Valley Yarns #115 Bamboo Curves Shawl

Valley Yarns Bamboo Curves Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Bamboo Curves Shawl is an elegant woven wrap designed by Leslie Ann Bestor. This finished shawl measures 19 inches wide by 73 inches long, making it a versatile accessory suitable for draping across shoulders or wearing as a lightweight wrap. The design creates a luxurious, shimmering finished piece that combines visual interest with exceptional wearability.

Design Inspiration and Technique

The shawl's signature design element features sinuous curves created by float pulls that draw warp ends out of their typical straight alignment. The designer originally discovered this technique while working on a rigid heddle loom and adapted it for a multi-shaft loom to expand creative possibilities. This approach allows for the use of finer yarns and creates the distinctive undulating pattern that gives the shawl its name and visual character.

Weaving Structure and Stitches

The Bamboo Curves Shawl is woven on a 4-shaft loom that is at least 26 inches wide, using a single shuttle. The weaving structure combines plain weave with lace techniques. The pattern begins with a 3-pick plain weave border, followed by the main lace repeat that is woven three times to create the full length. The threading order repeats 34 times across the warp, with single edge stitches on each side for selvage definition. Hemstitching finishes the edges, and optional fringe can be created at the ends.

Warp and Weft Specifications

The warp is wound to a length of 3.5 yards using 423 total ends set at 18 ends per inch (epi) in a 12-dent reed, creating a finished width of 23.5 inches in the reed. The warp width is achieved by threading 1 or 2 ends per dent depending on the reed configuration.

Warp yarns include Valley Yarns 5/2 Bamboo in Grey Teal (100% bamboo rayon, 2100 yards per pound) requiring 1358 yards, combined with Universal Yarns Bamboo Pop in Orchid (50% bamboo and 50% cotton blend) in DK weight requiring 123 yards. The bamboo content in both warp yarns provides exceptional drape and a subtle sheen characteristic of bamboo rayon fiber.

Weft yarn is Jaggerspun Zephyr in Jade (50% Merino wool and 50% Tussah silk), requiring 1020 yards. The combination of Merino's softness with Tussah silk's lustrous quality creates the luxurious hand and appearance described as a shimmering hug. The variegated nature of the Bamboo Pop yarn beautifully showcases the curved pattern created by the lace floats.

Heddle Configuration

The shawl requires specific heddle counts for proper shaft operation: Shaft 1 requires 211 heddles, while Shafts 2, 3, and 4 each require 104 heddles. Shaft 2 carries a notably larger number of heddles, which is essential for creating the float pulls that define the shawl's signature curved design.

Materials Summary

• Loom: 4-shaft loom, minimum 26 inches wide
• Shuttle: 1 shuttle required
• Reed: 12-dent reed
• Warp yarns: Valley Yarns 5/2 Bamboo and Universal Yarns Bamboo Pop
• Weft yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr
• Total warp length: 3.5 yards
• Sett: 18 epi

This downloadable PDF pattern provides complete weaving drafts, threading charts, treadling sequences, and detailed instructions for recreating this sophisticated shawl design.