Cotton Clouds' Talk

Waffle Weave Towels on my Rigid Heddle Loom

I love weaving on my Rigid Heddle Loom and I love making towels!

Stripes, plaid, checkered and now waffle weave!

You can’t imagine how excited I was when I realized that waffle weave can be achieved on a 2 shaft loom, using plain weave and just one pick-up stick.

Aurora Earth 8/2 cotton is the basic yarn used in these towels.  Two strands are held together to warp 400 ends in a 10 dent reed.

I used for the warp Aurora Earth Solid  and Aurora Earth Variegated for the weft.

It was amazing to see the textured squares form with an easy pick up stick sequence. Here is the method I used for these towels:

1. Heddle down

2. Heddle up with pick up stick brought forward

3. Heddle down

4. Heddle up

5. Heddle in neutral position, pick up stick brought forward and turned on edge.

6. Heddle up

I know that I will be using this technique on more that just towels!

Get your Rigid Heddle Waffle Weave Towel Kit now!

Or if you have a 4 Shaft Loom you may want to check out our Waffle Weave Towel Kit from Design Collection 18.  (Design Collection 18 is available from Interweave Press in a Download Version)

This Waffle Weave design is also used in the Waffle Weave Runner/Placemats featured in Handwoven May/June 2010.

Thank you for weaving 2 shaft projects with me!

Your fellow Rigid Heddle Weaver,  Jodi Ybarra

Coming Soon: Rigid Heddle Waffle Weave Runner with our new yarn Remix and Recycled Cotton.

cottoncloudstore

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11 responses to “Waffle Weave Towels on my Rigid Heddle Loom”

  1. Michele Eskew Avatar
    Michele Eskew

    I have a cricket loom, can I make this waffle weave on it? I’m new to weaving. I’ve only made 2 scarves but I want to make towels. I can’t afford another loom right now so I’m wanting to experiment on this one.

    Reply
    1. cottoncloudstore Avatar
      cottoncloudstore

      This would be a great project for your Cricket Loom. You can make towels any width and any length. The waffle weave technique is very easy using just 2 heddles (such as a Cricket Loom or any Rigid Heddle Loom) and a pick up stick.

      Have fun weaving!
      Jodi

      Reply
  2. Michele Eskew Avatar
    Michele Eskew

    Maybe I’m not quite understanding the directions but I’m not sure how the pick up stick is used. Do I use the pick up stick to go over and under the warp threads? Do I do this with the heddle in neutral position? Does it stay in the whole time? Thanks so much for the help.

    Reply
  3. Judi Avatar
    Judi

    How was the pick up stick threaded? I would like to try this. Thanks

    Reply
  4. cottoncloudstore Avatar
    cottoncloudstore

    When the warp is tied on: With the heddle in the down position (slot threads up) and working behind the heddle, slip the pick-up stick under 2 slot threads then over 2 threads all the way across. Then slide the pick up stick to the back of the loom.

    The weaving sequence is as follows:

    1. Heddle down

    2. Heddle up with pick up stick brought forward

    3. Heddle down

    4. Heddle up

    5. Heddle in neutral position with pick up stick brought forward and turned on edge.

    6. Heddle up

    Reply
  5. sherri Avatar
    sherri

    How do you calculate warp width when you thread two stands in the slots and holds?

    Reply
    1. cottoncloudstore Avatar
      cottoncloudstore

      Hi Sherri,
      When you are warping with 2 strands in each hole and 2 strands in each slot you will have 20 epi if using a 10 dent heddle. If you are using a 12 dent heddle you will have 24 epi. The ends per inch are just doubled. So if you have 400 ends with a 10 dent heddle you will divide 400 by 20. You will then have 20″ weaving width in the heddle.

      Hope this helps.

      Jodi

      Reply
  6. ann Avatar
    ann

    very helpful! i’m looking forward to trying this but have a question. do you use 1 or 2 threads in the weft? Thanks

    Reply
    1. cottoncloudstore Avatar
      cottoncloudstore

      You can use two threads in the weft but your waffle weave structure may be a bit different.

      Reply
    2. joleeybarra Avatar
      joleeybarra

      I like to use 2 threads in the weft making it a nice balanced weave at 20 epi and 20 ppi.

      Reply
  7. Summertime Towels | Universal Yarn Creative Network

    […] achieved on a rigid heddle without a lot of trouble. After a quick internet search, I landed upon this great post over at Cotton Cloud’s blog. It’s just a 6 row repeat, so easy to memorize. I seem to […]

    Reply

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