Weave Category: Twill Compound elements

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.

MAFA2021-034

Warp (10/2 organic cotton) was 513 ends including floating selvages. Used #3 treadling. A rolled hem was machine stitched.

MAFA2021-031

It was my first experience with Bateman weaves. I looked at the following books to understand the technique and create my pattern:

  • Bateman Weaves: The Missing Monograph by Linda Tilson Davis
  • Weaving Innovations from the Bateman Collection by Robyn Spady, Nancy A. Tracy and Marjorie Fiddler
  • Weaving Bateman Blend by Margaret Franklin

I liked designing and weaving with this technique.

MAFA2021-028

I made 6 towels on this warp. For all the towels except this one, I used 8/2 cotton. On this towel, I used a thicker cotton (Conshohocken ‘Softball’ cotton, color 088 – cherry). It made the whole towel very fluffy and I loved it.

MAFA2021-024

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

MAFA2021-021

I created this draft as a sketch and then modified it as I wove. I had intended to warp it in three sections: ABA. Somehow, my B section became 2 sections when I inadvertently went from beige, white, beige to white, beige, white in my threading.

I love my “happy accidents,” but they are difficult to share with others.

MAFA2021-011

I am delighted by the possibilities of such a simple weave as Monks Belt!

MAFA2021-016

I am learning more and more each time I weave. I am taking classes this time around to help me learn how to more efficiently warp my loom. And this was the first time weaving on my new-to-me Leclerc table loom.

I really enjoyed watching the pattern emerge as I went. My towel is based on the eight-shaft threading, treadling variation #5 in the workshop booklet. I miscalculated on how many repeats needed to be in the warp so the towels came out very narrow. I am still learning on how to make what dents I have work with what I want to produce.

I really enjoyed working with the colors and hope to do more with this pattern and loom in the future. And special thanks to Robyn Spady who taught us all about shadow weaving and was so patient with me.

MAFA2021-018

I wanted to weave a linen towel but with this design the linen weft didn’t work well, so I changed to cotton and was well pleased. This can be woven on a 4 shaft loom also—Davison has many patterns.

MAFA2021-004

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.