Handwoven Gifts
Our main work at our studio is making custom-ordered handwoven gifts on traditional wooden looms, including an enormous full-size Swedish drawloom. For a complete custom-order blanket, it can take more than a month to spin five pounds of fiber, warp the loom, weave the blanket, tie the fringes, and wet-finish it. However, we also sell smaller handwoven gifts like shawls, throws, and dishtowels.
Pure silk, hand-spun and handwoven on a traditional wooden loom. These scarves were produced by the master weavers in our partner village in Odisha, India. They are soft, thick, rustic, and have a gorgeous luster that we think is more pleasing than the softer shine of commercially-made silk. These scarves are made of 100% eri silk, a species of silk moth raised in India that is considered a “peace” silk or “ahimsa” silk because the moths are allowed to exit the cocoon and fly away before the cocoons are processed (in contrast to commercial sericulture, where silkworm larvae are boiled inside the cocoon and removed manually).
This is not an off-the-rack product and it is only available at Shepherd Textiles. We commissioned a large order of these scarves to use for our own dyeing projects, but we bought enough to share them with our customers. These are very large (78” by 27”) and can be folded in half and worn like a thick scarf, or they could be worn like a thin shawl. Each scarf weighs about 6 oz., more than 1/3 of a pound of raw silk. This is an exceptional craft product that is entirely unlike the mass-produced silk available in stores. Please note that the scarves are quite rustic: the handspun threads are a little uneven, there may be a few darker or lighter threads, and the selvedges are not as perfect as cloth woven on a machine loom. However, we think those features only add to the charm.
For dyeing, we recommend gently scouring first to remove any leftover sericin or dust from weaving. Hand wash in cold water; lay flat to dry. Product of India.
Woven in India from handspun charkha linen yarn, these stoles are large enough to be folded in half and worn as a thick scarf or else left unfolded and worn as a thin shawl. They are soft, durable, and bright white-perfect for dyeing with natural colors. We do recommend scouring them before dyeing to eliminate any dust from the loom.
Each scarf weighs about 3 ounces and measures 70” x 23”. Hand wash in warm water, and hang up to dry. Product of India.
Woven in India from handspun charkha cotton yarn, these stoles are large enough to be folded in half and worn as a thick scarf or else left unfolded and worn as a thin shawl. They are soft, durable, and have the warm beige hue of natural unbleached cotton. They are unmercerized and have no industrial finishing, making them ideal for dyeing with natural colors. We do recommend scouring them before dyeing to eliminate any dust from the loom.
Each scarf weighs about 3 ounces and measures 70” x 23”. Can be machine washed and tumble dried, although we recommend washing by hand and hanging up to dry if it has been dyed. Product of India.
Woven by hand in the workshop of Ms. Kyin Mo Win on the shores of Inle Lake, this Lotus Silk Scarf (12” x 70”) is made in the traditional way, from yarn spun from the inner bast of the water lotus, nelumbo nucifera. Garments woven from lotus silk have a similar feel to those woven from heavy linen, although they are often noted for feeling cool and soft to the touch. Lotus silk garments are especially valued in Myanmar because of their symbolic connotations. A lotus flower blossoming on top of muddy water symbolizes the mind attaining enlightenment in the midst of worldly illusion, and lotus silk was initially harvested in order to weave robes for monks and nuns. Vegan and cruelty-free, lotus silk represents a beautiful embodiment of metta (loving-kindness) toward all sentient beings.
Product of Myanmar. 100% Lotus Silk. Handwash in cool water; lay flat to dry. If you would like to try making something similar yourself, we also sell the same Lotus Silk Yarn (10/1) that was used to weave this scarf (although note that the scarf feels much softer than the raw yarn, since it has already been wet-finished).
Handwoven on a Macomber wooden loom, these scarves are made from our line of super-soft Baby Alpaca Yarn. Baby alpaca has absolutely no prickle, and is perfect for sensitive skin. Alpaca is warmer than sheep’s wool and hypoallergenic. Woven with a medium set, these scarves have excellent drape, and the thick 4/8 yarn makes them perfect for bundling up on a cold day. These are large, heavy-duty scarves, measuring 72” by 11.5”, with an extra 4” twisted fringe on each side. Each scarf weighs approximately 11 oz/320 g. Hand wash only, hang up to dry.
These scarves were woven on a LeClerc wooden loom from our soft, warm 100% Baby Alpaca Yarn. I wanted to make something bright and colorful, so I designed these using a three-color modified twill weave. Each scarf is reversible; the pattern on one side is a variation of the pattern on the other side, but each emphasizes a different color. So, you can pick which color you want to show off on any given day. These are thick and fluffy scarves that weigh 12 or 13 ounces each, and they will keep you comfy in cold weather. Each scarf is approximately 11” wide and 71” long, plus a 2.5” twisted fringe.
Handwash in cold water; lay flat to dry.
Handwoven on a Glimakra Swedish style wooden loom. This beautiful, soft, 100% American wool blanket was made using sport-weight 3/8 yarn source from a mill in southern Maine. The colors were inspired by an American farmhouse in the New England area. The color-block design was woven in a twill to create a bold plaid pattern. This wool blanket is the perfect size for wrapping up on the sofa while you read a book or watch TV, and it will keep you warm on cool nights either by the fire or with a special someone. 5’ wide by 6’ long - the fringes add another 6” on each side. Weighs 3lb, 2oz. Machine wash on delicate (cold water, low spin) and hang up, or lay flat to dry.
Handwoven on a Glimakra wooden loom. This beautiful, soft, 100% wool blanket was made using sport-weight 3/8 yarn sourced from a mill in Maine. The colors were inspired by the wild berries on my family’s old property in Freeport, where blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries grow abundantly every spring. The color-block design was woven in twill to create an elegant plaid pattern. This wool blanket is the perfect size for wrapping up on the sofa while you read a book or watch TV, and it will keep you warm on cool nights. 5’ wide by 6’ long—the fringes add another 6” on each side. Weighs 3 lb, 2 oz. Machine wash on delicate (cold water, low spin) and hang up to dry.
These beautiful cotton hand towels are great for drying dishes or drying hands. The bright colors add liveliness to any home.
Woven out of pure linen, these huck lace sheers are wide enough to fit over a standard window. They are open and breezy, and let in lots of sunlight. Given your room a warm, golden glow with these one-of-a-kind sheers unlike anything you can find at a store.
Handwoven on a Glimakra wooden loom. This 100% wool shawl was woven out of sport-weight yarn in a twill-weave pattern. The blue and pastel stripes were inspired by the cold days of January and early spring in northern Virginia. Woven with a tight sett (the spacing between the yarn) for extra warmth, while still draping beautifully. Each shawl is 2.5’ wide and 6’ long, with the fringes adding another 4-5” on each side. Weighs about 1.5 lbs. Machine wash on delicate (cold water, light spin) and hang up to dry.
Woven by hand on a LeClerc wooden loom, these beautiful baby blankets are made of superwash merino wool that’s extra soft but also durable enough to go through a washing machine on a gentle setting. The pattern is a simple but elegant reversed twill, woven in either a solid color or a color striped with white. Each blanket has already been wet finished to reduce the risk of shrinking or bleeding, and the ends have been sewn by hand using the same wool yarn that was used to weave them. This is a non-prickly, 100% wool blanket made of soft merino for your little bambino. Each blanket is approximately 25”x32” and weighs 14 ounces.
Wash separately on a delicate setting or wool setting (low heat, gentle cycle) using pH-neutral detergent or a detergent meant for wool. Lay flat to dry — do not tumble dry in a drying machine.
This soft cotton fabric was woven on my Macomber floor loom. It is tightly woven, durable, and will stand up to repeated washings and dryings. You will receive a pair of 12” x 16” cotton hand towels, cut to order from the main bolt and professionally hemmed. Add a touch of spring color to your home with these unique hand towels.
Handwoven on a Glimakra wooden loom, this lusciously soft throw or small blanket is based on a classic American Coverlet pattern from the early 1800s. Before mass-produced blankets became widely available, many American farm families would spin their own yarn and weave it into one of these traditional patterns on an old barn loom. This is an “overshot” design that has a darker side that was supposed to show in the winter, when it was too cold to wash your blankets, and a lighter side that was meant to show in the summer after a good washing.
At Shepherd Textiles, we’ve updated the traditional American Coverlet by incorporating one of the finest, softest wools in the world: baby alpaca. This coverlet was woven entirely from our 100% Baby Alpaca Yarn that we import from the highlands of Peru. This yarn is as soft as a cloud, hypo-allergenic, and prickle-free. It produces a blanket that is warm, heavy, and soft, perfect for snuggling up with a book on a cold evening. Keeping with tradition, we have added long fringe on the bottom and hand-hemmed the head for a clean and comfortable finish. This is a one-of-a-kind product that combines historical weaving methods with the finest modern materials, and nothing like it can be found anywhere else.
4.4 lbs., 79”x51.5” (79”x59” including the bottom fringe). It will just about cover a full-size mattress, although it will not quite touch the sides; it is also the perfect size for a large sofa throw. Hand wash in cool water using mild detergent; lay flat on towels to dry.
Luxurious and sophisticated, this classic houndstooth scarf was woven by hand on a Glimåkra wooden loom. We made this from some of the finest weaving yarns available today. The dark brown yarn is 100% premium Italian merino, and the cinnamon-colored yarn is a blend of 85% merino and 15% baby alpaca for extra luster. Each scarf is 7 inches wide and a generous 6.5 feet (78 inches) long, plus a short quarter-inch eyelash fringe. Lightweight but warm, soft yet lustrous, this is a scarf of understated elegance. An excellent complement to any man’s formal or casual wardrobe.
78” by 7”, 3.5 ounces (100 grams). Hand wash in cold water; lay flat to dry. Handwoven in our studio in Washington from imported Italian yarns.
An elegant combination of luxury and craftsmanship, this Vicuña Scarf was woven by hand on a Glimakra wooden loom at our studio in Washington. It features a classic tabby pattern in which both the warp and the weft are our own fingering-weight (3/16) Vicuña Yarn. The thicker weight gives the scarf a buttery soft feel and makes it an absolute pleasure to wear. Shepherd Textiles is the only handweaving studio in the world working with real 100% wild vicuña, and this handwoven vicuña scarf is one-of-a-kind. An excellent gift for the man or woman who appreciates the best that nature has to offer.
We import vicuña fiber and yarn direct from mills in Italy and South America, and all our vicuña products are traceable to healthy wild populations listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). All sales include a certificate and guarantee of authenticity; please note that all sales of vicuña products are final. To learn more about vicuña fiber, check out the Frequently Asked Questions on our main vicuña page.
3.2 oz. (90 g.); 68 inches long (74 inches long including the fringe); 7” wide. Hand wash in cold water with gentle detergent and lay flat to dry; avoid rubbing while wet. Made in the USA from 100% wild vicuña.