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This week Maddison Wilkerson of West Domestic has shared with us a modern approach to the classic buffalo check blanket. Woven with a blend of our 8/4 Un-mercerized Brassard Cotton Weaving Yarn and Italian Cotton/Linen Weaving Yarn, this blanket is rich with color and texture -- a true heirloom piece.
Maddison writes, "Traditionally, Buffalo Check is woven with identical warp and weft stripes, using the same threads for both to create solid blocks of color. But by using slightly different colored threads, there was a little more depth to the weaving. The Natural color is a creamier with Sand [Italian Cotton Linen] woven in, and the Navy Blue becomes a bit brighter when the Midnight [Italian Cotton Linen] is mixed in. I love how it turned out!"
Need some help getting started? Check out Resources for Beginner and Intermediate Weavers.
Warp: 4 cones 8/4 Un-mercerized Brassard Cotton Weaving Yarn (2 of each color)
Weft:2 cones Italian Cotton/Linen Weaving Yarn (1 of each color)
Want to make this project but don't have such a wide loom? Adapt this project to a smaller width loom and make a throw blanket!
Color A = Natural 8/4 Un-mercerized Brassard Cotton
Color B = Navy Blue 8/4 Un-mercerized Brassard Cotton
Color C = Midnight Italian Cotton/Linen
Color D = Sand Italian Cotton/Linen
Warp Color Order: Each stripe band is 100 ends. You will have 4 stripes of Color A (400 ends) and 5 stripes of Color B (500 ends). Each stripe will be about 6.5" wide.
Weft Color Order: Maddison writes, " The warp stripes are about 6.5” wide, so I wove each weft stripe about 6.25”. (Remember that the warp is pulled tight and will bounce back a bit once cut off the loom, so the weft stripes don’t need to be quite as wide.)
Leave at least 6” for fringe, then begin weaving with [Color C] for 6.25”. Change bobbins and weave with [Color D] for 6.25”. Weave in this pattern until the end (about 70"). Once pulled off the loom I had 7 blue stripes and 6 natural stripes."
Finishing: Maddison writes, " Cut blanket off the loom and finish the ends. I like to use a thick twisted fringe. Wash cold and dry on low heat. Enjoy!
This pattern can easily be modified to create a scarf, table runner or tea towels. The 8/4 Un-mercerized Brassard Cotton was a dream warp--not a single broken thread! And the Italian Cotton/Linen is a great price; I still have plenty leftover for another project."
Maddi Wilkerson has been weaving since 2013. She currently works in her home studio in Lexington, Kentucky.
"West Domestic came from the idea to create beautiful and useful woven heirlooms in my home for yours. The desire to create, and to share your creations, is something that's been passed down through many generations of Wests. Through my work I hope to honor my family's spirit of hospitality and creativity."
