This project is for the 2012 Weavolution Dishtowel Exchange, coordinated by Yarnfloozie.
I am *loving* the asymmetrical overshot patterns of Bertha Gray Hayes, and especially when you can get a loom to make circles, AND with just 4 shafts! My plan is to weave each towel slightly differently, to keep my interest level up for so many yards. And the overshot will appear at the borders of the towels.
I like to turn the tables on overshot, using a dark warp with a light pattern. For dishtowels especially, I like a darker towel over a white one, so it will look nicer longer. I also picked two different colors of green for the warp (but close in value) so there is some modulation of warp color in the background for subtle interest.
The loom used is a no-name, home built, 4 shaft, 24" floor loom. I am calling it my "Wubby" after Syne Mitchell dubbed her very first loom by that name.
2/15/12 Update
The warp is weaving up GREAT! I cut off 4 towels, hemmed, and washed them to share at our guild meeting Monday. I am playing with different colors of pattern wefts, even changing the background weft to modulate the value to set off the overshot area. The current selection is my favorite, so I changed the cover image of this project post to reflect that. I am having so much fun, I am thinking to tie on another color and keep going when this 8 yards run out!
2/17/12
I finished weaving the last two towels last night, and had little left over to make eyeglass cases. This was fun! I wish ALL my weaving projects went so well. Can't wait to mail them off and see what towels I receive in exchange.
2/19/12
The hand on these towels is excellent. They were really fun to weave. I can't wait for the completion of the exchange in April.
Take up: weft=5% warp =6.6%
Shrinkage: weft=4% warp=9-10%
Total: weft=9% warp15-17%
Yours will look great! I agree, I like a dark towel too, and I really think the idea of modulating the close hues in the warp for interest wiil give it added depth. Can't wait to see the finished towels! You will be busy at your house:)
I just LOVE circles, and circles combined with asymmetry are terrific! I also love the many asymmetric designs in the Bertha Gray Hayes book and am doing a small gamp using three of them. It's interesting to see how a symmetric overshot threading interacts with an asymmetric treadling and vice versa. These towels are going to be really gorgeous.
These are really great! Love the pattern! Sharon
How exciting! I love the circles and the reversed colors. This book is great. I've had it since it was first published but I keep putting off making something from it. It makes me want to get a Structo loom. Making towels is a great idea! I'll be interested to hear how the overshot holds up after use. Fun pattern, great job!!
I never heard of the book you are referring to, but that towel looks fantastic. I especially love the tone-in-tone greens set in a fibonacci sequence, that's one of my favorites too.
I have never really fallen in love with overshot, but this is an exception!!
You have made another miracle on you loom, Sally :-)
You make my day when one of my projects catches YOUR eye! (I am always in awe of yours!)
I love the colors - someone will be very lucky to get these!
Fab patterns - your dish towels look great!
Beth
The towels look great! I'm loving the pattern with those tiny bubbles! You inspired me to get the Berta Gray Hayes book. What a treasure.
Oh these are just lovely. The colors are wonderful as are the stripes. Very classy towels. I can see why you had a blast making them.
I love these - the stripes through the warp, the alternating weft colours between towels, the little overshot bubbles... it's like a perfect combination of elements to make it fun and interesting to weave, and leave you with a beautiful set of towels.
I hadn't planned to try overshot anytime soon, but your towels are quite inspiring.
Great design! I love circles in any way! Your dishtowel are looking nearly to elegant for their purpose, but I think they will be a pleasure to use:
