I want to make placemats as Christmas gifts- I know, it's only Memorial Day!  I'm wondering if any of you have any ideas about yarns / patterns such that the finished product is machine wash and dry and doesn't come out a wrinkled mess.  Placemats that are not easily laundered don't seem very practical.  Thanks for your help!

Comments

Fri, 05/29/2015 - 16:01

alene

I am not an expert on the rigid heddle loom, but I find 8/2 cotton or 5/2 cotton makes good placemats. The cotton will shrink in the dryer, so take that into account when planning your placemats. My placemats do not need ironing.

For a pattern, look at Rep weave patterns. You will only have two blocks, but Rep weave is great for place mats. You can just use multiples of your regular weft for the thick weft or you can do a combination of multiples of your warp for thick and a thinner cotton for the thin weft.

I was waiting for someone with more rigid heddle experience to answer you.

Alene

Fri, 05/29/2015 - 17:43

Sara von Tresckow

A combination that works for me is to warp with colored Maysville 8/4 rug warp, coordinated with a thicker softball cotton, sugar and cream, peaches and cream, etc. for weft. Use a 7u.5 or 8 dent reed and press the weft firmly until it is nearly weft faced, using the side of the shuttle on the following shed and you will have thick, not rumply mats that are easy care.

If the weft yarn is variegated, and coordinated with the warp color, the mats are anything but boring. Fringe with overhand knots.