Before stitching, prepare the fabric by zig-zagging the raw edges.  Then wash with detergent in warm water.  Dry in the dryer. It might shrink anywhere from 48 inches to 52 inches wide.

Monk's cloth comes in white, natural, red, pink, blue, green, and black.  Dye the fabric for other colors.

           Needle - Use a #13 yarn needle. This dull needle has a big enough eye to easily thread, but not so large it pulls the floats out of shape.

           Yarn - Choose a high quality yarn that will not shrink, pill or bleed. Four-ply yarn works the best. Avoid yarns that require special handling or washing. Most blankets use between eight and sixteen ounces of yarn, depending on the design.

            Safety pins - Use pins to mark the center point and design starting points.

           Huck toweling - This material is 15" wide and has 7 floats per inch. The floats only run in one direction, vertical on the front and horizontal on the back.

           Huck cloth - This material has 3 floats per inch (6 rows per inch). Stockholm and Popcorn are two brand names. Stitch designs with Perle Cotton.

            Aida cloth - This fabric is labeled as to the size of the weave.  A 14-count fabric, means 14 rows per inch. Stitch designs with embroidery floss. When stitching pick up the two center threads instead of going through the holes as for counted cross stitch.

             Before stitching, it is necessary to prepare the monk's cloth. This cotton fabric will shrink and the raw edges will unravel when washed. To prepare the monk's cloth for stitching, first zig-zag all raw edges. Then wash with detergent in warm water. Dry in the dryer.

Raw edge - The cut edge which must be zig-zagged before washing.

Selvage edge - The finished edge of the fabric.

Float - The four strands of thread that run vertically along the fabric.

Horizontal Float - The four strands of thread that run horizontally in the fabric.

Row - The vertical and horizontal threads (boxes) which run either from top to bottom or side to side. In the pattern instructions, left 1 and up 3, means you count left one row and up three rows.

This term is also used to mean one part of a design.

Even-Weave - Any stitching medium with evenly spaced rows, such as the following: Monk's cloth, Huck toweling, Huck cloth, and Aida cloth. We have also used these other mediums: Linen, dish towels, floor mats, afghan material, and hand crocheted afghans.

             Start from the center of the fabric and work design to the edge. To find the center of the fabric, fold the cloth in half vertically and then in half horizontally. Place a safety pin in the center float to mark the center of the fabric.

              Measure the yarn from edge to edge of the fabric, the number of times given in the pattern and then add eight inches. Thread needle and make the first stitch by catching the four vertical strands of the float. You cannot see the yarn on the backside of the fabric, since the yarn lies on the top of the threads below the float. Glide the yarn through this first stitch. Position half of the yarn on each side of this stitch.

               Start in the center of each row and work to the edges. Remove the needle. Then turn the fabric upside down. Rethread the needle with the other half of the yarn and work to the edge. Starting in the center is beneficial in two ways, one, there is not as much yarn to control and two, the yarn does not become overworked.

               Folding the fabric near the stitching row makes the area easier to reach. Holding your thumb over the first stitch helps the yarn glide through easily and keeps the yarn from pulling the float out of shape.

               To correct mistakes, carefully work backwards through the floats.

               In most pieces, work the design to the end of the row, whatever the edging used. After the last stitch at the end of the row, push the needle through to back of the monk's cloth. Then remove yarn from the needle leaving the yarn on the back side. If only part of the design will be completed at the end of the row, select a pleasing stopping point. Then finish with base stitches to the end of the row.

               In designs that do not end at the edge of the fabric, run the needle back through a few floats on the front of the piece. Push the needle to the back of the piece and clip the yarn and secure with fabric glue. If the work is a pillow or wall hanging, push the needle through to back of the monk's cloth. Run the needle through a few floats on the back of the piece, and then clip the yarn.

Blankets, pillows, table cloths, and other projects can have a variety of finished edges.

          Zig zag 4 - 36 rows from the edge. Cut the edge of the monk's cloth even on all four sides. Unravel the rows from the zig zag stitches to the edge of the cloth. Cut off all the yarns at the edge of the cloth to be the same length as the fringe.

           A pillow may also have this edging. Iron the pillow top on the back side. Zig-zag 4 to 20 rows from the four edges. Cut the edges even. To fringe, remove the outer strands of monk's cloth. Cut the material for the pillow back the same size as the pillow top. Fold over the edges and press. Place the fabrics with the wrong sides together. Using a straight stitch, sew around three edges and the four corners. Insert a pillow form. Sew the fourth side.

          Variation 1 - Instead of cutting the edge of the monk's cloth in a straight line, cut the edge in a zig zag or a scallop pattern.

          Variation 2 - Cut yarns longer than edge of monk's cloth.

          Variation 3 - Tie two sets of the fringe together in a square knot or tie one set in an overhand knot.

          Variation 4 - This is elegant especially with long threads. Twist one set of threads to the right until very tight. Repeat with another set. Hold both together at the end and twist to the left. Tie an overhand knot at the end to secure.

           Zig zag the raw edges. Fold over all the edges and stitch in place.

           Fringe the raw edges. Fold over the selvage edges and sew. This is the usual method for couch throws.

            Zig zag the raw edges. Attach seam binding to all edges around the item.

             Zig zag the raw edges. Crochet a single crochet around all edges or crochet a shell stitch pattern around all edges. Shell stitch (5 double crochet, skip two, single crochet, skip two) repeat around edges putting 7 double crochet in the corners.

             Zig zag the raw edges. Top stitch clunky lace or decorative trim around the item. Miter the corners, as necessary.

             A pillow may have a piped edging sewn between the front and back layers of the pillow before turning. For a table runner, turn under the edges and sew on piping.

           Tassels add a special finishing touch to a wall hanging, to the corners of pillow or at the end of a table runner. Purchase tassels or make from the unraveled monk's cloth threads or matching yarn.

            Add variety to make your piece of handiwork interesting. Combine rows of different heights. Work the shapes together to fit.

            Combine design elements from one piece with design elements from other pieces by changing the number of stitches to match up designs.

             Create interesting pieces by using one design element from a pattern and repeating it throughout the piece. 

            Since blankets are often displayed folded, it is a time saver to only stitch borders at the end of blankets and stitch a grid in the middle of the blanket. 

             Choosing the right colors can make your project a success. If in doubt about which colors might go together, look at the skein of variegated yarn and pick out a two or three colors found in the skein. It is helpful to check out the fabric section to see which color combinations are appealing. Also, look at the colors of the draperies, furniture, pictures, etc. where your piece will be on display.

White on white or off-white on off-white. The piece will seem rich.

Monochromatic - Chose several yarns in the same family.

 1. Light Blue, Medium Windsor Blue, Dark Windsor Blue

 2. Light Pink, Medium Coral, Dark Coral

 3. Buff, Light Brown, Medium Brown, Dark Brown 

 4. Light Sage, Medium Sage, Dark Sage, Hunter Green

Other color combinations

1. Light plum, dark plum, hunter green, and buff

2. Variegated pastel yarn stitched with a matching light yellow and light blue.

3. Light, medium, and dark spruces with roses

A letter to Swedish Weaving enthusiasts:

           I now have to admit I am hooked on Swedish weaving.  Just today I was sorting through my colors and just knew I had to start another blanket!  Nan will agree with this statement since we just finished sewing for our third book.   You will often find me strolling through the fabric stores and household departments looking for fabrics and pre-made items to embellish.  I was ecstatic the day I found a pink cotton huck fabric material on the 88 cent clearance rack at Joanne's.  I bought the bolt.  It is a sign extreme Swedish Weaving addiction!  

           I have some instructions on stitching techniques listed above, but I thought you might like the following info, too. In our books we use Swedish weaving to make: couch throws, baby blankets, table cloths, table runners, wall hangings, pillows, bread cloths, dresser cloths, framed pieces, a tree skirt, placemats, hand towels, pot holders, a vest, a sweatshirt, Christmas stockings, tote bag, a rug, and gift container cover.  Needless to say any even weave fabric may be decorated with this art.

      In our area Wal Mart, Ben Franklin, Joanne Fabrics, and Hancock Fabrics all carry monk's cloth, all at different prices.  It can also be ordered through a mail order companies, called Nordic Needle,  Herrschner's, and LACIS (they are on the net, too.)  Monk's cloth comes in white and natural.  New colors include black, green, red, blue and pink.  Ask if you do not see it!  Most needlework, fabric, and craft stores sell yarn and embroidery floss.  Perle cotton works great!

          Our patterns can be stitched on monk's cloth with yarn or perle cotton, or on aida cloth and huck fabric with embroidery floss or perle cotton. Pearl cotton comes in several sizes and DMC sells many different colors, just like embroidery floss. Use all 6 strands of the embroidery floss on aida and huck toweling.  Some of our patterns that are stitched in one direction may also be stitched on Huckaback (huck toweling). Other even weave materials may also be used. Charles Crafts has a wide variety of items that can be stitched, including: hand towels with the aida insert, a baby blanket that has a one strand even-weave, an Afghan, and an aida bread cloth. I saw some items that might be fun to try: a door mat, dish towels, and placemats. I did not really enjoy stitching on linen, because it was too hard to see where to stitch, although it was very elegant when completed. There is a 8 count huck cloth called "Stockholm", manufactured by Zweigart. Nordic Needle sells it. This huck cloth comes in several colors.  Another brand of huck fabric is called "Popkcorn."   These come in pre-made items also.  They are a lot of fun to stitch on!  Try using two strands of perle cotton or 12 strand of embroidery floss on these huck fabrics. 

          Monk's cloth should be pre-shrunk before stitching. At the same time you can dye the fabric. I dyed white monk's cloth a natural color when the local store was out of the natural color. I also made a piece using monk's cloth dyed blue and stitched with a sparkle white yarn. It looked like a "Willow plate."  

          Monk's cloth is now available in black, red, green, blue, and pink.  Several Wal Mart Stores are carrying it.  Just ask and they can order it for their store.  There are order numbers available to the fabric departments.  

          Use a blunt needle that fits the type of materials you are working with.  A #13 blunt point yarn needle works great for monk's cloth.  You can also use a lacet needle.  It is flat and has a blunt point.  To stitch on finer fabric you can use a cross stitch needle.  They also have blunt points.

          There are many yarns out there to choose from.  About the only one I have had trouble with was a clunky yarn.  Several times it broke off before finishing a row.  

           It is great when you can start in the middle of a couch throw and make each side symmetrical, but you do not have to!  

          If you want to decorate a non even-weave fabric, use waste fabric that the cross stitchers use.

          Want to try something different?  Try decorating a crocheted or knitted item with Swedish Weaving.  Using two strands of yarn to stitch the Swedish Weaving design will make the design pop out more.
  1.  Making a fillet stitch design: 
         Make a chain. 
         Row 1 - Chain 1. Turn. Single crochet across row. 
         Row 2 - Chain 2, dbl crochet, chain 1, across ending with dbl crochet. 
         Repeat row 2 until desired length.  Use bars as floats.
  2.  Making a single crochet stitch design: 
         Make a chain. 
         Row one - Chain 1. Single crochet across row. 
         Row two - Chain 1.  Turn.  Single crochet. Then single crochet only on the front of the loop across row.  Single crochet last stitch. 
         Row 3 - Chain 1.  Turn.  Single crochet.  Single crochet only in the back of the loop. Single crochet last stitch. 
         Alternate these two rows.  This pattern creates yarns for you to stitch in like floats.
  3.  Making a knitted design: 
         Cast on. 
         Row one - Knit across row. 
         Row two - Purl across row.

           If you have any questions, please e-mail us by clicking on our address: averyhill@averyhill.com  Many thanks to Nan for all the time she spends answering our e-mail!

Happy Stitching,

Jeanne