A Trio of Twills

So you want to weave twill on the rigid-heddle loom. Maybe you’ve already woven a sampler—but how do you take this new technique and apply it to a full-length project? If you’re used to weaving plain weave in all its variations, it can be hard to envision how a given yarn or set of yarns will work when woven in twill. To help you out, here are 3 different rigid-heddle-woven scarves that approach yarn choice in twill in 3 very different ways.

Yvonne Ellsworth’s A Faun’s Scarf.

First up is A Faun’s Scarf by Yvonne Ellsworth from the Winter 2022 issue. For her scarf, Yvonne chose to use one color in both warp and weft and to rely on the point created by the twill for visual interest. The result is subtle but still so interesting—the kind of cloth that at first glance seems simple until you notice the shadows that beckon you to take a closer look. As an added benefit, the twill gives the scarf incredible drape—much more so than you’d get weaving the same yarn in plain weave.

The next two pieces are both by Nancy Peck, starting with her Double-Faced Herringbone Scarf from Summer 2021, shown in the photo at top. At first glance, Nancy’s scarf seems to have a complicated warp color order, but in reality the self-striping yarn she used for the warp does all the heavy lifting. The result is gorgeous, not-quite-symmetrical warp stripes that take no extra effort on the part of the weaver.

Then, to make sure her pattern and warp both got to shine, Nancy used a solid-colored yarn for the weft that matched one of the greens in the warp. What I love about this color and pattern pairing is how different stripes seem to highlight different parts of the herringbone design, and how one side of the scarf emphasizes the stripes and the other the patterning. The more I look at this scarf, the more I want to keep looking.

Nancy Peck’s Spring Fling Scarf.

Finally, the last scarf is Nancy Peck’s Spring Fling Scarf from Spring 2022. Once again Nancy used a variegated yarn for the warp, but rather than choose a self-striping yarn, she chose one with more random color changes, which in turn created splashes of color throughout the warp. For her weft, Nancy found a solid turquoise from the same yarn line as her weft, so it matches the turquoise in the warp perfectly. The result looks a bit like an artful paint splatter, in the best way. While the twill design might seem secondary to the colorful warp, they work together perfectly. As you look at the colorful bits of pink and yellow, suddenly diamonds and points pop out at you as if by magic. The scarf really and truly is a master class in color and pattern.

So there you have it, three very different ways of approaching yarns and twill on a rigid-heddle loom from very simple to slightly more complex. Whether you decide to weave these projects as written or use them as a stepping stone to create something of your own, I hope you feel inspired to weave. And if you need a little help getting started on weaving twill, make sure to check out our new course Twill on the Rigid-Heddle Loom.

Happy Weaving!
Christina