variations on an overshot draft

Overshot is a traditional technique that seems to have originated in the American colonieis and is especially associated with the southern Apallachians. If you picture an old coverlet, you are probably seeing an overshot pattern. 

It uses contrasting pattern and ground wefts and can be woven on four or more harnesses. Ususally the warp is the same color, fiber, and size as the ground weft, while pattern weft is normally a contrasting color and usually a bit heavier yarn. Often the pattern yarn is wool, which fulls slightly. Patterns are built up by stacking blocks.

I enjoy weaving overshot according to the original patterns, treadling in the same order as the threading through the harnesses. 'Trod as writ,' old weaving notes say. But is even more fun sometimes to mix up the sequence or vary the yarn weights.