Farmhouse Napkins

Farmhouse Napkins

A classic set of cotton/linen napkins for your next (socially distanced) picnic. The stripes ripple and fade from one hue to another, inspired by sun-washed, heirloom table linens. 

Please note: we no longer carry the yarn for this pattern, but you are welcome to use this post as inspiration.

Designed by Christine Jablonski for GIST: Yarn & Fiber

Need some help getting started? Check out Resources for Beginner and Intermediate Weavers

Materials 

Warp & Weft:2 cones of Italian Cotton/Linen in Twilight and Eggshell (14 oz cones with 3,000 yards each)

Project Notes

• Tools Required: 2-4 shaft table or floor loom with at least 24" weaving width, 12 dent reed, boat shuttle & bobbins
  
• EPI: 18 (sleyed 1-2 in a 12 dent reed)                
  
• PPI: ~18
  
• Width at Reed: 22.75"
  
• Warp Ends: 412
  
• Warp Length: 6 yards (216"), includes 22" of weaving length per towel (176” total) plus 40” for loom waste and sampling
  
• Draft: Tabby (plain weave)               
• Total warp yarn used: ~1236 yards each color (2472 yards total)
• Total weft yarn used: ~1001 yards each color (2002 yards total)
• Woven Length: (measured under tension on the loom) ~22" each napkin
• Finished Dimensions: 8 napkins that measure ~20" W x 20" L each after washing and hemming
• Finishing Details: Hemstitch or machine sewn hem                
  
• Care Instructions: Machine wash cold, air dry or tumble dry low, press as needed

Instructions

• Color A = Italian Cotton/Linen Weaving Yarn in Twilight
• Color B = Italian Cotton/Linen Weaving Yarn in Eggshell

1. Warp the loom with a total of 412 warp ends (206 of each color), 6 yards long, following the warp color order below.

2. Center for a weaving width of 22.75", thread for plain weave and sley 1-2 ends per dent in a 12 dent reed. Weave for 22” per towel; 4 towels with Color A and 4 colors with Color B, or mix it up according to your preference. Weave a few picks with scrap yarn in between each napkin. If you prefer to hemstitch, make sure to leave about 1" of space for fringe between each napkin. 

3. After removing the yardage from the loom (and before cutting the napkins apart) use a sewing machine to straight stitch the ends of each napkin, making sure to back-stitch the first few and last few stitches to secure the edges of the hem. The stitching should be about 1/2" from the scrap yarn marker on either side.  Cut the napkins apart at the scrap yarn marker, leaving a short fringe on either side. Machine wash cold on delicate and air dry (or tumble dry low if preferred). Press as needed. If you chose to hemstitch the edges, cut apart the napkins at the center of the 1" space left for fringe, then wash. 

About Christine Jablonski

In addition to being GIST's Director of Operations, Wholesale & Customer Service, Christine is a weaver and exhibiting fiber artist. She scampered down the rabbit hole of rigid heddle weaving several years ago as a way to use up her knitting stash and never looked back. In addition to very practical cloth woven to adorn home and body (tea towels are her favorite home linen projects to weave), Christine also weaves conceptual works that explore themes of mood and memory, strength and fragility, and often reflect on the current political and ecological landscape. Her work is held in private collections across the country and is shown regionally in New England galleries. To see more of Christine's work, check out her Instagram.