WEFT article index

There’s a lot to love about cotton. It is soft, absorbent, cool, and a practical choice for the handweaver. The author shares how they’ve used cotton as their all-purpose flour in different recipes – how they’ve changed the setts to achieve different fabrics, and how they’ve combined cotton with many other natural materials.

By learning more about the diversity of cotton species and cultivars, as well as methods of spinning and finishing cotton, handweavers can unlock the endless utility of this wonderful, accessible plant fiber and fine-tune how best to use it.

Understanding the thickness of a yarn, and therefore how much of it will fit into a given area of a textile, forms the basis for nearly all of the calculations necessary to plan a piece of cloth. The yarn counts that accomplish this are arguably the most critical measuring systems for successful cloth making.

What’s the point of mercerization? Comparing mercerized and unmercerized cotton.

A deflected doubleweave scarf that utilizes the aspects of mercerized and unmercerized cotton together in the design.

Place mats that use cotton yarn for a decorative krokbragd table cover.

Instructions on dyeing cotton yarn with the cutch plant, including tips on mordants, dyes, and a finishing chalk bath.

A deflected doubleweave table runner that has a fusible thread warp and a natural dyed cotton weft.

Famous for its softness, breathability, and versatility, there are many persistent claims about cotton: cotton is quick drying, cotton is stronger than wool, cotton is stronger when wet. These statements are repeated often but rarely questioned. But how accurate are they?

A scarf that uses the number of Pi to design the draft.

The differences between ring-spun and open-end 2/8 cotton, and how it impacts weaving.

A pattern for twill textured towels woven with 60 percent linen/40 percent cotton slub yarn.

An examination of cotton and hemp blended into yarn.

A tunic woven with a cotton-hemp blend yarn in a crepe structure.

Before you make a garment out of your precious handwoven, make a practice garment.

This rainbow blanket is designed in an overshot draft with lots of color.

Understanding the quality and characteristics of cotton cloth means that the weaver can make appropriate choices – including wet finishing processes and everyday care for a woven piece throughout its life.

A look into traditional American coverlets: how to plan and design your own.

A history of tweed and Estate checks

Different selvedge options for twill weaves

How to use twill ratios to create blocks of patterns called turned twill

Pattern and instructions for weaving the Blueberry Cobbler Blanket

A step-by-step explanation of what gamps are, how to make one, and how to translate a gamp into a project

A short history of denim and how to weave it at home