Valley Yarns #188 Malachite Scarf

Valley Yarns Malachite Scarf

What Is Being Made

The Malachite Scarf is a woven accessory designed by Wendy Bestor featuring a finished length of 64 inches plus fringe and a width of 9 inches. This is a relatively quick and easy weekend weaving project that showcases the distinctive visual effects of the M's and O's weave structure. The scarf is crafted to be a versatile wardrobe piece, with the crisp definition of Tencel fiber creating clear, defined geometric patterns.

Weaving Structure and Techniques

This scarf employs the M's and O's weave structure, a traditional technique that creates vertical columns of floats. These floats pull the warp and weft threads into circles and ovals, producing the characteristic dimensional effect that gives the scarf its visual interest. The pattern includes structured borders at both ends, with a repeating pattern forming the main body of the scarf.

The design uses a 4-shaft loom with a minimum width of 12 inches. The threading draft specifies heddle counts of 62 ends on shafts 1 through 4, with a tie-up pattern that controls which shaft combinations are raised during treadling. The weaving process begins and ends with decorative borders, with the M's and O's repeat pattern woven in the center section.

Yarn and Materials

The Malachite Scarf is woven using Valley Yarns 8/2 Tencel, a fine weight yarn made from 100% Lyocell fiber. The project requires 1285 yards of Mineral Green Tencel for the warp and weft. Tencel's crisp fiber characteristics are specifically chosen for this pattern, as they provide the sharp definition needed to showcase the M's and O's structure clearly.

Loom Setup and Specifications

• Equipment: 4-shaft loom at least 12 inches wide, 1 shuttle, 1 bobbin
• Warp: 248 ends at 3 yards length
• Sett: 24 ends per inch (2/dent in a 12-dent reed)
• Width in reed: 10.3 inches
• Finished dimensions: 9 inches wide by 64 inches long, plus fringe

Weaving Process

The scarf is woven in distinct sections. After dressing the loom with the 248-end warp, the weaver begins with Border 1, followed by Border 2. The main body of the scarf is then woven by treadling the M's and O's repeat pattern until the fabric reaches approximately 67 inches in length. The pattern is then reversed, with Border 2 woven bottom to top, followed by Border 1 bottom to top, creating a symmetrical design.

Fringe preparation is built into the weaving process, with 8 inches reserved at both the beginning and end of the warp for twisted fringe. After removal from the loom, the scarf is finished by hand washing, air drying, and pressing to set the fabric and enhance the definition of the woven pattern.

Design Features

The Malachite Scarf combines structural weaving technique with color choice to create a sophisticated accessory. The M's and O's pattern creates visual movement through the vertical columns of floats, while the Mineral Green colorway in crisp Tencel fiber ensures the pattern reads clearly. The bordered construction adds a finished, professional appearance to the piece, making it suitable as a completed gift or personal wardrobe addition.