Valley Yarns #114 Let the Sun Shine In Towels

Valley Yarns Let the Sun Shine In Towels

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Let the Sun Shine In Towels are a set of two finished towels, each measuring 16" x 24", designed by Elisabeth Hill. These homeware pieces are woven on a rigid heddle loom and feature vibrant color combinations inspired by summer days and lemonade. The project produces functional, finished towels suitable for everyday use, with the option to create either plaid or striped colorway variations.

Techniques Used

This weaving project employs striped patterning as the primary design technique. Weavers can choose between two distinct colorway approaches: a plaid towel design that combines multiple colors in a structured sequence, or a striped towel design featuring bold color bands. The pattern is created through careful color ordering in both the warp and weft, allowing weavers to build visual interest through systematic color placement. The design is specifically engineered to work on a rigid heddle loom, making it accessible to weavers without access to multi-shaft looms. A header weave is recommended to spread and secure the warp before beginning the main pattern.

Stitches and Weaving Structure

The towels are woven using a plain weave structure at a sett of 12 ends per inch (epi) on a 12-dent heddle. The warp consists of 230 ends set at a width of 19⅙" in the reed, with a total warp length of 90" (2.5 yards). The weaving process involves multiple color picks organized in specific sequences: the plaid towel begins with 24 picks of Autumn Blonde, followed by repeating sections of 10 picks Daffodil, 2 picks Lilac Snow, 6 picks Banana, and 2 picks Lilac Snow, repeated 7 times and finished with 6 picks Autumn Blonde. The striped towel variation uses Banana yarn for extended 30½" sections. Two picks of contrasting yarn are woven between the two towels to mark their separation on the loom.

Materials: Yarn and Equipment

The towels are woven using Valley Yarns 5/2 Cotton, a 100% mercerized cotton yarn with a yardage of 2100 yards per pound. The color palette includes four distinct shades: #1325 Daffodil (333 yards), #1405 Autumn Blonde (310 yards), #1205 Banana (314 yards), and #6402 Lilac Snow (67 yards). The project requires a rigid heddle loom with a minimum weaving width of 20", a 12-dent heddle, and 4 shuttles for managing the multiple yarn colors. The mercerized cotton construction ensures durability and absorbency appropriate for functional towels, while the fine 5/2 weight allows for detailed color work and finished dimensions suitable for everyday use.

Design Inspiration and Project Notes

Designer Elisabeth Hill created these towels during the New England winter, drawing inspiration from warm-weather colors and the refreshing imagery of summer lemonade. The project was specifically designed to be weavable on a rigid heddle loom—a more portable and cozy option compared to larger multi-shaft looms like the designer's 24-shaft Toika. Weavers have the flexibility to reduce bulk in the towel hems by substituting finer cotton yarn for the first and last 6 picks of each towel, or they may create custom colorway variations by following their own color sequences while maintaining the basic structure.