Wonderous Waffle Weave

A few weeks ago, I warped my loom up for a pair of towels. Going into the project, I had no real plans except that my first towel would be plain weave with a couple of weft stripes to complement the warp-stripe border. As I wove that first towel, I thought about what I wanted to weave next and, after some careful consideration, decided on waffle weave for my second towel. I’m so glad I did because it was an absolute joy to weave!

While the thought of so much pick-up might incline beginning weavers to shudder, weaving waffle weave was anything but a chore. I used a pick-up pattern from Jodi Ybarra’s Playing with Blocks: Waffle-Weave Towels that had me set up the pick-up stick once and then keep it in the warp for the duration of weaving. The weaving sequence was also very simple, so before I knew it, I found my rhythm. The resulting towel is still waiting to be hemmed, but the waffle-y texture is such a delight I cannot wait to put it to good use in my kitchen.

Waffle-Weave Pullover by Betty Linn Davenport. Photo by Joe Coca

So, I’m extra excited to share our newest All Access–exclusive eBook, Waffle Weave for the Rigid-Heddle Loom: 3 Projects to Explore and Play with Texture. (Not an All Access subscriber? Learn about the program here.) As the title states, this eBook includes three incredible projects—two of which were originally published in Handwoven. Along with the waffle-weave towels by Jodi Ybarra that inspired my project, you’ll find a waffle-weave runner that uses the exact same pick-up sequence and a classic top with a slightly more complicated pick-up pattern, perfect for intermediate weavers. Even better, it’s completely free for All Acess subscribers!

Waffle-Weave Table Runner by Kati Reeder Meek. Photo by Joe Coca

Whether you’re just getting started on your pick-up or waffle-weave journey or you’re a seasoned waffler (is that even a word?) looking for a new, fun project, I suggest checking out this eBook, which you can download by clicking here. I hope it inspires you as much as it inspired me!

Happy Weaving!
Christina