In this halvdrall draft, you will see that this design can be woven on 4 shafts. But because of the imbalance between numbers of heddles on shafts 1 and 2 compared to shafts 3 and 4, I would have had to move heddles around on the loom, a task I really hate and try to avoid. I have the luxury of 8 shafts on this loom, so I spread the threading out onto all 8 shafts. Problem solved.

The warp is linen, the tabby picks are cotton, and the pattern wefts are marled linen and a very stiff natural colored hemp. All the yarns are from my stash, and I was going for maximum absorency. The following picture is the first towel cut off and hemmed, but not washed.

The following picture is the towel after machine washing and drying. Shrinkage in warp & weft is about 12%. The absorbency is wonderful. However, I am very disappointed in the behavior of the hemp pattern weft which appears to have gone its own way and pokes out of both selvedges in a very uncivilized manner!

Never mind. The towel will be used and enjoyed. Just not for company.

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