Thomas Ferguson Linen Toothpaste Stripe Tea Towel, Huckaback Weave. Made in Ireland

Natural linen tea towel from the Thomas Ferguson, working kitchen tea towel collection. Produced in a huckaback weave. The natural tea towel has narrow tooth paste stripes running vertically in dark navy and cream.

A huckback weaving pattern, also known as huggabag, huck-a-back, huckabag or simply huck, is an old weave that is still used nowadays for towels. The name ‘huckaback’ may have been adapted from ‘hucksters’, known from around 1200. Hucksters were pedlars and used to sell linens in markets, after carrying goods on their backs.According to Patricia Baines, an author of several publications on flax and linen, huckaback pattern produces a specific uneven surface which allows towels to absorb water better and dry off quicker. Many derivations of the huckaback weaving pattern have been found in folk weaving, especially in Germany and Scandinavia.Irish linen has been the tea towel of choice for Grannies for generations. Irish linen is perfect for the job as it is naturally anti-bacterial, dries in a jiffy and is naturally wicking (takes to water away from the surface). Our Working Kitchen Tea towels are made with natural Irish linen. They are woven with a Huckaback structure to further improve their performance.

Machine washable at up to 40°C  for the best results let the tea towel dry naturally. Dry cleaning and tumble drying can weaken the linen fibres. It is recommended to wash the tea towel a few times prior to usage as this increases absorbency.