Valley Yarns #155 Leo's Towels

Valley Yarns Leo's Towels: Woven Striped Dishtowels

What is Being Made

Leo's Towels is a weaving pattern designed by Barbara Elkins that produces a set of four coordinated dishtowels. The design originated as a custom runner commission but was adapted into a versatile towel draft that allows weavers to create multiple color variations from a single pattern. Each finished towel measures 17 ¼" x 26 ¼", making them practical homeware pieces suitable for kitchen use.

Weave Structure and Techniques

This pattern uses a 4-shaft M and W twill weave structure, which creates visual interest and texture beyond basic plain weave. The primary technique employed is striping, achieved through strategic color placement in both warp and weft. The designer demonstrates how reversing color placement between towels creates a coordinated pair: one towel features a natural-colored body with burnt orange weft stripes, while the companion towel inverts this scheme with a burnt orange body and natural weft stripes. The pattern notes indicate at least two additional color arrangement variations are possible, giving weavers flexibility in customizing their finished pieces.

Technical Specifications

The pattern is designed for a 4-shaft loom with a minimum weaving width of 22 inches. The warp is set at 22 epi (ends per inch) using a 2-3-3-3 threading in an 8-dent reed, resulting in a finished width in reed of 20.59 inches. The total warp length required is 5 yards of 453 ends, including 2 floating selvages. Weavers will need 2 shuttles and 2 bobbins to manage the color changes. A temple is recommended but not essential for successful completion.

Yarns and Materials

Leo's Towels calls for Brassard 8/2 Cottolin, a blend of 60% organic cotton and 40% linen that yields 3360 yards per pound on ½ pound tubes (1680 yards per tube). This fiber blend provides durability and absorbency ideal for dishtowels while offering a pleasant texture.

• Warp Yarns: #CO100 Natural (1645 yards) and #C8265 Burnt Orange (610 yards)
• Weft Yarns: #CO100 Natural (1500 yards) and #C8265 Burnt Orange (307 yards)

Actual yardage amounts may vary depending on the chosen color order and weaving notes. Matching sewing thread is also required for finishing the towels.

Design Flexibility

The pattern's adaptability is one of its key features. By varying the color order in both warp and weft, weavers can produce distinctly different towels from a single draft. The weaving notes section provides guidance on multiple approaches to color placement, allowing crafters to create personalized combinations while maintaining the cohesive M and W twill structure and striped aesthetic.