Valley Yarns #162 Bag of Many Colors

Valley Yarns Bag of Many Colors Weaving Pattern

Project Overview

The Bag of Many Colors is a downloadable weaving pattern designed by Wendy Bestor that creates a finished tote bag measuring 11" x 12" x 6 3/4". This project combines vibrant multi-color weaving with practical bag construction, featuring a distinctive checkerboard pattern with varying block sizes inspired by the Fibonacci Sequence. The weaving technique produces a double-weave fabric that measures 16 ½" x 37 ½" before finishing and assembly.

Weaving Technique and Structure

Double Weave is the primary weaving structure used in this pattern. This advanced technique creates a fabric with interlaced warp and weft that allows multiple colors to interact and blend visually. A key design feature is that the three primary colors used in the warp and weft—brown, peacock blue, and brick red—combine through the interlacement to create three additional secondary colors, resulting in a rich, complex visual appearance despite using a limited color palette.

The pattern employs a checkerboard design with differing block sizes. Rather than using uniform squares, the designer incorporated the Fibonacci Sequence numbers (randomly applied to threading and treadling blocks) but eliminated the larger numbers to create visual interest through varied proportions. This approach produces a busy, dynamic pattern that avoids monotony while maintaining cohesive structure.

Equipment Requirements

• 8-shaft loom with minimum 20" width capacity
• 10-dent reed
• Minimum 2 shuttles (4 shuttles preferred for efficient color changes)
• 4 bobbins for weft management

Yarn Materials

This pattern uses Brassard 8/2 Cottolin, a blend of 60% organic cotton and 40% linen. This fiber combination provides durability, structure, and a subtle texture ideal for a functional tote bag.

Warp Yarns (total 1920 yards across 768 ends):

• Brun Chocolat (brown) #c8263: 960 yards
• Peacock (blue) #c4616: 320 yards
• Brick (red) #c4270: 320 yards
• Veil Or (gold) #c1418: 320 yards

Weft Yarns:

• Brun Chocolat (brown) #c8263: 446 yards
• Brick (red) #c4270: 162 yards
• Veil Or (gold) #c1418: 149 yards
• Peacock (blue) #c4616: 134 yards

The warp is wound to a length of 2 ½ yards with a sett of 40 epi (ends per inch), calculated as 20 epi per layer in the double-weave structure. The reed width is 19.2" using a 10-dent reed with 4 ends per dent.

Finishing and Assembly Materials

Beyond the woven fabric, the completed bag requires several additional components:

• Two inkle bands for decorative or structural elements
• Leather straps or cording for handles, approximately 28" long each
• Coordinating fabric piece for bottom insert, approximately 24" x 8"
• Plastic canvas for bottom insert structure, approximately 11" x 7"
• Coordinating brown sewing thread for assembly

Pattern Characteristics

This is a downloadable PDF pattern distributed by Valley Yarns through WEBS. The pattern includes detailed heddle counts, threading charts, and loom-dressing instructions to guide weavers through the setup process. The finished bag is a practical, structured tote with a reinforced bottom, making it suitable for everyday use while showcasing the complex color interactions created through the double-weave technique and multi-color warp and weft arrangement.