I have been inspired to make a name draft overshot table runner for my niece and her partner, who have just moved into their first home together. I would like to use some combination of cotton yarns, but I am unclear about both the sett and the choice of yarns for the tabby and the pattern wefts. Can I use 8/2 cotton for the warp and the tabby weft and 8/4 for the pattern weft, or would I do better to use 16/2 for the warp and tabby weft, or??? And depending on your advice, what sett should I use? Thank you.
You could use 8/2 for the warp, 16/2 for the tabby and 8/4 for the pattern weft. Do you have Fiberworks on your computer so you could get an idea of how the different weights will work together? My favourite choice, for special projects like runners as family gifts, is to use cottolin. You could use 16/2 cotton as tabby.
Cheryl Schwarz
Thank you. Just what I needed to know. Yes, I did download Fiberworks and have watched the episodes where he explains how to use it, but I haven’t ever tried it for a project. Perhaps this is the opportunity! As for cottolin, I admit I am not that enthusiastic about weaving with linen, after one disastrous attempt. But if I were to try it, just to clarify your note above - I’d use the cottolin for the warp? Thanks again.
I'm going to write a word that makes us cringe ;-) - sample... I just wound a sample warp using the yarns I plan to use in a runner of a structure I'm not that familiar with. You are only going to know if you are happy with the results after you have washed and pressed it. Better to find out you aren't happy with the sett, yarn or .... before you have spent the time and money weaving the whole project. Cottolin is not 100% linen but is 70% cotton/30% linen. It handles like an 8/2 cotton when weaving but has a much nicer hand in the runner IMHO. Using a mini warp using the cottolin, you can play with different options for your pattern and tabby to see which one makes you happiest.