How to Weave Dish Towels

Create patterns by weaving different colored loops.

If you're an avid cook, you can never have enough dish towels, but buying them can get expensive. Save money by weaving your own dish towels at home. Weaving is made faster and easier through the use of a weaving loom. A weaving loom is a board that has pegs around it. It holds the fabric loops in place while you weave them. Purchase a weaving loom that is the same shape and size as a dish towel at a craft store and choose one. Purchase two sizes of weaving loops that will fit over the length and the width of the loom.

Things You'll Need

• Weaving loom
• Long weaving loops
• Short weaving loops
• Crochet hook

Instructions

1. Hold the loom horizontally in front of you.

2. Stretch the shorter weaving loops vertically across the loom until all of the pegs on the top and bottom are covered. Consider using random colors, or creating a pattern.

3. Attach a long weaving loop to the bottom peg on the left side of the loom.

4. Use a crochet hook to pull the other end of the loop under and over each set of vertical weaving loops.

5. Attach the end of the woven loop to the bottom peg on the right board.

6. Place the next weaving loop on the next bottom peg on the left of the loom. Weave the loop in the same way, except pull the loop over where the first loop went under and vice versa. Attach the loop to the next-to-last peg on right side of the loom.

7. Continue until all of the pegs are covered and the dish towel is completely woven.

8. Carefully remove the first two loops at a corner and slip the first loop through the second loop. Slip the second loop through the third loop. Repeat all the way around the loom until you are left with one loop.

9. Tie a knot in the last loop and use it to hang the woven dishtowel.

Tips & Warnings

• Make your own weaving loops out of absorbent fabric if you cannot find long weaving loops.

• If you've got a lot of old and stained shirts or dishtowels, consider cutting them up to make weaving loops. The weaving process will cover up most stains and you'll save money by recycling fabric.

References

• Making Friends: Woven Potholders