Cotton Essentials Towel Set - Cotton with a Twist!
Posted by Jodi Ybarra on
Introducing Cotton Essentials Super DK
Cotton Essentials Super DK is a thick and thin ply of cotton with a twist. You're going to love this new yarn!
I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Stephanie, our wonderful yarn consultant, over a cup of tea. She came prepared with many yarn samples for me to see and feel. When she set the ball of Cotton Essentials in front of me, I couldn't hold back my excitement. I think she was a little surprised at my reaction, but when I told her that I've been searching for a yarn like this for many years she understood.
Some of you may remember Ironstone Yarns and our Snowflake Cotton. It's been quite some time since Ironstone closed its doors and we were no longer able to find a replacement for our much-loved Snowflake cotton. I can easily say that we've been searching for this type of yarn well over 10 years.
So, my excitement for this yarn reveal is hard to contain, and I know you will love Cotton Essentials Super DK Cotton as much as we do!
Weaving with Cotton Essentials Super DK is so much fun! You can weave your entire project with it, or use it selectively to add bars, stripes, or checks. Create soft towels, cuddly baby blankets, and scarves that will keep you warm and comfortable.
Textured yarns add interest to the simplest design and I'm always on the lookout for textured cottons that mix well with our staple 8/2 and 8/4 yarns. Cotton Essentials Super DK comes in convenient sized, easy to use balls that are economically priced, making it easy to add one or more colors to any project.
Now that you know a little about Cotton Essentials Super DK, I'd like to share a new project with this wonderfully textured, 100% cotton!
Cotton Essentials Towel Set
As a bonus this month, I'm not only offering one free pattern but three free patterns so that you can weave a complete set of towels on any size loom!
I hope you enjoy weaving these Cotton Essentials Towels and share your experience of weaving with our new Cotton Essentials Super DK with us!
Let's Get Started!
- Gather your supplies ~ We've supplied the patterns in this blog to help you get started. You can weave full size towels, fingertip towels, wash cloths, or the complete set! The patterns will be a base that will give you the weaving width, suggested sett and finishing techniques. This pattern also gives the amount of yarns needed.
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We make it easy! Our Cotton Essentials Towel kits make gathering your supplies easy. These kits include all the Aurora Earth and Cotton Essentials yarn needed and there are several color options to choose from!
- Join our Cotton Clouds Weaving Group on Facebook so that you can share your questions, pictures and accomplishments with fellow weavers.
- Let's Weave together! I'm here for you every step of the way! You can contact me by email at jodi@cottonclouds.com if you have any questions about these Cotton Essentials Towels!
Cotton Essentials Full Size Towels
Weave structure: texture weave in 3/1 lace
Yarns: Aurora Earth 8/2 Cotton and Cotton Essentials Super DK
(warp) Aurora Earth 8/2 natural 1000 yds; Cotton Essentials Super DK in color of choice 100 yds.
(weft) Aurora Earth 8/2 natural 1000 yds
Equipment needed: Rigid Heddle Loom; 10 dent reed; 23” weaving width; 2 shuttles
Weaving Width: 22.8”
Total warp ends: 228 ends (Aurora Earth doubled in slots and holes (376 threads), Cotton Essentials single in slots and holes (40 threads).
Warp length: 2.5 yards (90”)
Setts: 10 epi; 9-10 ppi in texture weave
Finished Dimensions: two generously sized towels 18 ½” x 26 ½” hemmed.
Other supplies: matching sewing thread for hems
Available as a kit from Cotton Clouds, Inc.
Warping the Loom:
Set up your loom to direct warp a length of 2.5 yards (90”)
The thinner Aurora Earth 8/2 cotton will be warped with four threads in each slot and the thicker Cotton Essential yarn will be warped with two threads in each slot.
The chart numbers represent the number of threads to warp. One pass to the warping peg equals two threads.
Example:
The first 20 slots will each have four threads natural. (80 threads)
The next slot will have two threads color.
The next slot will each have four threads natural.
After warping the first 20 slots natural, repeat one slot color then one slot natural 10 times. Then warp the next 35 slots with four threads natural. Then warp another stripe alternating one slot color, one slot natural. Finish with 76 threads natural.
Sleying the Reed
Transfer two threads from each slot into the holes with the Aurora Earth natural and one thread from each slot into the holes with the Cotton Essentials color.
Tie the yarns in small sections onto the front beam and tighten your warp so that it’s evenly tensioned.
Preparing the Shuttles
Wind one shuttle with double strand Aurora Earth natural and another shuttle single strand for hems. The single strand shuttle for hems will need approximately 60 yards.
Choose to weave your towels in either plain weave or texture weave. If you choose to weave these towels in a texture weave, follow the directions for charging your pick-up stick and weaving in the 4-step pick-up sequence.
Charging Pick-Up Stick for 3/1 Texture Weave
With the heddle in the down position and working behind the heddle charge your pick-up stick in the following sequence.
21 up (side natural stripe plus first colored thread).
Repeat *1 down, 1 up* in the middle natural and colored threads. (all colored threads will be up).
All 35 natural from the middle area up.
Repeat *1 down, 1 up* in the middle natural and colored threads. (all colored threads will be up).
Last 20 up. (all natural stripe plus first colored thread).
This will give you plain weave in the natural stripes and texture weave in the color areas.
Weaving:
Weave with scrap yarn to spread the warp evenly.
With single strand Aurora Earth 8/2 natural, weave 1 ½” for hem.
Change to double strand shuttle and weave in the 4-step pick-up sequence for 30”.
Finish with another 1 ½” hem using single strand natural.
4-step weaving sequence
- Heddle Up
- Heddle in Neutral with stick on edge
- Heddle Up
- Heddle Down
Separate the towels with a few rows of a contrasting yarn, then start next towel. When you have finished weaving your towels, weave a few rows with a contrasting yarn before cutting yarns off loom.
Finishing and Hemming
Remove the fabric from the loom and sew a zig zag stitch across each hem before cutting apart.
Using an iron with steam fold each hem over twice to get a nice flat edge.
Sew a straight stitch across securing each hem.
Machine wash and dry on normal.
Press with a warm iron if needed.
Towels will relax with more washes.
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Cotton Essentials Fingertip Towels
Weave structure: texture weave in 3/1 lace
Yarns: Aurora Earth 8/2 Cotton and Cotton Essentials Super DK
(warp) Aurora Earth 8/2 natural 830 yds; Cotton Essentials Super DK in color of choice 130 yds.
(weft) Aurora Earth 8/2 natural 800 yds
Equipment needed: Rigid Heddle Loom; 10 dent reed; 15” weaving width; 2 shuttles
Weaving Width: 14.6”
Total warp ends: 146 ends (Aurora Earth doubled in slots and holes (220 threads), Cotton Essentials single in slots and holes (36 threads).
Warp length: 3.5 yards (126”)
Setts: 10 epi; 9-10 ppi in texture weave
Finished Dimensions: four fingertip towels 11 ½” x 17" hemmed.
Other supplies: matching sewing thread for hems
Available as a kit from Cotton Clouds, Inc.
Warping the Loom:
Set up your loom to direct warp a length of 3.5 yards (126”).
The thinner Aurora Earth 8/2 cotton will be warped with four threads in each slot and the thicker Cotton Essential yarn will be warped with two threads in each slot.
The chart numbers represent the number of threads to warp. One pass to the warping peg equals two threads.
Example:
The first 19 slots will each have four threads natural. (76 threads)
The next slot will have two threads color.
The next slot will each have four threads natural.
After warping the first 76 threads natural, repeat one slot color then one slot natural 18 times.
The last 19 slots will be warped with four threads natural. (4 + 72 threads).
Sleying the Reed
Transfer two threads from each slot into the holes with the Aurora Earth natural and one thread from each slot into the holes with Cotton Essentials color.
Tie the yarns in small sections onto the front beam and tighten your warp so that it’s evenly tensioned.
Preparing the Shuttles
Wind one shuttle with double strand Aurora Earth natural and another shuttle with single strand natural for hems. You will need approximately 70 yards for hems.
Choose to weave your fingertip towels in either plain weave or texture weave. You can weave two of each or all four the same. Follow the instructions for charging your pick-up stick and weaving in the 4-step sequence if you choose the texture weave option.
Charging Pick-Up Stick for 3/1 Texture Weave
With the heddle in the down position and working behind the heddle charge your pick-up stick in the following sequence.
20 up (side natural stripe plus first colored thread).
Repeat *1 down, 1 up* in the middle natural and colored threads. (all colored threads will be up).
Last 20 up. (side natural stripe plus first colored thread).
This will give you plain weave in the natural side stripes and texture weave in the middle natural and color area.
Weaving:
Weave with scrap yarn to spread the warp evenly.
Aurora Earth 8/2 natural, weave 1 ½” for hem.
Change to double strand shuttle and weave in the 4-step pick-up sequence for 18”.
Finish with another 1 ½” hem using single strand natural.
4-step weaving sequence
- Heddle Up
- Heddle in Neutral with stick on edge
- Heddle Up
- Heddle Down
When you have finished your first towel weave a few rows with scrap yarn before starting the next. You can weave all four towels in plain weave, all four in texture weave, or two of each. When finished with all four towels, weave with a contrasting yarn for a few rows before cutting them off of the loom.
Finishing and Hemming
Remove the fabric from the loom and sew a zig zag stitch across each hem before cutting apart.
Using an iron with steam fold each hem over twice to get a nice flat edge.
Sew a straight stitch across securing each hem.
Machine wash and dry on normal.
Press with a warm iron if needed.
Towels will relax and be less wrinkled after more washes.
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Cotton Essentials Face Cloths
Weave structure: texture weave in 3/1 lace
Yarns: Aurora Earth 8/2 Cotton and Cotton Essentials Super DK
(warp) Aurora Earth 8/2 natural 350 yds; Cotton Essentials Super DK in color of choice 100 yds.
(weft) Aurora Earth 8/2 natural 300 yds
Equipment needed: Rigid Heddle Loom; 10 dent reed; 10” weaving width; 2 shuttles.
Weaving Width: 10”
Total warp ends: 98 ends (116 threads Aurora Earth doubled in slots and holes, Cotton Essential threads single in slots and holes)
Warp length: 2.5 yards (90”)
Setts: 10 epi; 9-10 ppi in texture weave
Finished Dimensions: 4 face cloths 8” x 10” hemmed.
Other supplies: matching sewing thread for hems
Available as a kit from Cotton Clouds, Inc.
Warping the Loom:
Set up your loom to direct warp a length of 2.5 yards (90”).
The thinner Aurora Earth 8/2 cotton will be warped with four threads in each slot and the thicker Cotton Essential yarn will be warped with two threads in each slot.
The chart numbers represent the number of threads to warp. One pass to the warping peg equals two threads.
Example:
The first 5 slots will each have four threads natural. (20 threads)
The next slot will have two threads color.
The next slot will each have four threads natural.
After warping the first 5 slots natural, repeat one slot color then one slot natural 20 times. Finish with 16 more threads natural.
Sleying the Reed
Transfer two threads from each slot into the holes with the Aurora Earth natural and one thread from each slot into the holes with Cotton Essentials color.
Tie the yarns in small sections onto the front beam and tighten your warp so that it’s evenly tensioned.
Preparing the Shuttles
Wind one shuttle with double strand Aurora Earth natural and another shuttles with single strand natural for hems.
Approximately 50 yards for hems.
Choose to weave your face cloths in either plain weave or texture weave. You can weave two of each or all four the same. Follow the instructions for charging the pick-up stick and weaving in the 4-step sequence if you choose texture weave.
Charging Pick-Up Stick for 3/1 Texture Weave
With the heddle in the down position and working behind the heddle charge your pick-up stick in the following sequence.
6 up (side natural stripe plus first colored thread).
Repeat *1 down, 1 up* in the middle natural and colored threads. (all colored threads will be up).
Last 6 up. (side natural stripe plus first colored thread).
This will give you plain weave in the natural side stripes and texture weave in the middle color area.
Weaving:
Weave with scrap yarn to spread the warp evenly.
With single strand Aurora Earth 8/2 natural, weave 1 ½” for hem.
Change to double strand shuttle and weave in the 4-step pick-up sequence for 12”.
Finish with another 1 ½” hem using single strand natural.
4-step weaving sequence
- Heddle Up
- Heddle in Neutral with stick on edge
- Heddle Up
- Heddle Down
Separate each face cloth with a few rows of a contrasting yarn, then start the next. When you have finished weaving your all four face cloths, weave a few rows with a contrasting yarn before cutting fabric off the loom.
Finishing and HemmingRemove the face cloths from the loom and sew a zig zag stitch across each hem before cutting apart.
Using an iron with steam fold each hem over twice to get a nice flat edge.
Sew a straight stitch across securing each hem.
Machine wash and dry on normal.
Press with a warm iron if needed.
Your face cloths will relax with more washes.
I hope you enjoy weaving your Cotton Essentials Towel Set and share them with your family and friends!
Order your Cotton Essentials Towel Set today and save $10!
We now have a 4-shaft draft available. Please contact me by email at jodi@cottonclouds.com for this pattern.
Happy weaving!
Jodi Ybarra
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