The days (and nights) are cooling down, and autumn colors are gradually edging their way into the landscape. Why not celebrate the season? With that idea in mind, we strolled through a few recent back issues in search of autumnal weaving projects for our homes and our wardrobes. We hope you’ll find something here that will inspire you to put a warp on your loom and get weaving!
A Leafy Runner
The Falling Leaves Runner by Sue Anne Sullivan, from the Fall 2025 issue of Handwoven, is woven in leafy stripes using warm shades with a touch of green.
This eight-shaft twill design was inspired by the falling autumn leaves Sue Anne saw out the window as she wove. Pearl cotton in both warp and weft gives the piece a glow—weave it to add a seasonal touch to your table.
A Stylish Scarf
Robin Monogue’s stylish Taste of Sonoma Scarf, from the Fall 2024 issue of Handwoven, evokes the ripe fruits of harvest time. This four-shaft, two-shuttle piece uses bamboo and Tencel in the warp, and Tencel and wool in the weft—which means it will keep you warm when the temperatures fall.
The spot weave structure is called barleycorn. Robin’s research led her to conclude that this old structure is the same as (or very closely related to) spot Bronson.
A Cozy Poncho
This is the time of year when an extra layer starts to feel cozy. Robin Lynde’s Solano Plaid Poncho, from the September/October 2021 issue of Handwoven, is woven doublewidth in plain weave on a four-shaft loom (although you could weave it narrower on a two-shaft loom and seam the panels together).
Robin wove hers using a locally grown sportweight wool that she dyed using local plants. You could do the same, or you could weave one using Harrisville Shetland. As she says, “Isn’t a poncho an acceptable way to wear your warmest, coziest blanket in public?”
A Brilliant Runner
The Block Party Runners by Jill Staubitz, from the November/December 2022 issue of Handwoven, squeeze 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.
A Thirsty Towel
The Broken Stripe Towel design by Patty Crane, from the May/June 2022 issue of Handwoven, brings twill stripes with the warm colors of autumn into the kitchen.
This thirsty cotton towel was designed using a four-shaft broken twill draft handed down by Doukhobors (a pacifist religious sect that immigrated to Canada from Russia at the turn of the twentieth century).