I am volunteering for a frontier days weaving demo and was told that I could weave great heavier hand towels with 8/4 cotton for warp and weft. It would be easier for the 2000 kids that come to use something heavier such as this. So I bought 8 cones of it. 4 natural and 4 of two colors to use as stripes etc. now where to start?. I have no ideas. I'm a newbie. Any drafts that you can think of that would be easy or straight treddling for the kids. They only throw a few picks and move on to the next site.

Comments

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 15:53

Joanne Hall

Make them dish cloths.  And thread just the first two shafts to weave plain weave.  If you have a table loom or a small portable loom, then it is easier to weave if you just thread two shafts.  If you have to thread four shafts on a table loom, thread 1 3 2 4.  Then moving the levers, 1&2 then 3&4 is much easier than the usual way, since the levers are in pairs.

Joanne

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 16:39

horsofcors (not verified)

That's a good idea. My wolf pup has a lamm setup so is great for workshops etc. easy to tie up. I was thinking about a twill. Would that work set at 12 epi. 1234 and the 1-2. 2-3 3-4 and 1-4. For the tie up. Then 1234 for treddling. It was for a skirt draft but looked nice with stripes in wrap and weft. What do you think.
Sun, 02/17/2013 - 16:40

mrdubyah (not verified)

4 shaft twills make lovely hand towels and, once they're set up, are easy to weave.  Most can be  treaddled as 1 2 3 4...  I suggest going to http://www.handweaving.net/Patterns.aspx and searching for 4 shaft patterns.  There are literally thousands available there.  

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 16:42

Sara von Tresckow

For weaving in public with children, you tend to lose your place. Using plain weave is just a nice for the children and spectators - especially when you don't need to deal with mispicks.

8/4, as Joanne suggests, would be better for dish cloths. The 4-ply of the yarn makes it difficult to form nice interlacements, creating a stiff fabric that is rather open.

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 16:59

Joanne Hall

Just use plain weave.  And even with lamms, just tie up two treadles.  That would be much better for kids to weave.  Especially when the parents and others are asking you questions about how long it takes to set up the loom.  The kids will be able to learn quickly with just two treadles.

Joanne

Group Audience
Towels