Block Party Runners

This runner, from the November/December 2022 issue of Handwoven, squeezes four pattern blocks out of summer and winter in a four-shaft design woven in cotton and cottolin.

The red warp and orange weft show off the colors of changing leaves, while the blue brings to mind the bright October sky. Together, they’ll welcome the season to your table brilliantly.

About the Project

Summer and winter woven on four shafts traditionally produces two pattern blocks, but Jill Staubitz discovered a way to expand that rule after attending a workshop on tied-unit weaves. By rearranging the shafts and tie-downs in the threading and treadling, Staubitz transformed two pattern blocks into four.

Summer and winter woven in this hybrid fashion becomes a shaft-efficient, tied-unit weave structure, yielding four unique pattern blocks on four shafts.

Contents

• Block Party Runners Project Instructions PDF
• WIF

Details

Structure
Summer and winter.

Equipment
4-shaft loom, 17" weaving width; 10-dent reed; 2 shuttles.

Yarns
Warp: 8/2 cotton (3,360 yd/lb; Bockens), #132 blue gray, 576 yd; #477 maroon, 648 yd. 22/2 cottolin (60% cotton/40% linen; 2,925 yd/lb; Bockens), #2002 unbleached, 112 yd (used doubled).
Weft: 22/2 cottolin, #2002 unbleached, 355 yd. 5/2 cotton (2,100 yd/lb; UKI), #107 Melon, 520 yd (used doubled).

Dimensions
Width in the reed: 161/10".
Woven length: 90" (45" per runner).
Finished size: (after wet-finishing and hemming) two runners, 14½" × 32" each.

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