Exploring More is a weaving study group for those who want to expand their weaving skills and like a challenge that pushes them into exploring new ideas. This past year the group has been exploring “texture” in weaving. The group meets via zoom on the 4th Thursday of the month and communicates regularly via email. That is great for information exchange but photos can only tell you so much about cloth so once a year they gather in person. In August the group met to share their adventures with texture. The common starting point was “to design a textured cloth” but individuals took very different approaches to the subject.
Mary’s waffle weave sampler
Linda’s deflected double weave sample
Linda’s Pique vest in progress
Sheila’s stuffed double weave sample
There are many ways to incorporate texture into weaving including using textured yarns, using a weave structure that creates texture, combining yarns for differential shrinking effects, double weave variations with or without stuffing or a mixture of all of the above. Mary’s sample illustrates waffle weave, the classic weave structure that uses warp and weft floats to produce deep “cells” that resemble the honeycomb produced by bees. Waffle weave is a favourite weave structure for lofty blankets and highly absorbant dish cloths. Linda’s sample of deflected double weave illustrates how a combination of fibres, structure and finishing can transform a flat cloth.
Linda and Sheila both tried their hand at double weave. Linda used Pique to produce a cloth with two different sides. The dark stitching threads create a diamond pattern on the front of the vest, while pale threads create a faint pattern on the backside. The vest is reversible. In Sheila’s sample of double weave, the dark curves are raised above the light ones.
Nancy’s rep weave wall hanging
Sandra’s tapestry
Nancy and Sandra both went for art pieces. Nancy’s wall hanging is done in “rep weave”, a technique that requires a dense warp setting and heavy beating. The resulting cloth has distinctive weft-wise ribs and strong colours. Sandra is exploring 3 dimensional tapestry. In the free form piece illustrated, she is moving unwoven warp threads to create areas that cross and overlap.
Kath is using textured yarns to elevate a simple but elegant shawl design. The shawl has an overall twill pattern for close up interest. It was woven on the loom with spacer threads in the warp. Once the cloth was wet finished the spacer threads were replaced with dyed wool tops that are lightly spun so their textured appearance stands out.
Pat’s two-sided honeycomb scarf
Sheila’s crepe scarf
Sheila wanted a pebbled surface without a pattern so she designed a 16 harness crepe weave to create a series of scarves. Pat explored two sided honeycomb. Honeycomb combines areas with warp and weft skips with areas of plain weave. When the cloth is wet finished the warp and weft threads move. The thick silk outline thread in the weft is forced to curve as it makes its way across the cloth. This particular example is identical on both sides.
Carol has created the illusion of texture by her choice of yarns. The two tea towels are the same pattern and but the lighter one using a variegated yarn looks highly textured.
Carol’s tea towel in S&W
The topic for exploration for 2026/2027 is about how a favourite weaving book can inspire creativity. Members are asked to pick their favourite weaving book and use something from that book as a jumping off point for a creative adventure. It could be a draft, a picture, a design idea or a technical tip that leads to one of those “what if?” moments.
New members are welcome to join this study group. You don’t need advanced skills, fancy equipment and you don’t need to be a whiz with software to particpate. You just need a desire to expand your horizons, imagination and a willingness to try something new. If you’d be interested in joining the group contact Pat Collins. The group will be meeting via zoom on Thursday September 24th.