Subtle Star Overshot Doubleweave Blanket

Directions

Warping Notes

1. When you warp the loom, you will thread a top-layer warp end, followed by the corresponding bottom-layer warp end. Together, these two warps will "hold" a half-pass of weft, reaching from one selvedge to the other of your blanket. This means your top and bottom layers have to be warped simultaneously. Do not warp all of the top layer followed by all of the bottom layer. Sley each pair in the same dent of the reed. Take it slow and minimize distractions. Once you begin weaving, you will be blind to what is happening in your bottom layer most of the time. It is really important to get the warp right before you begin to save yourself heartache.

2. With doubleweave, the bottom layer is woven with the wrong side facing up. The threads that are left down create the overshot pattern. You will have to utilize all 10 treadles to accomplish this.

   The first 4 treadles create the top layer, simply lifting shafts 1 through 4 individually per treadle. You must step on two treadles for each pick on the top layer of your blanket.

   For the bottom layer, you must use 6 treadles: 4 to lift the top layer out of the way and 2 to raise warp from the top layer. Each treadle will raise a combination of 6 shafts, leaving the remaining shafts down to create the pattern (i.e., if warps threads in shafts 5 and 8 need to go over your pattern weft, tie shafts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 to a treadle, leaving 5 and 8 unattached). Tie up treadles 5 through 10 with combinations for the overshot pattern and for tabby.

Weaving

1. Warp your loom using your preferred method following the weaving draft. Gray boxes in the threading and tie-up (below) indicate shafts and treadles for the bottom layer.

   

2. Sley the reed with 2 threads per dent, one from the top layer, one from the bottom layer. Place both floating selvedges in the same dent on the furthest dent at the left selvedge. You'll weave with the open side on the left and the fold at the right.

3. To make sure you do not accidentally weave shut the open side of your blanket, think of the floating selvedges in a series of four passes: over both, under both, between, between.

   

4. Starting on the left side, spread the warp using a scrap yarn that is easy to remove. For this header, treadle the tabby sequence 1 & 3 / 9 / 10 / 2 & 4.

5. Wind one shuttle with the tabby weft (Cotton Fine Vintage Linen) and another with the pattern weft (Cotton Fleece Weathered Barn Wood). You will alternate between these two yarns as you weave; whenever they meet at the left selvedge, twist the yarns around each other. Remember that you must weave 1 pick in the top layer and 1 pick in the bottom layer—half a pass—before changing threads. A full pass includes one pick of tabby weft and one pick of pattern weft on both layers.

6. Starting on the left selvedge, begin the weaving draft using Cotton Fine Vintage Linen for the tabby picks and Cotton Fleece Weathered Barn Wood for the pattern picks. (A typical overshot draft does not include the tabby picks, but because of the doubleweave, they have been included in this draft.)

   

7. The treadling sequence always runs top tabby, bottom tabby, top pattern, bottom pattern, for the first half-pass; then bottom tabby, top tabby, bottom pattern, top pattern for the second half-pass. (The treadling draft is marked in 8-row repeats to help you stay on track, with tabby picks marked in gray.) Picks 1a, 1b, 3a, and 3b always run left to right; 2a, 2b, 4a, and 4b always run right to left. The tabby pick always comes before its corresponding pattern pick.

   

8. Stop and check often that there are no stray mistakes catching the layers together: slide a ruler, stick shuttle, or pick-up stick between the layers to check for snags in the interior. Don't pull your weft tight at the fold on the right selvedge, where you turn the corner from a pick on the top layer to a pick on the bottom layer.

9. Once your blanket measures 55", weave a few tabby picks with scrap yarn to protect the finished edge of your weaving. Cut the blanket from the loom, making sure to leave warp length for the fringe.

Finishing

1. Unfold the blanket. Trim the fringe down to 6 inches. Work a twisted fringe in bundles of 6 threads, adding the floating selvedges to the bundles at each edge.

2. Weave in weft tails but don't trim them yet.
3. Using a mild detergent, wash the blanket by hand or on the delicate cycle of a washing machine. If you are using darker colors or colors that might migrate, use 1/8 cup white vinegar with the mild detergent and/or a color-catching laundry sheet. Air dry flat or on a drying rack.

4. Trim away any tails on your blanket. Trim the fringe for a crisp-line finish if desired.