Valley Yarns #154 Cobblestone Towels

Valley Yarns Cobblestone Towels: Woven Lace Homeware

What Is Being Made

The Cobblestone Towels pattern produces a set of two finished towels, each measuring 18¼ inches by 27¼ inches. Designed by Anita Thompson, these woven towels combine absorbent 6/2 cotton with Cottolin blend yarns to create functional, thirsty textiles suitable for kitchen or bathroom use. The project demonstrates how accent color skeins can be incorporated into a single warp without excessive material waste, making it an economical approach to multi-color weaving.

Weaving Techniques

This pattern employs Turned Monk's Belt, a modified version of the traditional Monk's Belt weave structure. The key innovation in this design is the rotation of the draft, which allows tabby (plain weave) to alternate with pattern threads in the threading sequence rather than the treadling sequence. This modification transforms what is typically a two-shuttle weave into a one-shuttle weave, streamlining the weaving process and eliminating the need for floating selvedges—a significant practical advantage for weavers.

The weave structure incorporates two distinct sett densities: 18 ends per inch in plain weave areas and 36 ends per inch in pattern areas. This variation in thread density creates visual and textural interest while maintaining structural integrity. The close sett in pattern areas necessitates an 8-shaft loom to prevent threads from sticking together during treadling, though the draft can theoretically be reduced to 4 shafts for less demanding sett requirements.

Stitches and Weave Structure

The primary weave structure is plain weave (tabby), which forms the foundation and creates the absorbent base of the towels. This is combined with the Monk's Belt pattern, a traditional weave structure that creates decorative geometric designs through the interaction of warp and weft. The turned draft approach allows the pattern and tabby to work in concert without requiring complex shuttle changes, making the weaving process more efficient while maintaining visual complexity.

Materials: Yarns, Fibers, and Equipment

Warp Yarns:

• Valley Yarns 6/2 cotton (100% cotton, 2520 yards per pound): 1098 yards in Sage as the primary warp color
• Scheepjes Catona (100% Mercerized Cotton, 68 yards per skein) in four accent colors: #247 Bluebird (135 yards), #257 Antique Mauve (90 yards), #414 Vintage Peach (90 yards), and #157 Root Beer (60 yards), provided as 2 mini skeins each of the first three colors and 1 mini skein of the fourth

Weft Yarns:

• Brassard 8/2 Cottolin (60% organic cotton and 40% linen blend, 1680 yards per tube): 716 yards in C1934 Nil Green, sufficient for two completed towels
• Matching sewing thread for finishing inner hems

Equipment Requirements:

• 8-shaft loom, minimum 22 inches wide
• 12-dent reed
• Single shuttle and 2 bobbins
• Sturdy dowel and weights for warp tension management

Specifications:

• Total warp length: 3 yards with 491 ends
• Width in reed: 20.33 inches
• Sett: 18 ends per inch in plain weave areas (sley 1-2) and 36 ends per inch in pattern areas (sley 3 per dent)

The combination of 6/2 cotton and Cottolin creates towels with excellent absorbency and durability. The mercerized cotton accent yarns add subtle sheen and color variation, while the organic cotton and linen blend in the weft contributes both structure and a natural texture that enhances the towels' functional appeal.