Valley Yarns #128 Lavender Bubbles

Valley Yarns Lavender Bubbles Bath Towel

Project Overview

The Lavender Bubbles is a sophisticated homeware weaving project designed by Chris Hammel. This pattern creates a large bath towel measuring 28 3/4" x 58" in finished dimensions, combining mathematical precision with aesthetic design through the application of the Lucas numbers and golden ratio principles.

Design Concept

The design employs mathematical harmony inspired by natural patterns and architectural principles. The warp layout features a carefully calculated arrangement of two diamonds, seven circles, and two diamonds across the width, totaling eleven elements. This composition satisfies the Lucas series (with the numbers two, four, seven, and eleven all appearing in this mathematical sequence) and maintains the golden ratio proportion of 0.618 to 1 when comparing the four diamonds to seven circles. The weaver can choose between twenty vertical repeats of the circle pattern for a standard bath towel or eighteen repeats, both of which are Lucas numbers that produce harmonious visual results.

Weaving Technique

This project utilizes Shadow Weave construction, based on the Powell method. Shadow weave is a sophisticated technique that creates dimensional patterning through the strategic interplay of light and dark colored yarns, producing the illusion of depth and movement across the fabric surface. The striped pattern emerges through careful color placement in both warp and weft.

Equipment Requirements

• 8 shaft loom with minimum 36" width capacity
• 2 shuttles and 2 bobbins
• 6 or 8 lb. fishing line for warp tension
• Temple to maintain consistent width during weaving
• 12-dent reed (threading 1-2 ends per dent)

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Lavender Bubbles pattern calls for Valley Yarns 6/2 unmercerized cotton, a versatile yarn weight that yields 2,520 yards per pound. The original design specifies Cornflower cotton (1,617 yards required), though this colorway has been discontinued; Valley Yarns recommends Lilac as a suitable substitute. Pale Yellow cotton comprises 1,517 yards of the weft. Additional materials include matching cornflower-colored cotton sewing thread for finishing details.

Warp and Sett Details

The warp is prepared at a length of 3 1/2 yards using 587 ends total, which includes 2 floating selvedges for finished edges. The sett is set at 18 ends per inch (epi), achieved by threading 1-2 ends in each dent of the 12-dent reed. This sett produces a finished width in the reed of 32.6 inches, which draws in during finishing to the final width of 28 3/4 inches.

Warp Color Sequence

The warp is threaded following a specific color order across the eight shafts. The heddle count distribution is as follows: Shaft 1 contains 73 heddles in Cornflower, Shaft 2 contains 78 heddles in Pale Yellow, Shaft 3 contains 78 heddles, Shaft 4 contains 78 heddles, Shaft 5 contains 72 heddles, Shaft 6 contains 72 heddles, Shaft 7 contains 66 heddles, and Shaft 8 contains 68 heddles. Floating selvedges are added on both sides for structural integrity and finished appearance.

Finished Product

Upon completion, the Lavender Bubbles bath towel measures 28 3/4 inches wide by 58 inches long, making it a generous size suitable for bath use. The combination of unmercerized cotton yarn and shadow weave construction creates a fabric with excellent absorbency and visual interest, with the striped patterning and dimensional bubble motifs creating an elegant, nature-inspired design.