Shafts: 4

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The warp alternates 2 threading blocks with 3 thread colors. This is a two shuttle weave and each block of the 2-block treadling uses two colors in the weft, and the color combination changes with each block change. All 3 of the warp colors are used in the weft in this order: Purple & Red (purple for 1st and last pic) / Green & Purple (green used for 1st and last pic) / Red & Green (red used for 1st and last pic).

This alternating color arrangement gives a two-colored stripe block that changes with each block.

If you have more than 4 shafts, the original directions recommend using a left and right border of plain weave, threaded on shafts 5 and 6.

I really like the way this looks, but it was a bit of a pain to weave (using 2 shuttles and a color change at every block) and I will probably not use this color/weave arrangement again.

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I did not put the different colors of the used threads, it’s up to you to use any color.

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I was looking for some ideas to help me mix colors and found this draft in a Weavers Magazine. I ended up making 4 towels and used the various suggested treadling options to create alternate patterns and a sampler towel for future reference. Weaving this towel taught me how to reverse a treadling order in a way that made sense. It took a bit of experimentation to find the right transition point.

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I simply played with random striping in both the warp and weft. While the pattern is technically from Gist Yarn, the point draft is from page 71 of Ann Dixon’s Handweaver’s Pattern Directory.

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I did notice that my warp drew in more for the point twill than the plain weave. Next time I will use a temple for that part. Warp color is white. Weft colors- -plain weave is pale yellow, point twill chevron is orange and point twill diamond pattern is red. The hem was hand-sewn prior to washing.

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I somehow reversed the blocks on both edges of the towel, but I like the way it turned out.

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The texture was more subtle because of the variegated weft color.

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The color sequence (Chasing Rainbows) comes from The Weaver’s Weevil by Rebecca Fox and the warp yarn is 10/2 mercerized cotton from Lunatic Fringe (color spectrum). I used black for the weft and threaded on a straight draw.

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I used what color yarns I had on hand, the numbers on the warp order were for my purpose to keep track of my color selection that I wound on card while winding my warp.

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I followed the pattern as published, except for these changes:

1. I used 22/2 Cottolin for the weft instead of 8/2 Cotton

2. In order to comply with the Towel Exchange rules, I removed the outer 32 threads on each side of the towel, a reduction of 64 ends. Instead of 490 ends, my towel has 426 ends.