General Notes:

Pattern adapted from:
Keep it Simple Towels by Mary Ann Geers
Handwoven, Summer, 1985
Best of Handwoven - Top Ten Towels on Four Shafts.

I removed a pattern repeat between the blocks. Wish I had removed maybe one more.

390 ends
4 yard warp
8/2B Cotton from the Yarn Barn of KS
19.25 inches wide in the reed (closer to 19 inches)
18.25 inches wide on the loom (18 inches)
18 to 18.25 wide inches off the loom
1 inch plain weave for the hem.
So far I plan to weave 18 inches in pattern.
1 inch hems at the top and bottom so 20 inches total
Finished length of each towel was about 19.25 to 19.5 inches off the loom.
3 inches of sampling in periwinkle
5 inches of warp on the front beam. So about 8 inches of waste there. More like 8 inches of actual waste on the front. About 21 inches on the back. So about 30 inches of waste depending how long I want to squeeze the shuttle through.

Washed Dimensions:

Weaving Diary:

November: Wound the warp

12/3
Started dressing the loom

12/4
Almost finished dressing the loom. Missed some warp threads. Figured out some threading errors. I think I’m good to go. Need to tie on to the front beam.

12/7
Started weaving 12/6. I sampled with the periwinkle and really like the contrast. The pistachio/green I am using now is more subtle. The photo doesn’t quite do the colors right. Completed about 3 plus inches of the pattern. So far the treadling is fluid.

12/9
10 inches into the first napkin. Last few nights I’ve woven for about an hour or so. I hope to weave over the next few days.

12/10
Finished the first napkin. About 3 inches into the second napkin using 8/2 in pumpkin.

12/11
Wove about 9 inches if the 2nd napkin.

12/15
Finished the 2nd napkin and started on the third.

12/31
Sadly did not have much time to weave over the holidays. The last few nights and today I have woven several inches. I finished the third napkin and started on the fourth which I changed things up a bit with some striping and the treadling for the solid color. I am going to finish it as is but I am not sure if the long warp float on each is is such a good idea.

Right at the fell line the fabric is not quite 18.25 inches wide. When it stretches over the front of the loom it measures at 17.5 inches. Not sure if that is normal. The fourth napkin is done. I’m about 8 plus inches into the the fifth napkin.

I think I can get one more napkin after this one. So hoping I only need about 24 inches of loom waste for this loom. Maybe less loom waste since i had done some sampling at the beginning.

1/1/15 Finished weaving. I was not able to get one more napkin. I wove in plain weave until I couldn’t. So I think I have a good idea that loom waste will be around 30 inches.

I started beating on an open shed and felt like I had better selvages. I will keep trying this for other projects

1/11/15
One napkin has been hemmed.

1/19/15
All the napkins are hemmed. Now on to the next project.

Remember to measure the hemmed napkins.

I changed the treadling pattern for the striped pumpkin napkin. I really like the diamond pattern it gave.

The periwinkle and pumpkin worked well with the pale yellow warp. Need to note which color. The pistachio (green) does not work as well unless you like the subtle color play.