Weave Category: Plain Simple

MAFA2023-018

Our weaving study group had a challenge to design and weave something using a given simple profile draft.
I decided to give myself a further challenge by using a weave structure that I had not or had rarely used, and chose turned taqueté.
I used three colours in the warp – white/blue for one block and green/white for the other. I wove three tea towels each using one of the three colours for the weft and chose the one with white weft for this exchange.

The towels seem a little soft to me. So, if I were to weave these again, I might try using a sett of 22 epi and 22 ppi.

MAFA2023-010

The wider stripes in the warp are randomly placed, as is the order of the 4 pinstripe colors throughout. The warp is 506 threads plus 4 FS, 2 on each side.
The weft repeats two more times, using a different color pattern (Chambray/Denim/Natural) of Plain Weave and reversed the treadling of the Balanced Twill in the middle section. The third section matches the first section. I designed and wove so each section was section 11″ on the loom.
Edges were a struggle given the different draw in of PW and Twill. Two Floating Selvedges on each side helper keep the edges neat but not straight.
Chambray Blue is the only actual color that matches between warp and weft.
Colors used were all Maurice Brassard.
Warp: Chambray, Jeans, Honey and Creme. Weft: Chambray, Natural, Juane and Denim.
I used 20/2 Cotton in Natural to weave 1.5″ on each end for a less bulky hem.
Finished size is 20″ wide by 28.5″ long.

MAFA2023-008

This pattern is based on a draft that Robyn Spady sent me for my participation in her MAFA 2023 class ‘Pictures, Piles, Potpourri, and Perplexing Curiosities.’ She titled the structure “Better Than Basket Weave Basket Weave.”

I used two threads for each floating selvage. After taking off the loom, I serged the ends of each towel, folded the hem, and used the ‘stitch in the ditch’ technique with a straight stitch.

Very enjoyable to weave!

MAFA2023-005

I used the Brighton Honey Comb towels in Handwoven as a starting point for my springy towels. I decided on 7 stripes of each 3 colors. Each group of three colors was separated by a thinner stripe of white and every stripe had a border color of navy blue. There are a total of 458 ends. The Honey Comb structure lends a nice texture to the towels as well as an interesting jagged edge to each stripe. I enjoyed weaving these towels and the challenge (for me!) of planning all the stripes/color layout.

MAFA2023-004

I used Parson’s crepe threading, treadling and tie-up as referenced above, but added a band of my own design to one side of the towel.

MAFA2023-003

440 ends
This was a really fun project, putting 4 threads through 1 heddle gave a really neat texture to the towel.
Tom had a new to me suggestion for hems. Weave your hem length and then put 2 picks in the same shed to create a fold line between the hem and the body of the towel.
Hems were sewn using a zigzag stitch with mitered corners.
Towels were machine washed and then put through the dryer.

MAFA2021-052

Warp Width: 19.5″
Sett: 24
Reed: 12
Sley: double
# Ends: 470
Warp Yarn: unmercerized cotton
Count: 8/2
Color: 6 colors
Weft Yarn: unmercerized cotton
Count: 8/2
Color: 6 colors, same as warp. Used one color for each of the 6 towels.
Finished dimensions: 16.5 x 24
Turned Taqueté

I did not weave the squares described in the Handwoven article, as I was having so much fun weaving bubbles.

MAFA2021-048

Woven in Valley Yarns 8/2 variegated unmercerized cotton in the ‘Cotton Candy’ colorway. It was interesting to weave because of the variegated yarn. Six towels were woven then zigzagged on the sewing machine. They were washed and dried in the dryer then cut apart and hemmed. The hemming area was plainweave.

MAFA2021-045

20″ wide, 600 ends plus floating selvages.
Straight draw on 24 shafts so each towel could be different.
I put on a 10 yard warp.
I wove each towel about 37″ on the loom and hand hemmed.
The towels are generously sized; the one for the towel exchange has finished dimensions of 17.75″ by 30.75″.
Relatively lightweight, easy to use towels.

This was inspired by “Santa Cloth” by Becky Hamblin in The Best of Weaver’s: Huck Lace, and she cites Thomas Jackson, Weaver, Shuttle Craft Monograph 13. Originally a 12 shaft pattern, I used 24 shafts and so was able to come up with several variations on the pattern. This one has a huck border around plain weave diamonds.