived with and treasured as they soften, wear, and take on a character all their own. Our customers don't just seek out our quality items; they invest in them knowing that true artistry is worth preserving.
The Island Collection: Textures That Tell Stories
Our bestselling handwoven kitchen towels still catch both crumbs and compliments in equal measure thanks to their distinctive pebble weave threads. Made from pure cotton, they absorb better than synthetic blends and leave glassware pristine. Slightly thicker than your standard kitchen towel, they're perfect for handling hot pots or covering rising dough, balancing function with tradition.
"Cleaning up after cooking is never the fun part of making a homemade meal, but these soft, thick, and beautiful handwoven kitchen towels manage to make drying dishes seem like a luxurious pastime," says New England chef Sarah Leah Chase. "Dish towels are not known to improve with use and age, but these get more plush with each washing and are woven in a tasteful array of colors, enhancing the look of your kitchen with unique Nantucket style even when not in use."
Over the years, we've expanded our kitchen textile collection to reflect different aspects of island life. Our Whimsy Striped Handwoven Kitchen Towel reflects the breezy hues of blues and soft whites that are synonymous with Nantucket's classic color palettes.
A quiet nod to Nantucket's coastal landscape, our Ivory & Seagrass Handwoven Kitchen Towel pairs soft ivory with muted green, echoing sun-bleached dunes and the gentle sway of seagrass in the breeze. Its subtle texture and refined palette bring effortless charm to the everyday. Durable yet delicate in feel, it's as practical as it is artful - perfect for drying glassware, lining bread baskets, or simply brightening the kitchen with a touch of island calm.
For the minimalist kitchen, our Cedar Gray Handwoven Kitchen Towel provides texture and absorbency while capturing the quiet elegance of coastal living. The soft grid-like texture and sun-washed hues evoke the weathered beauty of Nantucket's shingled cottages, lending your kitchen a sense of warmth, heritage, and understated grace - an essential for the serious cook who values utility as much as simplicity.
Beyond the Basics: The Versatile Kitchen Essential
"You wouldn't believe the stories we hear," says our retail manager, Thayer, as she carefully arranges a new display of kitchen linens in our sun filtered Main Street storefront. "One customer uses them exclusively for wrapping her homemade bread as gifts. Another swears they're the perfect tagalong for a farmer's market visit."
Our customers discover new uses regularly:
- Impromptu napkins
- Wrapping floral arrangements to keep stems moist
- A wrap for bringing home fragile souvenirs
Come across a new way to use your kitchen essentials? We'd love to hear from you! @nantucketlooms
The Heritage of Handcraft
The slight variations in the fabric, the occasional ripple in the weave - these aren't flaws. They're the unmistakable marks of human hands woven uniquely into every piece. "What we're preserving here isn't just a technique," says Becky. "It's an art form - one that is quietly disappearing, and one we're determined to keep alive. When you understand the work that goes into each piece, how they've been crafted, and the tradition behind every stitch, its value deepens into something that's more than just fabric."
Care and Keeping: A Relationship, not a Transaction
The beauty of natural fibers is their resilience. Our cotton towels actually improve with washing, becoming softer and more absorbent with use. Yet we still get panicked calls: "I spilled red wine on my Nantucket towel!"
Our advice is always the same: wash it. Use it. Let it age gracefully. These aren't precious objects meant for display; they're working pieces designed to serve and develop character along the way.
For the best results, we recommend:
- Machine washing in cool water
- Skipping fabric softener (it reduces absorbency)
- Tumble drying on low
- Embracing the natural texture - these aren't meant to be perfectly smooth
In a world where most things are made to be disposable, our kitchen textiles stand out as items that don't just endure; they uniquely evolve with you and your own experiences. "My grandmother gave me my first set when I moved to my own apartment," a customer recently shared. "A few years of hard use later, and they're still the first thing I reach for."
Like the island itself, our textiles weather beautifully, telling your story through subtle shifts in texture and tone. One touch, and you'll understand. These are quality pieces meant to be used, not just admired - and that's something to raise a freshly dried glass to.
