Summer Samples
Last spring I gave a few weaving lessons to a wonderful person who knew the basics but needed a little refresher. We were going over the whole process of dressing the loom for weaving, so I wanted to set her up with a very basic warp. I did not have enough of any one color, so we blended yellow and white cotton, and threaded your basic straight draw.
Fast forward to this year. About 2 yards of a very narrow warp were still sitting on the loom. It was too narrow and too bland to really do anything with. Finally I decided to just use up odds and ends of yarn and make some little dish towels.
I added a few threads of a thick cotton yarn as thin warp stripes, and used a similar yarn in the weft of some of the patterns.
Here are the samples right off the loom.
Here they are after being machine washed and dried. If you look close, you can see how the threads have “bloomed” and closed up the gaps between them.
Here is the draft for the four variations.
They remind me of lemon sherbet. I may cut them in pieces and sew them into a little table-topper.
Details for weavers: 5/2 cotton in warp and some weft; the weft in 4 is a cotton/ramie flake blend. And if you need blank draft sheets, they are available (for 4 and 8 shafts) at Albemarle Handweavers Guild.
It feels great to be weaving again! But I hear the quilts calling too… and the dye pots…
You are so talented you made such beautiful towels , from the warp. I guess it’s the artist in you. Susan
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Thank you! I enjoyed making them!
the towels are really pretty! thanks for including the draft too, I am noting this for my ongoing exploits at the loom…
Thanks! If you do use that draft I bet you will do something fabulous with it, because to me you give a little unexpected spark to ordinary patterns.
These turned out really pretty, subtle colors, but so warm in tone. Almost would encourage me to want to do the dishes. Almost.
And those fiber hobbies call loudly don’t they!
The towels I have made over the years have held up well, and it seems to me like they dry dishes better than any commercial towels I buy. I guess those are treated with something. But you’re right – the dishes never compete favorably with fiber!
Actually, I have been using the handwoven towels I have as burp cloths. They are a great size to really cover your shoulder and really absorbant too. Nicest burp clothes ever.
And a great way to bring up your baby to appreciate handmade things! 🙂
Agreed!
These are great and thanks for the draft. I’m fairly new to weaving but understand it. As for the quilts and dye pots calling I suffer the same affliction I call it Craft ADD.
Yeah, if you like one aspect of the textile arts you are sure to be interested in ALL of them and then you’re lost.
I dropped by your blog today – how I have missed you this long?! Great blog and your life is a lot like mine – and so are your opinions! You express them so articulately! Looking forward to catching up on your archives.
Thanks, I felt the same way when I read yours!
What an accomplishment.
Thanks! That warp has been calling to me for quite a while.
I swear, working a loom must be witchcraft. I’m fascinated by your ability to read weaving. It’s like another language. And your samples are so pretty!
I started weaving before computers and desktop publishing, and my teacher made us all start by figuring out the patterns with graph paper! You had to sit there and color in all the little squares. Thank goodness for computers and standardized notation!
It is a lot of fun and very easy to learn…just in case you ever want to add another skill to your repertoire. 🙂