Our Blog

Woven Spring Shawl in Ashford Caterpillar Cotton
Here is a simple but beautiful, drapey, lightweight shawl using only one cone of Ashford Caterpillar Cotton woven on a rigid heddle loom.
*Reposted with permission from www.ashford.co.nz/.*

Add color, texture and interest to your projects with Ashford's Caterpillar Cotton: 100% cotton variegated dyed yarn with a beautiful crimpy, spiral plied texture. Lovely and lightweight – perfect for weaving, knitting and crochet. So soft and great to work with. Voluminous but not heavy with twice the bulk for the weight of the yarn.
You will need:
- Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom - 24" or wider
- 7.5 dent rigid heddle
- 1 cone of Ashford Caterpillar Cotton in color of your choice
- Shuttle of choice
Here's how:
- Total warp ends: 180
- Total warp length: 2m (6½ft)
- Width in reed: 24ins
- EPI (ends per inch): 7.5
- PPI (picks per inch): 7.5
- Weave structure: Plain balanced weave
- Finished width: 23ins
- Finished length: 6ft
Warping
Warp the full width in Caterpillar cotton using whatever method you prefer.
Weaving
Weave the full length of the warp. Ensure you have a balanced weave – when placing the weft yarn BEAT GENTLY with the heddle. For the balanced weave you want 7.5 rows per inch of weaving.
Finishing
Remove your woven fabric from the loom and secure the ends with a zigzag stitch and hem. Wash in warm water and a little liquid soap and lay flat to dry. Press with a hot iron.
Featured Products
Ashford Caterpillar Cotton Yarn

$36.50
Ashford Caterpillar Cotton Yarn 100% cotton variegated dyed yarn with a beautiful crimpy, spiral plied texture Lovely and light weight - perfect for weaving -...… read more
Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom

$299.00
Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom Made of New Zealand Silver Beech, the Ashford rigid heddle loom is available in four weaving widths. The heddle blocks on...… read more
Ashford Rigid Heddles

$41.50
Additional rigid heddles for the Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom and Ashford SampleIt Loom. Shop these rigid heddle looms for sale today. Not compatible with the...… read more