Hattie’s Legacy | The Story of the Cook’s Cloth

For those who’ve visited our Cape Town store at 78 Hout Street, you may already be familiar with the sight and sound of our antique Hattersley loom. Affectionately nicknamed ‘Hattie’, this cherished 130-year-old shuttle loom faithfully wove runs of Cook’s Cloths for several years. Her distinctive clattering sound, produced by the shuttle – the yarn-carrying bobbin that flies back and forth across the warp, weaving the weft (or left-to-right threads) – often drew curious visitors to our shop doors.

The Hattersley Loom at the Hout Street Micro Mill in 2022 before being rehomed in Plettenberg Bay

Hattie’s new home at the Mungo Mill in Plettenberg Bay, continuing to weave the newly designed Oxford Cooks Cloth

A few years ago, as the Mungo Mill entered its next chapter, we made the decision to return Hattie to our headquarters in Plettenberg Bay. Here, she can be tended to by those who know how to keep her running and join our full collection of looms. Today, she stands proudly at the front of the mill, serving as a historic jewel in our collection of weaving techniques and technology through the ages – from prehistoric times to the present day. For those who’ve yet to visit our mill, our doors are always open. Here, you can connect product to the process and witness how the first threads become finished cloth.

Hattie weaving the original Cooks cloth in the Mungo Mill

Hattie has tried on a few new hats since her early days, including weaving a limited edition run of silk, mohair, and bamboo scarves – a creative collaboration between our design intern, Neta, and resident designer, Lenore. Most recently, she’s returned to weaving Cook’s Cloths. An original Mungo design, first brought to life by our Master Weaver, Stu Holding, it has now been reimagined by Ray and Lenore from our design team.

The Mohair, Bamboo, and Silk Hattie Wrap, woven in the Kingfisher colourway

So, what is a Cook’s Cloth, you ask? It’s a versatile kitchen cloth meets apron – designed to seamlessly transition between tasks. Woven with a cotton warp and a cotton-linen blend weft, the Cook’s Cloth is both durable and absorbent, perfect for cleaning, drying, and mopping up spills like a traditional dishcloth. But with the addition of a waist tie, it transforms easily into an apron. And for those who like a bit of coverage while eating, the buttonhole allows it to be secured neatly over your shirt button.

Each Cook’s Cloth features a traditional true selvedge – a tightly woven, non-fraying edge that requires no additional hemming and is unique to shuttle loom weaving. With its contemporary palette and timeless herringbone weave, the Cook’s Cloth makes the perfect gift for anyone who knows their way around a kitchen (or a braai).

Man wearing the Oxford Cooks cloth, a cotton kitchen cloth meets apron woven on an antique loom

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Watch the video

A lot has changed since this video was made. Hattie now resides in the Mungo Mill in Plettenberg Bay and continues to rhythmically weave life into contemporary textiles.