Valley Yarns #177 A Quiet Wrap

Valley Yarns A Quiet Wrap: Weaving Pattern Summary

What Is Being Made

A Quiet Wrap is a lightweight, versatile wrap designed by Barbara Elkins that bridges the gap between traditional shawls and modern wraps. This piece measures 24½ inches by 67 inches in its finished dimensions, though weavers can adjust the length to their preference. The wrap is designed to be worn casually or dressed up for formal occasions, offering flexibility in styling. Unlike many traditional wraps, this design requires no fringe unless the weaver chooses to add it, making it a clean, contemporary option for cool-weather layering.

Weave Structure and Techniques

A Quiet Wrap uses a huck lace weave structure, a technique that creates an open, airy fabric ideal for lightweight wraps. Huck lace is known for producing beautiful lace-like patterns while remaining relatively straightforward to execute, making this an accessible project for weavers with basic loom experience. The lace technique creates visual interest and texture while keeping the finished garment breathable and comfortable against the skin.

Equipment Required

This pattern is designed for a 4-shaft loom that is at least 30 inches wide. Weavers will need one boat shuttle and one bobbin to complete the project. The threading draft specifies exact heddle counts for each shaft: 155 heddles on shaft 1, 169 on shaft 2, 56 on shaft 3, and 42 on shaft 4, totaling 422 ends across the warp.

Yarn and Materials

A Quiet Wrap is woven using Valley Yarns 2/14 alpaca/silk yarn in the Lilac colorway (2602 yards required). This yarn blend combines 80% alpaca with 20% silk, creating a luxuriously soft and lustrous fabric. The yarn is supplied on ½ pound cones, with each cone containing 1,736 yards, meaning approximately 1.5 cones are needed for this project. The alpaca/silk blend is noted as being sturdier than it appears, though still requiring gentle handling during the warping and beaming process.

Sett and Loom Setup

The wrap is set at 16 ends per inch (epi) using a 2/dent threading in an 8-dent reed, which is specified as the preferred method. Alternatively, weavers may use a 12-dent reed with a 1-1-2 threading pattern if an 8-dent reed is unavailable. The width in the reed is 26.37 inches.

Warp Preparation

The warp requires 3½ yards of 422 ends. To achieve the extra half-yard measurement, weavers should measure up or down the side of the warping board and involve those pegs accordingly. The pattern recommends winding the warp in two ends at a time when possible, either by holding two strands together from two cones or by winding off a ball to create paired ends. This double-end approach reduces intersections at the lease sticks, allowing the warp to wind onto the beam more smoothly. The instructions suggest making three or four warp chains rather than fewer chains to minimize stress on the delicate alpaca/silk yarn during the beaming process.

Pattern Notes

This downloadable PDF draft is provided by Valley Yarns for personal use only. The complete threading draft and detailed weaving instructions are included in the full pattern document, with specific guidance on dressing the loom and following the threading sequence for the huck lace structure.