Valley Yarns #165 Amsterdam Scarf

Valley Yarns Amsterdam Scarf

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Amsterdam Scarf is a woven accessory measuring 7 inches wide by 78 inches long with fringe. This downloadable weaving draft creates a sophisticated scarf featuring a combination of two distinct weave structures and a striking color palette. The finished piece showcases both visual texture and elegant drape, making it suitable as a versatile wardrobe accessory.

Weave Structures and Techniques

This scarf employs an innovative two-structure approach designed by Joanne Peters. The weaver uses an 8-shaft loom to execute two different weave patterns simultaneously on the same piece:

• Huck Lace and Plain Weave: Shafts 1 through 4 are tied up to create huck lace combined with plain weave structures. Huck lace is an openwork weaving technique that produces delicate, lacy patterns through strategic float arrangements.
• Twill: Shafts 5 through 8 are tied up separately to weave a twill structure. The twill appears along the scarf edges, where 4 ends on each side create a scalloped edge detail.

The design concept allows weavers to experiment with using all 8 shafts on an 8-shaft loom while incorporating contrasting weave structures within a single project. This approach is particularly practical for using up yarn remnants and odds and ends from a stash.

Striped Color Design

The Amsterdam Scarf features a carefully planned striped warp color order that creates visual interest throughout the piece. The warp is wound in repeating color sequences using four distinct shades:

• Hummingbird (210 yards)
• Blueberry (198 yards)
• Black (126 yards)
• Grayed Teal (102 yards)

The weft is woven entirely in Black, allowing the warp stripes to remain the dominant visual element. This color strategy creates a balanced, sophisticated appearance while the contrasting weft anchors the design.

Materials and Equipment

Yarn: The scarf is constructed entirely from Valley Yarns 8/2 Tencel, a fine-weight yarn made from 100% Lyocell fiber. This material is known for its smooth texture, lustrous appearance, and excellent drape qualities. The yarn specification of 3360 yards per pound indicates a lightweight, refined construction suitable for creating delicate weave structures.

Loom and Equipment: This draft requires an 8-shaft loom with 10 treadles. The weaver uses a 12-dent reed set at 27 ends per inch (epi) with a threading arrangement of 2-2-2-3 across the reed. The project requires one shuttle and one bobbin for weaving.

Warp and Sett Specifications

The warp length is 3 yards of 212 ends, including 2 floating selvedges for finished edges. The sett of 27 epi creates a balanced, medium-density fabric appropriate for the huck lace and twill structures. The width in the reed measures 7.85 inches, finishing to 7 inches in the completed scarf. Weavers should leave 6 to 8 inches of unwoven warp on each end for fringe, with hemstitching performed after the first 4 picks and again when the scarf reaches approximately 70 inches in length.

Finishing Techniques

The scarf incorporates hemstitching as a finishing technique to secure the weave structure and prevent raveling. This traditional weaving finish is worked at strategic points during the weaving process rather than after completion, ensuring structural integrity throughout the piece.