Ask Madelyn


Ask Madelyn: Dense Sett for Better Selvedges?

I’m trying to work on my selvedges. I’ve heard that you can get better, stronger selvedges by setting the warp threads denser at the selvedge edges.

Ask Madelyn: Shrinking Towels

I have a question about cotton shrinking. When I use handwoven kitchen towels, usually 8/2 cotton, they seem to keep shrinking every time they are washed.

Ask Madelyn: Yarn Counts

Yarn counts cause great confusion even when they are used consistently—and in the case of weaving, they are not.

Ask Madelyn: Converting Metric Reeds to Inches

Is there an easy way to convert metric reeds in order to follow project instructions that give the setts in the number of ends per inch?

Ask Madelyn: Too Late to Use a Temple?

When is it too late to start using a temple? Madelyn explains to a reader how to salvage her much-too-drawn-in selvedges!

Ask Madelyn: Do I Need to Use a Temple?

In essence, you are asking whether weavers really need to use a temple.

Ask Madelyn: Selvedge Denting

The closer denting of the edge threads is probably suggested in order to add a bit of strength to the selvedges.

Ask Madelyn: Relative Absorbency of Mercerized and Unmercerized Yarns

Isn't mercerized cotton as absorbent of water when using it to dry dinnerware? I'd like to make these towels using mercerized cotton if possible.

Ask Madelyn: Washing Handwovens

There are two factors that contribute to choosing the optimum methods of wet finishing handwoven textiles. Madelyn explains the details.

Ask Madelyn: Determining Sett for Doubleweave

Learn how to best determine sett for your doubleweave projects