About Overshot-Patterned Doubleweave

Overshot threading patterns can easily be transformed into a double weave fabric (double thickness, integrated) that has plain weave on both sides. This technique is called several different names, including Complimentary Plain Weave, Double-Faced Plain Weave Overshot.

With this technique, the design starts with an overshot threading. There are no tabby picks as with normal Overshot. The pattern appears on both sides, and is traditionally woven with contrasting colors in the warp and weft so that the pattern and background colors are exchanged when viewing the front and back of the cloth. Since this is a doubleweave fabric, the sett is usually twice the sett as used for the yarn with plain weave.

You can choose an existing overshot threading, or create your own. Overshot threadings on a 4-shaft loom will alternate odd-even, and advance or wrap one shaft at a time.

Sample Overshot Threading on 4-Shafts

In this example, we an overshot draft using the Bethlehem Star pattern as published in the Davison Green Book.