Waffle Weave and Wool—a Match Made in Heaven

Recently, I wrote about weaving waffle weave on the rigid-heddle loom and how it’s much easier than you might think, especially when compared to some other multi-shaft weave structures. In its simplest form on the rigid-heddle loom, waffle weave takes just a pick-up stick and the ability to remember a 6-pick weaving sequence—that’s all it takes to weave up beautifully textured fabric.

While weavers often associate waffle weave with towels, it’s also fantastic for scarves. The little waffle pockets trap air to keep you warm without overheating, and the waffle texture adds great visual interest. I bring this up because while searching through old Handwoven projects, I came across the Shetland Scarf by Joe Sullins.

Woven in what he calls “window pane,” the scarf features a wonderful waffle pattern that’s ideal for beginners. I immediately fell in love, so naturally I had to offer this project as a subscriber bonus PDF download! (Not a subscriber yet? Learn more about the benefits and different tiers here.) Even better, I’ve got some ideas for modifications to make the scarf work for you, your loom, and your stash.

Playing with Color

While the scarf is simple, it’s executed beautifully. Joe enhances his design by using some gorgeous heathered Harrisville Shetland, and the color variations add incredible depth to an already lovely scarf. Of course, if you don’t have a cone (or two or three) of Shetland in your stash like I do, feel free to substitute your favorite scarf-weaving wool. While we don’t often think of waffle weave as an opportunity to play with color, it’s actually a great structure for using variegated yarns.