My next project is going to be some sort of plaid dish towel or basket liner for my mother in law's birthday, made from 8/2 unmercerized cotton. I have 4 coordinating colors, and I am looking for a good book or pattern or web resource for making plaids. I know I can just alternate colors in the warp, and then weave a few rows of each color in the weft, but I'm looking for more suggestions for plaids in general. I already have about 3 great books for rigid heddle weaving, but haven't seen much for dish towels; is that because they are usually done on a floor loom? I do have the 12 dent heddle if needed. Thanks for any tips!
a plaid's a plaid's a plaid... Doesn't matter if you do it on a floor loom or a rigid heddle since it is a color effect. Of course a number of people will tell you that plaid is the wrong term since the word means different things to different people. These references will give you ideas for how to play with your colors in this fashion. You'll probably need to double your 8/2 in a 10 dent heddle (good plain weave sett would be about 18 epi).
The sett and weaving of tartans by Mary Black (1959)
Our Scottish District Checks by ES Harrison (1968)
The Tartan Weaver's Guide by Will Scarlett
Simple Tartan Weaving by Agnes MacDonald
http://www.house-of-tartan.scotland.net/...
http://www.tartangenerator.com/site/how-...
etc. Have fun!
Laurie Autio
Check out
www.weavezine.com/summer2008/wz_su80_Eri...
Steve.
Your local guild may have some of these books.
Joanne
