For some reason, as soon as the weather starts to get cold, I see people all over the internet rejoicing about sweater weather. As much as I can appreciate a cozy cashmere sweater or a soft flannel shirt, I do not enjoy wearing them. I do not like the way long sleeves get in my way or how the sleeve buttons on my flannel shirts tap-tap on my computer as I type. Even so, I still get excited about cold weather and what it means for my wardrobe—that chill in the air means it’s finally scarf season!
As much as I hate wearing long sleeves, I love, love, love to wear scarves. I love wearing lightweight cotton scarves when the air just starts getting chilly and beautifully crisp silk scarves when I want to feel extra fancy. I have wool and wool-blend scarves for when things get extra cold and I need something to not only keep my neck warm but to also wrap around my face as a buffer between the cold winter air so I don’t shock my lungs every time I take a breath.
Deanna Deeds’s 8-shaft Autumn Leaves scarf. You can see her 16-shaft version here.
Perhaps most importantly, scarves go with every outfit and every body. When I was pregnant, I had to buy all new sweaters and jackets to get me through the cold winter months—and sometimes I would find that the new, warm shirt I had bought the month before no longer fit and was pretty much useless. My trusty scarves, however, fit me beautifully and kept me warm and cozy throughout my whole pregnancy. I weave scarves as presents for friends and loved ones for this very reason—I know they’ll be able to get years of use out of a handwoven scarf.
This, of course, brings me to the most important reason I love scarf season: Weaving scarves is an absolute delight. Even if I use fine threads, warping is a snap because scarves are relatively narrow projects compared with dish towels. Speaking of threads, often when I’m designing scarves, I usually design my project around specific yarns. Have a luxury yarn you love but don’t know how to use? Weave a scarf!
If you would like to join me this winter in celebrating scarf season, might I suggest checking out Handwoven Loom Theory: Eight and Over Eight Scarf Collection, which contains 10 scarf projects, five of which are for 8-shaft looms and the other five for looms ranging from 12 to 16 shafts. I am not prone to loom envy—I often prefer 4-shaft drafts—but I certainly considered getting a loom upgrade after seeing these scarves. Fortunately, though, the 8-shaft scarves are so beautiful that I have plenty to weave for the time being.
Bonnie Inouye’s 16-shaft Jin Silk Scarf. You can find her 8-shaft scarf here.
In this eBook, you’ll find scarves woven in twill, networked doubleweave, turned taquete, deflected doubleweave, summer and winter, and Bronson lace. There are scarves perfect for new weavers and ones for weavers who like a challenge. Whether you want to weave something special for yourself or create a showstopper gift for somebody else, this eBook has you covered. Don’t have an 8-shaft loom? Check our other Loom Theory eBooks for 4-shaft looms and rigid-heddle looms. Scarf season, after all, is for everyone.
Happy Weaving!
Christina