The next step in this Crackle journey was to try a lighter weight warp yarn for less “weighty” towels. I chose 16/2 unmercerized cotton for warp, but still sett at 24 epi. I used that for tabby weft and 8/2 unmercerized for pattern weft. I really loved the result! The hand of the towels is great. The weaving time, however, was much longer, which makes sense, since it takes longer to weave finer yarns.

Other changes included three new treadling variations. Because. I soon realized that I couldn’t keep doing the same pattern again and again. Here’s what I came up with:

Treadling variation number 1. Same treadling order as the original pattern, but treadling each block 8 times. This elongates the pattern and makes it more distinct.

Treadling variation number 2. Rhythm Crackle ZigZag #1. Gradually increasing the number of times each block is treadled, then reversing and decreasing.

Treadling variation number 3. Rhythm Crackle ZigZag #2. Same idea with different proportions. (Fun fact: I changed tubes in mid towel with what I thought was the same color yarn. Wrong. The difference is so subtle, I didn’t catch it until I took a photo with my new camera.)

I will figure out how to offer these new variations with my original pattern in my Etsy shop. But for now, I’m working on some turned Summer and Winter drafts, and travel plans are afoot!