Goodness -- you just caused a time warp mentioning monk's cloth! I haven't thought about that for years and years. I can remember having summer dresses made from it [yes, with lots of embroidery] and used it to make DD's pinafores when she was a toddler. That stuff wears like iron, lol.

I would imagine you would enjoy the weaving part. Just start with something small, like a hand towel, so that you can get a feel for it. I did a lot of cross stitch on hucking, so I know it's suitable if you do charted patterns.

Here is a link that might be useful: Swedish weaving.

What a lovely story. Tibs, Monk's cloth was popular in the 50's and 60's for table covers and chair throws, even drapes, because it was inexpensive but sturdy and came in 72" widths. I remember using crewel embroidery stitches on paisley patterns for a table cover and big floor cushions. You could "wing it" with a big assortment of thread colors and stitches and didn't have to count stitches or be exact...(not my forte). If you made a berry or petal a little larger/smaller it didn't really matter...LOL Fun memories. And I've got a big stock of crewel yarn...hum-m-m-m josh

I am familiar with Swedish weaving, but have never attempted it myself. I love its look and have a few tea towels given me by my mother, whose friend did it.

It was pretty popular decades ago, and all the examples of it I've ever seen were done on a material known as huck. It was the same stuff one saw in those big towel rollers in public toilets. LOL. When the roller towels were replaced by paper or forced air, huck cloth nearly vanished from the market. I went to one of the fabric chain stores and tried to get some cuts of it, but was told it would have to be ordered by the bolt. That's a couple hundred dollar proposition and God knows I don't need that many dish towels. LOL.

I am going to google monk cloth, perhaps it's the same thing? Surely similar if it were appropriate for Swedish weaving. I hope you give this craft a try. I love to see the old techniques preserved. My mother used to tat when a child and I am still finding old shuttles in her sewing baskets,tins and machine drawers.

Sorry, need to correct my posting: On checking the Monk's Cloth out online, unless there are different weaves for it, I think we used it for drapes and table covers (and even made little 6-7 inch cocktail napkins with fringed edges). It was as you described, Tibs. But the crewel work was done on linen...needed the more tightly woven sturdier fabric to hold the stitching tight.

Suzy, my sister had an antique store and used to buy old linens .. the tatting was sometimes so intricate. I've seen photos of course of the technique but never saw it done in real life. It's the type of skill that you wonder how in the world someone came up with the idea. I was blown away the first time I took up a simple crochet needle and a piece of yarn ...but tatting ...oh, my! josh

I remember Monk's Cloth as a heavy material suitable for pillow covers and table runners, etc. I don't remember it in any color except a natural unbleached looking shade. I had a set of table mats. The big problem was that it shrunk like crazy and your average sized place mat would soon be useful only as a coaster under a glass of tea. It had to be shrunk before you could do anything with it.