Waffle Weave Towel idea

My Waffle Weave, up close.

So I thought, ok I have done a few classes and a couple projects on my own now, its time to step up my game a little.  This project all I had to start with was - I want to make some dish towels with this 8/2 yarn I already have.  Its a lot harder than you think.  I had no pattern, no book telling me what sett I need, no idea how much yarn length I need, had to try to work it all out.  I decided I liked the look of waffle weave, which I had seen but had not found any patterns for.  I searched my green book of patterns (the old one) and there was one page of waffle weave, so I picked one and started there.  I figure I want to make these towels about 12x18 inches, with a little hem, no fringe.  In searching for a blank template to calculate how much yarn I need, I found this great pdf file Warp Calculation Worksheet which really helped a lot.  For the first project I am just going to make two towels.  That way its quick gratification, and if this weight of yarn and pattern works out, then I can always repeat it because I have everything written down.  Since my warping board is a yard wide I decided to round up to 2.5 yards for the length of the warp.  I also have to remember to write down what the finished size is before and after washing, to find out the shrinkage, I had to guess.


Day 1
282 threads measured on my warping board, sorry forgot to take a photo of this.

Day 2
 Today I took the threads and put them in the reed and then took the reed to the loom.  Doesnt sound like much but it does take a while

Day 3
Today I concentrated on warping on.  After watching the Interweave warping video, I have decided I really like the front to back method best.  Here I am putting each thread through the necessary heddle.  This also takes a while to do.  Its amazing that it takes a few days just to set up the loom.

 All tied on!  Ready to weave tomorrow.  This picture gives a good indication of the base color of the towel.

Day 4
Got started weaving today.  Had a little set back, two threads were crossed, which actually messes up about 4 threads in total.  Glad I caught it during the first half inch which is waste anyway.  Took half an hour to straighten out.  But here is what its going to look like.

 Close up of the weave, best I could get, it doesnt show the variegated colors well.  I think that even though my goal was to have the variegated be dominant that its the rust that will be.

Day 5-end
The days are pretty much the same from here to the end.  I work a little at a time as time permits.  This time, once I was done with the two towels, I decided to cut them off the loom in front so that I can try a technique I have heard about where I can tie on new warp without having to rethread it.  I have to just decide now if I want to make another two towels (I have enough of this same thread to do that) or do I want to change the colors?  Here is what it looks like off loom.  I have to now wash them up and see what kind of shrinkage I get. 

Batch 2 tied on, 5/30
I decided to try tying on from the original threading, but this time am using the variegated for the warp, just to see if it looks any different.  I had a couple of threads break mid tightening, but for the most part, this seems like an easier way than rethreading the heddles again.  I have to say though, because I am doing 2 more towels, of the same I just did, its lost some of its excitement.  I want to get these done so I can move on to the Ontario project. (will start a new post for that project)  I did not realize how very long it would take to make towels, and I need to make, whew lets see, at least a dozen.