Waffles and Ice Cream

Growing up, sometimes as a really special treat, we’d have waffles and ice cream for breakfast. The waffles were homemade by my mom and we would put the ice cream on them fresh out of the waffle iron. Steaming hot waffles meeting cold ice cream, which would then melt just the right amount, making the waffle perfectly soggy in the center but still crispy around the edges.

I grew up in Brooklyn, NY and summers were spent at the beach, in the water. My birthday is in the height of summer and I have always loved the sun and the ocean. These towels are a tribute to those summers at the beach. Maybe I am feeling just a tiny bit nostalgic right now. It doesn’t happen often for me, but with the passing of the older generation and my son preparing to leave for college in the fall, I am feeling the passing of time in a new way. Thanks for the indulging me, just a little bit.

About the Towels

This is a fun weave, perfect for summer. For shaft looms, the warp is threaded for a point twill and treadles can be walked. The eight-shaft pattern uses six shafts for the waffles and two shafts to control the selvedges. On the rigid-heddle loom it is an eight-pick sequence, using only one pick-up stick.

I love the difference between the three patterns…the way the crevices in the waffles deepen with additional shafts, the shallow and beautiful ripples which show off a more complex fabric on the rigid-heddle loom.

Since the threading for shaft looms is a point twill, you have the option of weaving a rose path design on the same warp with just a tie-up change. Some of the samples in the reveal are of a six shaft, unbalanced rosepath…one side is warp faced, the other weft faced. On the rigid heddle loom, you can simplify by weaving in plain weave or make it more complex by using two heddles for a finer fabric.

The kit contains enough yarn to weave four towels and have some leftover to add to your stash. If you want to weave lots and lots of towels, here are the numbers, the math is up to you!

Warp (rigid heddle thread count is total ends, not working ends)

Wine: 135 threads (4 and 8-shaft), 122 threads (rigid-heddle)

Brick: 170 threads (4 and 8-shaft), 144 (rigid-heddle)

Rouge Scarlet: 135 threads (4 and 8-shaft), 122 (rigid-heddle)

Vieil Or: 60 threads (4 and 8-shaft), 88 (rigid-heddle)

Weft: approximately 440 yds per towel

I find that waffle weave is an exercise in letting go. The structure is stunning on the loom and it is easy to get attached. When it changes dramatically in wet finishing, it can feel just a bit heartbreaking. But then when I can let go of what it was and let it fully shine as it is, I find myself delighted.

Happy Weaving!

Dena