Valley Yarns #201 Classic Conestoga Bag & Change Purse

Valley Yarns Classic Conestoga Bag & Change Purse

What Is Being Made

This weaving project produces two coordinated items from a single warp: a large tote-style bag measuring 13" wide by 3" deep by 11 ½" high, and a zippered change purse measuring 5 ¾" wide by 5 ½" high. Both pieces are constructed from woven fabric that is finished with cotton lining, interfacing, hardware, and notions to create functional, structured accessories.

Weaving Structure & Techniques

This project uses Independent Block Overshot, an 8-shaft weaving structure that creates dimensional striped and patterned effects. The design is inspired by the classic 4-shaft "Conestoga" pattern found in Davison's A Handweaver's Pattern Book, but adapted for 8-shaft looms to achieve greater complexity and visual interest. Weavers can select different tie-ups to vary the appearance of the pattern between the bag and purse sections, allowing for creative customization within a single project.

Loom & Equipment Requirements

This pattern requires an 8-shaft loom that is at least 25" wide. Additional equipment includes a 15-dent reed, 2 shuttles, 2 bobbins, and a temple capable of reaching 20" long. A walking foot is recommended for the sewing construction phase but is not mandatory. A zipper foot is required for inserting the zipper into the change purse.

Yarns & Materials

Warp Yarn: Valley Yarns Valley Cotton 10/2 in Natural (#8176), a 100% mercerized cotton available at 4200 yards per pound on 1-pound cones. The project requires 1128 yards of warp yarn.

Weft Yarns: The project uses two different weft yarns to create the striped pattern effect. Valley Yarns Valley Cotton 10/2 in Natural (#8176) provides 508 yards, while Valley Yarns Valley Cotton 5/2 in Eggplant (#6256), a 100% mercerized cotton at 2100 yards per pound, contributes 488 yards. The Eggplant color creates rich contrast against the Natural ground, though weavers may substitute other contrasting colors from the Valley Yarns range.

Additional Supplies: The project requires 1 yard of coordinating cotton fabric for lining, 1 yard of craft weight iron-on interfacing, one 1 ¾" matching button, a 24" pair of handles, a coordinating 9" zipper with non-metal teeth, and standard sewing notions.

Warp & Sett Specifications

The warp length is 2 ½ yards with 451 ends (including 2 floating selvages). The sett is 22 ½ ends per inch, achieved by sleying 1-2 threads in a 15-dent reed. The width in reed is 20". The pattern is woven at 21 ½ to 22 picks per inch, with tabby rows bringing the total to 43–44 picks per inch.

Finished Dimensions & Yardage

After washing and drying, the large bag requires 18" × 27" of woven yardage in the pattern area, while the zippered change purse requires 18" × 6" of woven yardage in the pattern area.

Construction & Finishing

Once the woven fabric is complete, both pieces are finished with cotton lining and interfacing to add structure and durability. The large bag is assembled with a pair of handles and a button closure. The change purse is constructed with a 9" zipper featuring non-metal teeth for secure closure. Both items are sewn using standard sewing techniques and notions.