Bonus Project! Striped Napkins with Pick-Up

I think it's safe to say that spring has sprung, at least it has in my part of the world. Each morning I head out to the garden to see what flowers are blooming and which herbs and vegetables are ready for harvest. My garden is full of bright greens as new seedlings burst from the soil each week. To celebrate the beauty and bounty of spring, how about a free subscriber-exclusive project for a set of springy napkins?

These napkins, designed by Susan E. Horton, are a perfect springtime project for the rigid-heddle loom. First, the pastel palette just absolutely screams “spring!” in the best possible way. Also, I don’t know about you, but I love weaving with cotton and cotton blends when the weather gets warm. It just feels seasonably appropriate somehow. For her napkins, Susan used doubled 8/2 cotton in the warp and single 8/2 cotton in the weft, but I bet these would also be lovely in 8/2 or 22/2 cottolin. (Fun fact: 8/2 and 22/2 cottolin are the same thing—the difference in numbering has to do with whether a company uses the linen or cotton content as the basis for the numbering system.)

These napkins would not only look beautiful on a springy dining-room table but would be perfect for a picnic.

Beyond the spring appropriateness of the napkins, they’re also a delight to weave. Susan probably could have woven them in plain weave and had them turn out beautiful, but she added an eye-catching strip of pick-up at either end. The pick-up is incredibly simple and quick to weave, making it perfect for beginners or anyone who just wants to weave something simple—but not too simple. It’s like the homemade whipped cream on top of a fresh-baked brownie: minimal effort with maximum effect. We love to see it!

Just one last fun design note: These napkins are also incredibly easy to change up. Adding on an extra 8" or so of plain weave to each napkin turns them into a towel—just make sure to adjust the warp accordingly. It’s also incredibly easy to swap out colors to come up with a palette that fits your taste and your place.

Ready to get weaving these fabulous napkins? Current subscribers can click here to get their free exclusive Striped Napkins with Pick-Up project.