I began with a traditional 4 shaft rosepath threading and then added some basic twill threadings for different stripes in the warp. The final combination is my own design. In total, 461 ends were threaded so it is important to count heddles before starting to thread the loom. I used a 4 shaft direct tied up floor loom for the various towels I wove on this warp.
The treadling in this draft is an advancing twill with reversing points.
This is actually a variation of the above draft. I was inspired by similar variation I’d seen in a Facebook weaving group. I loved the way she had highlighted one repeat of the design instead of repeating it across the whole towel – she had also turned the whole thing however since this was my first step away from using a warp “recipe” I decided not to attempt that. The designing experience was… humbling. I learned a lot of what not to do – but luckily I got there in the end and I’m really pleased with the finished product.
The finished towels were machine washed in warm water and dried on high heat. Then pressed and hems hand sewn.
The attached draft only accounts for the center. Repeat the first 15 ends as needed to center the threading in your warp.
I use my towel projects as experiments. The draft does not show threads per color stripe, and the final threading was not exactly what my original plan called for. For these towels, the threading (right to left) was: Grey 20, White 4, Grey 12, White 4, Grey 24, Cannell 48, White 40, Sage 56, Grey 64, then reverse for mirror image). Total ends: 480; width in loom: 20″.
On this warp I wove 4 towels, and all have different treadling and design, although the same weft colors were used for all four. Hems are hand stitched.
This was fun and fast to weave.
24 epi
24 ppi
576 ends and 2 floating selvages
I simplified the treadling for a less busy effect.
Before finishing: 26″ long x 22″ wide
After finishing: 22″ long x 20.5″ wide
Shrinkage: 22%
Machine wash cool, normal cycle; 20 minutes heated dryer; pressed
I played around with the threading by adding some bands of straight twill between sections of the rosepath threadings. I also used sewing thread for weaving the hem sections.