Valley Yarns #123 Amore Baby Blanket

Valley Yarns Amore Baby Blanket

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Amore Baby Blanket is a woven baby blanket designed by Chris Hammel, created using an 8-shaft loom. This downloadable weaving draft produces a finished blanket measuring 28.5" x 29.75" after washing, drying, and hemming. The blanket is designed to showcase how color arrangements in both warp and weft influence the final pattern, making it an ideal project for exploring color theory in weaving.

Techniques Used

This project employs echo weave techniques, a study-focused approach that demonstrates how different color choices create distinct visual effects in the same weave structure. The blanket features striped patterns created through carefully planned warp and weft color sequences. The design showcases how the same weave draft produces dramatically different aesthetics depending on weft color selection: when woven with blue 8/2 cotton, the pattern resembles peacock feather eyes, while red 8/2 cotton generates warm, rich tones that bring forth X and O shapes symbolizing hugs and kisses.

Stitches and Weave Structure

The pattern utilizes an 8-shaft loom configuration with a specific threading order that repeats across 875 total warp ends. The weave employs a structured heddle count system across eight shafts, with varying heddle distributions: Shaft 1 contains 128 heddles, Shaft 2 contains 112 heddles, Shaft 3 contains 128 heddles, Shaft 4 contains 90 heddles, Shaft 5 contains 128 heddles, Shaft 6 contains 90 heddles, Shaft 7 contains 129 heddles, and Shaft 8 contains 90 heddles. The threading pattern includes floating selvages at both edges for clean finishing, with the outer edges using blue yarn as floating selvages while the adjacent selvage threads follow the main threading chart.

Materials: Yarns and Equipment

Warp Yarns: The project uses Valley Yarns 8/2 Unmercerized Cotton (100% unmercerized cotton, 3360 yards per pound) in four colors: Mediterranean Blue (#2448) at 663 yards, Lollipop (#3599) at 654 yards, Spectra Yellow (#1382) at 654 yards, and Stone Green (#5468) at 654 yards. The total warp length is 3 yards.

Weft Yarns: Weaving uses Valley Yarns 8/2 Unmercerized Cotton in Lollipop (#3599) at 819 yards, with red sewing thread (89 yards) reserved for under-hems during finishing.

Equipment Required: An 8-shaft loom with 36" weaving width capacity, a 10-dent reed, one shuttle, and a temple are necessary for this project. The blanket is set at 26 ends per inch (epi), with 2-3 ends placed in each dent of the reed. The width in reed measures 33.65".

Design Inspiration and Color Exploration

Chris Hammel designed this blanket as part of an echo weave study group exploration, specifically investigating how various color arrangements in both warp and weft influence the resulting pattern. This makes the Amore Baby Blanket an educational weaving project that demonstrates practical color theory while producing a functional, finished textile suitable for a baby.