Talk about thick and thirsty towels! Double weave makes these hand towels thick. And the linen in the cottolin threads makes them highly absorbent. The colors are fantastic together. When our daughter Melody moves with her little family to Chile, she can set up her new home with these made-for-her towels. My love is woven into every single pick.
I have included two short little videos just for the fun of it. Enjoy!
This project started in my weaving studio in our Houston home, where I beamed the warp.
And then we decided to move! We sold the house and moved into an apartment. The big loom was dismantled, with the towel warp on the back beam. Then, we moved all the pieces to our Texas hill country home.
Recently, I spent a week there to finish dressing the loom and weave all four towels. Whew! (Here’s what I did that week: Testing Color Surprises with My Little Helper and Weaving Deadline)
I wove hanging tabs on my band loom. And I discovered that I could showcase both sides of the colorful towel if I stitch the hanging tab on the side of the towel, off center.
The towels are hemmed and pressed, ready to brighten the day!
May you put threads of love into everything you do.
Love,
Karen
They are gorgeous!
Thanks, Beth! I’m happy with how they turned out.
Karen
Those towels are gorgeous!!
Hi Pam, Thanks so much! I’m glad you like them.
Karen
Beautiful towels and such love went into them. I know your daughter is going to love them as much as she loves you.
Hi Laura, It’s such a pleasure to weave something with the purpose of giving it to somebody special. I think she’ll be happy with the towels. 🙂
All the best,
Karen
WOW…I’m blown away. Same warp. Same fill. Different sequence
.Entirely different results. All beautiful.
Thank you for sharing the progression.
Nannette
Hi Nannette, You’ve touched on one of my favorite aspects of weaving. Exploration! Every new towel is a chance to explore another design. It’s awfully hard for me to weave any two or more things exactly alike.
Thanks!
Karen
Beautiful! I’m always in awe of your weaving.
Hi Sumac, You are so kind! I feel very fortunate to get to play with threads on a loom.
Thanks so much,
Karen
Goodness, those are beautiful towels that exude your love in a very joyful way. Thanks for documenting your process so well and sharing your inspire pictures. The placement of the hanging loops does the trick of showing both sides off it a very neat way. So very wonderful.
Hi Jen, Your thoughtful comments make my day! I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures. This is the first time I’ve tried putting the hanging loops off-center on the side, but it really worked for this.
Happy weaving,
Karen
Just beautiful! When you pin your twill tape marker to the woven piece on the loom, do you unpin the beginning section of tape before it goes rolls around the beam?
Hi Janet, Thank you!
I do not want the pins to go around the beam. I use just two pins, and “leapfrog” them as I advance the warp. Here’s the link to a post I wrote about it: Tools Day: Measured Weaving.
All the best,
Karen
Those are absolutely beautiful. You can’t help but smile when you look at them.
Hi Kay, Thank you so much! I, too, think the colorful towels are very cheerful. 🙂
All the best,
Karen
Beautiful!
Can I find directions to this pattern somewhere?
Thanks
Hi Robin, Thank you! I’m glad you like it.
I modified a draft that is in “The Big Book of Weaving,” by Laila Lundell. If you send me an email through my “Get in Touch” page I will be happy to give you more information.
All the best,
Karen
so will you get this, if it is written so much later? anyway, this is fantastic how did she like the towels? i would be interested in making something like this for a bath towel, what do you think? also, robin, above, asked for more information. would you mind forwarding that email to me also? if you have time. spring today–the snow will melt someday…ellen santana
Hi Ellen, My daughter really liked the towels, and still uses them regularly. I kept one of the towels for our home and it is one our guests choose off the shelf most frequently. This would be perfect for bath towels. It’s nice and thick. I’m not able to find that email. If you have some specific questions about it, send me an email and I’ll do my best to answer.
All the best,
Karen
Karen, I went down a rabbit hole today when I saw a some woven fabric online that looked like a patchwork quilt. I eventually ended up on your page….lucky me! Thanks for all your post as they are so helpful to many of us. Where can I find out more about this pattern or one similar?
Beautiful towels!
Hi Sheila, This is a draft for an 8-shaft double-weave blanket that I adapted into towels. The original draft is from “The Big Book of Weaving,” by Laila Lundell, p.180 “Picnic Blanket.”
Happy Weaving,
Karen
Karen,
Your weaving is just beautiful! After reading your post, I tried to buy the book by Laila Lundell, but it is out of print. I got it through my local library from another library out of state. Unfortunately, I am so new to weaving in a floor loom (I just bought a Louet David), that it would be while before I am able to understand and do this project. Nonetheless, this project, and your work, inspire me to continue learning!
Hi Elvie, Thank you so much for your wonderfully kind comment. I am so excited for you. Being new to weaving on a floor loom is a great position to be in. You have so much delight ahead of you! I’m sad that this book is out of print, but that is great that you can find it through the local library.
Keep learning — it’s an endless journey!
Happy Weaving,
Karen