Color-and-Weave Towels

Color-and-Weave is a simple plain weave technique that utilizes a specific color order in the warp and weft to create a seemingly intricate pattern. These towels are woven with Mallo Cotton Slub in two contrasting shades of blue.

You can download an updated version of this pattern and purchase a kit here.

Pattern byJenny Sennott, woven byElizabeth Springett for GIST: Yarn & Fiber

Need some help getting started? Check out Resources for Beginner and Intermediate Weavers. 

Materials 

Warp & Weft:2 cones of Mallo Cotton Slub (1/2 lb cones, 1,500 yd/lb) in contrasting colors, shown here in Icicle and Eclipse

Project Notes

• Tools Required: Rigid heddle loom at least 20" wide, or 2-4 shaft table or floor loom, 12 or 12.5 dent reed, 2 boat shuttles & bobbins or 2 stick shuttles
  
• EPI: 12 
  
• PPI: ~12
  
• Width at Reed: 18" 
  
• Warp Ends: 216
  
• Warp Length: 2.8 yards (100"), includes 24" of loom waste and 20% for shrinkage
  
• Draft: Tabby (plain weave), color-and-weave        
• Total warp yarn used: ~608 yards
• Total weft yarn used: ~670 yards
• Woven Length (measured under tension on the loom): 35"
• Finished Dimensions: 2 towels that measure ~16" W x 31.5" L each after washing and hemming
• Finishing Details: Hand sewn rolled hem         
  
• Care Instructions: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low, press as needed

Instructions

• Color D (Darker color) = Mallo Cotton Slub in Eclipse 
• Color L (Lighter color) = Mallo Cotton Slub in Icicle

1. Warp the loom using your preferred method(direct or indirect) with a total of 216 warp ends, 2.8 yards long, following the warp color order below. Center for a weaving width of 18" and sley 1 end per hole and slot in a 12 or 12.5 dent heddle on a rigid heddle loom. If you are using a multi-shaft loom, thread for plain weave and sley 1 end per dent in a 12 dent reed. 

Warp Color Order: D D D L D D D L L L L (19 repeats, 209 ends), end with D D D L D D D for a total of 216 ends

2. Weave following the weft color order below. Each towel should measure approximately 35” long in loom to account for shrinkage and hems. Weave with scrap yarn for a few picks in between each towel. 

Weft Color Order:D D D L D L D L 

3. Cut the fabric off the loom and zig zag the raw edges. Machine wash cold and tumble dry low. Cut the towels apart at scrap yarn maker. Turn edges 1/4” twice for rolled hems, and press. Stitch hems by hand or by machine.

About Jenny Sennott

Jenny Sennott is a weaver and weaving teacher in mid-Missouri. Her favorite source of inspiration for her weaving is the world of nature. She has taught weaving to people of all ages and abilities for over 30 years at Access Arts in Columbia, MO, and is continually inspired by the weaving explorations of her students.