When it comes to weaving we love to make things for the kitchen, and our new linen dish cloth project is as easy as it is useful. We couldn't find our favorite Irish versions locally so we've made our own. The project is written for weaving six cloths on a four yard warp, but it is easy to 'double the recipe' and weave up a big batch of thoughtful gifts for every cook on your holiday list!
CANVAS LACE WEAVE
The weave structure is a lace 'canvas' weave, based on Marguerite Davison. Wait - lace and canvas sound like opposites!? Lace weaves simply mean that you're selectively skipping threads to create open spaces in the fabric. While still on the loom it looks like plain weave, but after finishing the skipped threads create 'holes' that open up, letting the threads shift around to alternately cluster and spread apart, creating a uniformly textured cloth that offers lots of fun possibilities! In finer threads you can use it to create allover openwork fabric that makes beautiful window treatments for filtering light, or delicate transparent cloth for a shawl or veil.
(Before and after finishing, what a difference a little lace makes!)
Rug hookers may recognize the traditional canvas variation here as the same weave structure used in monk's cloth. The open squares make a perfect canvas for hooking or punching rugs, or in more delicate cloth as the background for embroidery. While you can use plain weave for those crafts, the uniform grid of a canvas weave makes it easy to create crisp lines and avoid poking into the threads themselves.
Why is canvas weave perfect for these dishcloths? We're all for reducing the amount of plastic in our lives, especially in the kitchen. The little 'pockets' that characterize this fabric provides lots of grippy texture for scrubbing plates without resorting to plastic sponges or harsh metal that can scrape and damage your pots and pans. The openness of the fabric makes it easy to rinse clean and dry quickly so they won't trap bacteria and get that sour smell.
Linen is quite durable, especially when wet, and more resistant to mildew than most materials. Our natural European undyed 16/2 Newport Linen won't introduce any chemicals into your sink and it looks easy and elegant in any decor. We added a little pop of 5/2 Cotton for color and to help the cloths hold their shape. So no more stinky sponges, just beautiful handmade cloths that work as well or better!
EASY TO WEAVE AND USE, GREAT TO GIVE!
You'll be able to machine wash and dry these tough little cloths for years and they'll still look great. The project can be woven on a 4-shaft (harness) loom, or a rigid heddle with a pick-up stick. It's suitable for advanced beginners and is a great introduction to lace weaving. Choose rigid heddle or 4-shaft instructions or kits. They're fun to weave and you'll feel happy every time you open your pantry drawer and pull out a fresh one!
Shop Classic Linen Dishcloth Kits & Patterns now!
