Flat rectangles call out for creative contents: words on a page, paint on a canvas. So it is that tea towels—those wonderful kitchen workhorses that are simultaneously potholders, cleaning cloths, makeshift placemats, and oven-handle decor—are the perfect platform for an outpouring of creativity. From visual puns to classic linen stripes, these 25 tea towels are some of our all-time favorites to have or (if you're in a giving mood) to receive.