hand-woven dishtowels....done!

newly woven hand towels...

project details:

fiber: unmercerized cotton, 8/2 

         colors: loden green, natural & charcoal 

         supplier: villagespinweave.com

sett: 10epi

pattern: plain weve "tabby"

loom: kromski 32" harp

*next time i'll keep track of pre-weaving size, and finished size...i promise*

so here is my first finished product on my new loom...what an experience it has been! i thought i would love weaving...but man...i *love* weaving.

the process is so...relaxing...and meditative...i felt myself looking forward to the beginning and end of each day where i could sit and weave...unwind...and make something. like a reward to a long day of hard work...

i learned a lot weaving this first set of towels...

beginning weaving hints:

-first things first...i ran out of warp...i intended to get 3 towels. but they were all suppose to be about 24". i did weave about an inch or inch and a half more on the first towel (the all white weft)...i got so into the process...i forgot to keep track of my length...

-i loved having little snippets of yarn hanging around were i would measure and tie at the end of a fell line* to keep track of my length...the brighter the color the better

-having a sheet of paper...better yet a weaving notebook/journal handy was wonderful...i wrote out and sketched out my warp and weft patterns...and also wrote down the length as i marked with the little string reminders...otherwise i'd end up with little sting counters here and there and not know what they referred to.

-i need to make some cardboard spacers...i thought i could use thick yarn...but trying to hem the material on the loom (before i cut it off) proved to be impossible with the yarn...lesson learned

-hemstitching is easy....easier if the fabric is still attached to the loom...and it would be great to hemstitch the beginning too...and as you go along...

-pinching the selvages while throwing the weft helped me to create even selvedges...it prevented me from pulling them in too much...or from letting them slip out...i didn't learn this trick till the last towel...or maybe it the ending of the second.

-weave with colors and fibers you love....ahh...you'll be looking at them and fingering them for a good little time...may as well make it something you love...

-all the lingo starts to make sense once your in action...

-its addicting.....so addicting...

here is the continuous fabric...fresh off the loom...i hem stitched the beginning and end...

the towels...separated...hemstitched and ready to go into the wash to be set.

i was soooo nervous at this point...wondering what would come out the wash, how delicate were they...would they look better?

i tried to tuck them into a pillow case and safety pin it shut...i washed it on a short delicate cycle...and they all managed to ink themselves out...one of the towels got snagged so there is a bit of a mistake in one of them...a loose stitch..

towel #1...i used all natural yarn for the weft...the stripes are warp stripes

towel #2, by the time i got to this towel...i was tired of the white and ready to start playing around with weft stripes...i figured it would be good practice changing my wefts...weaving in ends, etc. as you can see...the bottom thread didn't get tucked in too well...but i kinda like the imperfection...

and towel #3, the short towel...the towel wear i ran out of warp...ooh i had such a lovely pattern sketched out for this towel. by this time i was so used to changing wefts...i wanted to get as pattern/stripe-licious as i could...sadly...i ran out of warp :(

the intended pattern was green strip (4") white strip (3") blue strip (4"), repeat twice

maybe next time...in another color...

selvedges...

they washed up wonderfully...and honestly after finishing them...taking a good hard, honest look...i realized i wasn't doing so bad...i was aware that they would be an issue...there would be a learning curve so i was tackling getting them perfect from the beginning...

and finally...the weave structure/texture...

beautiful!

its is amazing to me how doing something by hand...taking the time to make something elevates something as plain and simple as a hand towel...to something wonderful! i just need some labels to sew on them and they'd be perfect!

my goodness...i can't wait to use them...yet i don't want to touch them!

after hemming them, pressing and steaming them...folding them...and photographing them...i was smitten.

i may just find myself making towels for christmas presents...i'd be thrilled to receive these...

what am i going to weave up next??

peace. ki.

p.s. the beginning of the project can be found here! i intend to do a post on warping this weekend...stay tuned!

Comments

[Kiva, Farmstead Lady]

These are lovely and now I want a loom. You are such a bad enabler...lol!!!

Seriously these would make great Christmas gifts.

[Ericka]

They are lovely! I agree, they would make awesome christmas gifts, or maybe some mini weaved padded coasters..I am so inspired!!!!!!!

[Terri]

Nicely done! Yes, they would be wonderful gifts.

Happy Weaving,
Terri

[Naptress]

Love this post..I just visited my friend who works for Interweave magazine in Denver..she gave me a lot of craft books..she asked if weaving and spinning would be next on my to-do list..after seeing this post..I say YEP!!...lol

[ki]

i'm so sorry it took me forever + 3 days to get back to you...but i think you would totally love weaving and spining..i wish i had more time to weave...its been a couple of months and i miss the relaxing nature of it...you'll have to let me know if you take it up!