Valley Yarns #131 Summer Elegance Runner

Valley Yarns Summer Elegance Runner: 8 Shaft Overshot Weaving Pattern

What is Being Made

The Summer Elegance Runner is a handwoven table runner designed for homeware use, measuring 15 inches wide by 46.2 inches long when finished. This woven runner combines functional design with decorative patterning, suitable for dining tables or entryways. The pattern includes seam allowances and sufficient warp length to weave a backing, which adds weight and creates a professional finished appearance.

Weaving Technique: 8 Shaft Overshot on Opposites

8 Shaft Overshot on Opposites is an advanced weaving structure that expands upon traditional 4-shaft overshot methodology. The additional four shafts provide independent control of pattern blocks, resulting in clearer, more defined pattern definition compared to standard overshot weaving. This technique allows weavers to manipulate halftone placement through the tie-up, offering greater design flexibility and control over the final appearance of the pattern blocks.

The draft for this runner was inspired by Jacob Angstadt Designs by Holroyd and Beck, Draft No. 29, though modifications were made to accommodate float length and achieve specific design proportions suited to the runner format.

Stripe Pattern and Color Work

The Summer Elegance Runner features a striped pattern created through careful color placement in both warp and weft. The design utilizes three coordinating colors in the warp and weft systems, with an additional neutral tone in the finer weft yarn. The stripe technique creates visual interest while maintaining the structural integrity of the overshot weave.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Warp Yarns: Valley Yarns 10/2 Cotton (100% mercerized cotton, 4200 yards per pound)

• #5604 Willow Green: 1,068 yards
• #2574 Heather: 194 yards
• #7198 Burnt Sienna: 476 yards

Weft Yarns:

• Valley Yarns 10/2 Cotton (100% mercerized cotton, 4200 yards per pound):
  • #5604 Willow Green: 1,277 yards
  • #2574 Heather: 27 yards
  • #7198 Burnt Sienna: 66 yards
• Valley Yarns 5/2 Cotton (100% mercerized cotton, 2100 yards per pound):
  • #1089 Alabaster: 675 yards

The use of mercerized cotton provides a lustrous finish and excellent drape, making it ideal for a table runner that will showcase the intricate overshot pattern. The combination of 10/2 and 5/2 weight cottons creates textural variation in the woven piece.

Loom Equipment and Setup

This pattern requires an 8 shaft loom with a minimum width capacity of 18 inches. Additional equipment needed includes 2 shuttles, 4 bobbins, a temple to maintain consistent width during weaving, and a sewing machine with matching green thread for finishing the backing.

The warp is wound to a length of 4 yards with 431 ends total (with an additional one-third yard recommended for sampling). The sett is 24 ends per inch, achieved using a 12-dent reed dressed with 2 threads per dent. The width in reed is 17.95 inches, and the weft density is set at 46 picks per inch, combining both tabby and pattern weft.

Weaving Structure Details

The overshot on opposites structure creates a pattern where the design blocks are independent, allowing for sophisticated halftone effects through tie-up manipulation. The draft includes multiple tie-up options for weavers to experiment with different visual effects. The inclusion of a woven backing adds structural integrity and weight to the finished runner, creating a piece suitable for regular table use.

The pattern provides heddle counts for proper loom dressing across all eight shafts, ensuring correct thread placement for the overshot structure to function as designed.