At one point in the classic book, Anne of Green Gables, the title character, Anne Shirley, remarks, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” I couldn’t agree more. After a long, hot summer, October arrives like a long-lost friend, bringing cool weather and beautiful foliage. To celebrate this season, I took a look back and found five projects perfect for decorating your home this autumn. I was inspired by this project roundup from our sister magazine, Handwoven, featuring some gorgeous multi-shaft weaving projects. (Even if you are not a multi-shaft weaver, it's worth checking out the projects for the color inspiration alone!) I wanted to put my own spin on this fall project roundup, so I decided to have some fun with the palette. Each project features not only the traditional fall hues, but also rich jewel tones and vibrant turquoise, making them perfect not just for autumn, but also for transitioning into winter.
A Plush Pillow
Jennifer Chapman’s gorgeous Bauhaus Pillow, from the Winter 2024 issue, got its inspiration from the works of Bauhaus-trained weaver, Gunta Stölzl.
Bold geometric patterning combined with a more subtle palette make for a pillow that feels timeless—the sort of item you’ll want to decorate your home for years to come. The reversible pillow is more than just a pretty face. Woven out of extra-fine alpaca, the fabric feels like a dream.
A Cozy Rug
Photo by George Boe
Keep your toes warm and cozy first thing in the morning with the Forest Floor Mat by Tammy Bast, from the 2020 issue.
Thick loops of wool pile in the weft give the rug visual interest as well as a delightful cushy texture. For her weft, Tammy used a variegated yarn with long color changes to create stripes of color that seem to melt into one another. While the exact yarn Tammy used has been discontinued, Noro Kureyon in #263 or #477 would both make beautiful substitutions.
A Sophisticated Runner
For her Dots and Dashes Runner from the Summer 2025 issue, designer Dana Lutz used the Fibonacci sequence in both the warp and weft to give her runner a contemporary feel.
A thick, shiny supplemental warp floats over a simple cotton ground cloth, making the fabric look like something woven on a multi-shaft loom. While the weaving might look complex, getting the rigid-heddle loom set up with a supplemental warp isn’t difficult—and this is the perfect project for learning just how easy it can be!
Bright and Bold Towels
While Michele Marshall’s Tropical Sunrise Towels from the Summer 2025 issue might seem a bit too summery for this list, the bright oranges and vivid blues feel like a sunny October day.
These cheerful towels use two heddles to get their gorgeous twill patterning. If you don’t have two heddles, or balk at the notion of weaving twill on the rigid-heddle, we think these would equally lovely woven in plain weave or even with a simple pick-up pattern.
The Ultimate Autumn Throw
Curl up on the couch after a long day at the pumpkin patch with Gabi van Tassell’s Cathedral Window Blanket from the Fall 2022 issue.
To give the blanket a stained-glass look, Gabi joined her colorful pin-loom pieces using dark gray yarn and a simple crochet border. The result is an absolute showstopper of a piece. If you don’t want to weave a full-sized blanket, size it down to make a lap blanket or throw pillow.
Some Bonus Bracelets
As I was looking through potential projects for this list, I rediscovered Alison Irwin’s absolutely stunning Touch of Turquoise bracelets from the Fall 2024 issue. While they’re not home décor, I couldn’t resist adding them to this list as a bonus project.
These stunning inkle-woven bracelets are the perfect example of how small details can add up to make something truly special. Alison enhanced her simple Baltic pick-up pattern with a beautiful, shiny blend in the pattern yarn, giving the bracelet a beautiful sheen and just a hint of sparkle. Then, she finished them off with a bit of decorative fringe, which can be worn on the inside or outside of the bracelet.