Huck Weaving
Excerpted from Aunt Ellen’s How-To Book on Needlework:
Huck Weaving is a very simple type of needlework, but it produces strikingly beautiful effects. It is worked principally on huck toweling, although it may also be done on waffle pique, using the raised threads that mark off the small woven squares.
Use this weaving on huck hand towels, aprons, luncheon mats, scarves, peasant skirts, children’s bibs or dresses, purses, pan holders, or any other article that can be made of one of these materials.
Colored huck towels are very pretty worked in contrasting border. For a pink or rose colored towel, work the design in wine thread or variegated; brown on yellow toned; navy on a light blue. The designs are also very nice worked in color on white.
Huck Toweling
The pairs of raised threads on the back of huck toweling (can be purchased by the yard) or towels are used for weaving the thread through. If towels are used, it is necessary to rip the hem and turn it up on the other side.
The weight of toweling will be a guide as to the weight of thread to use. Heavier threads such as six-strand floss, pearl cotton, wool yarn or heavy crochet thread can be used on heavy huck toweling.
Fine crochet thread, 2 or 3 strands of embroidery floss or light weight yarn are suitable for fine huck. A large eyed, blunt needle is best to use; the size depends upon weight of thread.
If you wish to use waffle pique, two waffle squares equal the distance between each pair of threads on the huck toweling. Follow any one of the designs and work same as on huck.
Where to Find Huck Fabric
You can find Huck Toweling on the website the Nordic Needle. They have it in a few colors.
Another site, Swedish Weave Designs has Navy, Grey and Pink Huck Fabric.
I haven’t bought from either of the sites above, but wanted to share them since I’ve had several questions about where to find Huck Weaving Fabric.
And last but not least there’s always Amazon.
Raised Threads
Count the pairs of raised threads to find the center and start the design in the exact center of the huck to be decorated, so that each side will end alike. The different sizes of huck will determine the size of the design you use.
Begin with a thread about 2 yards long or long enough to work across design without joining. Pull thread half through, leaving the remaining portion to work other half of design.
Carry thread through raised or warp threads of huck. Be careful to count accurately; do not let weaving thread go through to under side of material.
Make loop in one design as shown in Figure 1 of illustration. Work design to edge of article; fasten off by weaving the thread back through last few stitches as shown in Figure 2, cut thread.
Thread needle with dangling thread left from the beginning, turn chart upside down and work other half of row. It is necessary also to turn work around. Do not pull thread too tight or work will pucker.
Follow charts to work designs. When the article is finished, press on wrong side.
His and Hers
The “His” and “Hers” designs are intended to be end motifs on hand towels.
Bunny and Dog
The bunny makes an adorable decoration on a baby’s bib, child’s apron or blouse. The dog design could also be used in these ways.
Border Designs
The remaining designs are a collection of borders, for which there are many uses and which you may carry out in a wide variety of color effects.
Each of the designs, when you click on them, will open in a new window so that you can save or print them for later or find them in the PDF file below.
PDF Download File Link
The 2-page PDF file of the patterns is below:
The pattern is in PDF format so to read it you’ll need the Adobe Reader software on your computer. Most computers come with it, but it is free and can be found here.
Download Instructions: Right-Click the link and select either “save target as” or “save link as” depending on what browser you are using or simply click on it and save or print.
More about Swedish Huck Weaving
If you’d like learn more about Swedish Huck weaving, take a look at this blog post:
How to do Swedish Weaving Embroidery
Also Annie’s Craft Store has a book titled Learn to Make Monk’s Cloth Afghans that is an Electronic Download for $7.95 at the time of this writing. So you could have immediate access to it on your computer.
There are several more booklets available on Huck Embroidery. Check at the bottom of the page for “Customers Also Purchased”.
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Enjoy!
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I have a book with pictures but not written instructions, would you have the pattern for Peaks and Valleys for an Afghan? Or know where I can get it.
Thank you
Pat
Hi Pat, Sorry I didn’t see your comment earlier. Unfortunately, I don’t have that pattern. Antique Pattern Library may have some info or maybe Archive.org. You can search on the name of the book and perhaps something will come up.
Thanks! Debra
Did you find the pattern peaked and valleys?
I was doing a little searching and I think the Peaks and Valley Afghan pattern may be in this Annie’s book Learn to Make Monk’s Cloth Afghans. At this writing the electronic download is $5.95. There is also another Annie’s book Inspiring Afghans for Swedish Weaving but the download is more expensive.
Plus any of the Avery Hill Swedish Weaving books may have the design in them.
I’ve done Swedish weaving since I was 8yo. However in the flood of 2016 I lost my pattern books. I have recovered most of my patterns — just two still remain lost.
1–the 5 yellow ducks walking in a row and
2–the Rose.
If anyone has them PLEASE post them. Thanks, Cynthia
I’ve never seen a rose. Have the rabbit but not a duck. I’ll post and see if anyone might know where to find one.
I would love to learn Huck (Swedish Weaving) Is there a book that I can buy that is easy and with pictures.
Thanks
Phyllis
Most of the books you find on Swedish Weaving are just patterns without much instruction. I’ve found a few exceptions.
This book looks promising, Learn Swedish Weaving and Huck Embroidery from Annie’s. It has a 4.5 star rating and says it’s filled with step-by-step photos.
One rating on this next book, Easy Does It Swedish Weave Towels, says the patterns are easy to follow for a beginner.
There is one more on Amazon that has a 5 star rating, but is way, way over priced. Not sure if you may be able to find it somewhere else cheaper. It’s Avery Hill’s The How to Book of Swedish Weaving and Huck Embroidery. Published in 2005 the cheapest one goes for $129 on Amazon, yikes.
What I have are vintage patterns and instructions, without the step-by-step photos that would make learning this craft easier.
Hope that helps.
I have a soft spot in my crafting heart for Huck embroidery. I learned it in high school in the early ’70s. It’s so fun, fast, and easy to do – with almost magical results. Thanks so much for posting this!
That’s great. Thank you!
Hi I am so glad I found this blog I am weaving on an 8 shaft loom I thought I could weave my own monks belt cloth and learn how to Swedish weave I am disabled and looking for new things to do with my time
thank you
You’re welcome. Glad you found it too. Enjoy! Debra
Am trying to find new patterns. I am using patterns printed in a 1937 book. Also trying to find colored huck toweling.
Hi, I’ve done several other posts on huck weaving with patterns. Put Huck weaving or Swedish weaving in the search box on the right and go through those to find some more free patterns. They are from vintage books though.
I found some pretty Huck (Swedish Weaving) Fabric in colors for sale on the site Nordic Needle
The VTNS sellers on eBay have many items having to do with Huck Weaving too. Find those here.
Thanks for visiting!
Debra