After all those weeks spent setting up the loom, it felt like such a dream come true to be able to weave on it! Fern’s vision was to create a checkerboard tea towel inspired by a set that she had seen in a local home goods store, and I was more than happy to follow her lead. She let me pick out the colours, and then we were off to the races.
- 125g / 580m of Bouclé Cotton (colours: Gold, Salmon, Pale Limette, Natural, Robin’s Egg)
- 1.10m of 8/4 cotton warp
- 4-shaft loom
- 15-dent reed
- Bobbins
- Shuttles
Workshop by Fern at Fern’s School of Craft
These aren’t the colours that I would normally gravitate toward, but there’s just something about Fern’s studio that inspires me to push my boundaries and go outside my comfort zone. The pops of colour are so fun and contrast well against the navy blue warp. The bouclé yarn was also new to me, and the uneven texture also helps to add another dimension to the design.
Fern was the mastermind behind this design, so I’m not sure how much I can freely share about the technical details of the treadle tie-ups and the weft pattern. All you need to know is that this tea towel was the perfect step up from the rug weaving workshop, as the treadling pattern was a little more challenging to keep track of, but it was very soothing once I settled in to the routine. I find myself fascinated by weaving because the same loom set-up can result in drastically different finished products, and you can really see the maker’s personality in what they make. When I look at mine, I see a desire for predictability and symmetry, whereas someone else might weave something more whimsical or free-form.
When we dressed this loom, we set it up for seven tea towels (20″ x 30″), so Fern is planning to offer it as a drop-in to the public. We think that it should take between four to six hours of weaving from start to finish, so it’s definitely possible to do it in a single day. If you are local to Edmonton or the surrounding area, consider giving it a try if you wanted to learn more about weaving!
Until next time, happy crafting!