LIGHTWEIGHT COTTON PLAIN WEAVE FOR TOWELS, INTERIOR FABRICS, AND CURTAINS
The shuttle glides through the shed, the beater swings lightly, and the fabric grows. There is no showing off with fancy patterns here, because this time we are weaving plain weave, the simplest of all weave structures.
Handwoven cotton fabric is extremely durable and stays smooth in use. Wash the new fabric by hand the first time; after that, it can be machine washed. Do not let it dry completely. Iron the fabric while it is still slightly damp.
The warp is as simple as possible: a solid-color cotton warp. Cotton 8/2 is often used, but this time the warp is made from 16/2 cotton, which is half as thick. This makes the fabric lighter and easier to sew.
Weaving this fabric lets you enjoy the thrill of speed, as the fabric grows quickly. It is an excellent opportunity to really practise your weaving rhythm as well as weaving neat selvedges. Even an experienced weaver will find enough of a challenge in weaving a smooth, even plain-weave fabric.
This fabric is also ideal for budget-conscious weavers. Fine cotton yarn is inexpensive, and the amounts required are surprisingly small.
Hand Towels
The densely woven fabric is ideal for guest towels and durable kitchen hand towels. The weft is a cotton yarn twice as thick as the warp, producing a neat, even, and smooth fabric.
Play with colors and stripes!
Weave small towels with different stripe patterns, or make them all using the same favorite stripe design. By using the same colors throughout, the set will remain harmonious and stylish even if each towel has a different stripe pattern.
Different rhythms
Each towel has a different stripe pattern, but the colors are the same in all of them.
KITCHEN TOWEL FABRIC
This lightweight fabric is woven in basic plain weave, with the same yarn used for both warp and weft and the same sett and weft density. The stripes, however, are woven with a thicker yarn. The fabric is suitable for dish towels and bread cloths in the kitchen.
Playing with Stripes
The plain-weave fabric is striped with a yarn twice as thick as the yarn used for the ground, and the stripe yarn is used doubled. This pronounced difference between the ground and the colored stripes makes the stripes slightly wavy.
The weft yarns in the stripes were not cut at every color change. As a result, the selvedge is not perfectly neat, but the weaving was easy and quick.
Interior Fabric
Both color and surface texture have been added to the plain weave. The weft alternates between the same fine cotton yarn used in the warp and a cotton yarn twice as thick. The colors change along with the yarn weights, so the two different weft thicknesses may not be immediately noticeable, yet they add extra character to the fabric. Light aqua and light green are woven with the finer yarn, while the other colors are woven with the thicker yarn.
The fabric is easy to sew because it is thin enough and does not fray easily.
Curtain Fabric
This lightweight fabric is woven with a weft yarn the same weight as the warp. The weft is lighter in color than the warp: it is half-bleached, giving the fabric a slightly fresher look. You can also use bleached yarn, as the colors blend well when using fine yarns. The weft density is lower than the warp sett. As an additional decorative detail, there is a lace pick-up stripe in the center of each colored stripe.
Fine cotton fabric shrinks considerably. Some of the warp length is lost, so always allow an extra meter or two in addition to the normally calculated warp length. The woven fabric shrinks as soon as it is taken off the loom and shrinks further when washed, for a total shrinkage of approximately 15%.
Stripe with a Lace Detail
The fabric is woven for a pleated curtain valance. Since a considerable length of fabric is needed, it has been designed to be quick to weave. The stripes are spaced far apart, and the stripe pattern is simple.
The weaving is enjoyable, with the shuttle moving back and forth smoothly and quickly, so picking one lace stripe in the center of each colored stripe provides a pleasant change of pace. At first, the pick-up takes a little time, but after a couple of stripes, the technique becomes familiar and the pick-up progresses quickly as well.
The fabric, woven entirely with fine cotton yarn, is striped with two similar shades of green. The curtains are pleated so that the stripes remain straight and visible on the front. This allows the lace stripe to show beautifully against the light.
Lace Pick-Up Stripe
Instructions for Simple Plain Weave Fabric 3429 can be found in the Weaving Library and, for members, on the Projects page.
