Valley Yarns #210 Baroque Gold Scarf

Valley Yarns Baroque Gold Scarf

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Baroque Gold Scarf is a hand-woven scarf designed by Joanne Wood Peters. This finished scarf measures 6.75 inches wide by 65 inches long (excluding fringe), making it an elegant accessory suitable for everyday wear or special occasions. The scarf showcases a sophisticated color combination and weave structure that highlights the interplay between variegated and solid-colored yarns.

Weaving Techniques

This scarf is constructed using Fancy Twill weave structure on an 8-shaft loom. The design employs striped patterning created through the combination of variegated and solid weft yarns. The weaver uses a treadling draft to create the patterned body of the scarf, with plain weave sections used strategically for finishing details. A hemstitch technique is applied to form a neat scalloped edge at the beginning of the scarf, adding both visual interest and structural integrity to the finished piece.

The scarf begins with 4 picks of plain weave in the Straw-colored yarn before transitioning into the Fancy Twill pattern for the main body. This construction method ensures a professional finish and helps prevent edge distortion during weaving and wear.

Stitches and Weaving Structure

The primary weaving structure is Fancy Twill, which creates diagonal lines and visual texture across the fabric. Plain weave is used for the hemstitched edge detail at the scarf's beginning. The sett (thread density) is 27 ends per inch in the warp and 27 picks per inch in the weft, achieved using a 12-dent reed with a threading pattern of 2-2-2-3. The warp consists of 199 ends across a 7 3/8-inch width in the reed, creating a balanced, stable fabric structure.

Materials: Yarns and Equipment

Warp Yarn: Valley Yarns Variegated 8/2 Tencel in Mountain Stream Combo (100% Lyocell fiber, 3360 yards per pound). Approximately 597 yards of warp yarn is required for this project.

Weft Yarn: Valley Yarns 8/2 Tencel in Straw (100% Lyocell fiber, 3360 yards per pound). Approximately 414 yards of weft yarn is needed.

Equipment Required: An 8-shaft loom with a minimum weaving width of 10 inches, 1 shuttle, and 1 bobbin. A 12-dent reed is used for achieving the correct sett. The warp length is 3 yards of 199 ends, which includes 2 floating selvedges for finished edges.

The choice of 8/2 Tencel (a lightweight, lustrous lyocell fiber) creates a smooth, draping fabric with excellent sheen. The variegated Mountain Stream Combo warp provides visual depth and movement, while the solid Straw-colored weft allows the warp colors to remain prominent without overwhelming the design. This yarn combination was specifically selected by the designer after experimentation to achieve optimal color harmony and visual balance in the finished scarf.

Design Inspiration

The Baroque Gold Scarf design originated from an exploration of how variegated Tencel could be paired with light-colored wefts to create visually striking woven textiles. The designer tested various combinations of deeper-toned variegated yarns with different light weft colors, ultimately finding that the Mountain Stream Combo and Straw pairing complemented each other most effectively, creating a sophisticated and harmonious finished piece.