Pattern from Handwoven May / June 2020
Tom Knisely
Huck Lace Napkins adapted to make towel
8/2 cotton warp/weft
578warp ends sett at 24 EPI. 2/ dent in a 12 dent reed
Hand stitched hems
MAFA2025-3964
MAFA2021-055
Name draft created from the title Bellwether, a book by Connie Willis.
Because the warp threads alternated in color every two threads, it was easier to see any errors in the
blocks as the weaving progressed.
I only had a 15 dent reed with this loom that I borrowed for the pandemic, and would have preferred a 10
dent reed.
There were 360 ends in the warp, six repeats of 60 threads each with the addition of a floating selvage at
each edge; hemming was done by hand. The hem was woven for 24 shots with Guttermann cotton sewing
thread to reduce bulk.
The towel was washed on a regular cycle in a mesh bag and dried on the cotton heat setting in the dryer.
MAFA2021-022
I always loved the look of turned twill and Jane Stafford renewed my interest with her lesson in her Online Guild. The colors in the towel were inspired from a clothing tag that I’ve held onto for years. I also love purple and green and they remind me of spring. In hindsight, the natural color section in the warp is probably too wide. I did have some issues with the combination of cotton and cottolin yarns in side by side groups. The 8/2 cottolin appeared to be at a tighter tension, making the natural 8/2 cotton slack, and creating some difficulty with missed threads while weaving.
MAFA2019-010
I used Mastering Weave Structures by Sharon Alderman, which is a great book to brush up on your structures….
Had fun weaving it.
