Valley Yarns #217 Glacial Ice Scarf

Valley Yarns Glacial Ice Scarf: Woven Striped Design

Project Overview

The Glacial Ice Scarf is a downloadable weaving pattern designed by Lynn Field for Valley Yarns. This scarf showcases movement and visual depth through an advancing twill weave structure, with the designer intentionally creating a pattern that shifts and changes appearance when viewed from different angles. The color palette—featuring Pacific and Peppermint silk tones—evokes the frigid waters surrounding glaciers, bringing dynamic visual interest to a finished accessory measuring 9.75" by 68.25" (excluding fringe).

Weaving Technique & Structure

This project uses an advancing twill weave structure, a technique that creates diagonal lines across the fabric that appear to move and shift depending on viewing angle. The advancing twill is achieved through a specific threading and treadling sequence on a 4-shaft loom, which allows the diagonal pattern to progress across the width of the scarf. This structural approach is what generates the sense of depth and movement that Lynn Field envisioned for the design.

Materials & Yarn Specifications

• Warp Yarn: Valley Yarns 20/2 Silk in #646 Pacific (100% Spun Mulberry Silk, 4900 yards per pound, 2744 yards per cone) — 1083 yards required
• Weft Yarn: Valley Yarns 20/2 Silk in #612 Peppermint, formerly called Sax (100% Spun Mulberry Silk, 4900 yards per pound, 2744 yards per cone) — 872 yards for weaving plus 55 yards optional for fringe
• Warp Length: 3 yards total with 361 ends (including two floating selvedges for finished edges)

Loom & Equipment Requirements

Weavers will need a 4-shaft loom with a minimum weaving width of 14 inches, one shuttle, and one bobbin to complete this project. The scarf is threaded at a sett of 32 ends per inch (epi), which can be achieved using either a 10-dent reed with a 3-3-3-3-4 threading pattern or a 12-dent reed with a 2-3-3 threading pattern. The width in the reed is 11.3 inches, which allows for the finished width of 9.75 inches after take-up and finishing.

Shaft & Threading Details

The threading draft distributes the 361 warp ends across four shafts as follows: Shaft 1 receives 84 heddles, Shaft 2 receives 94 heddles, Shaft 3 receives 96 heddles, and Shaft 4 receives 85 heddles. Weavers should center the threading for an 11.3-inch weaving width and follow the provided threading draft carefully to achieve the advancing twill pattern.

Finishing & Fringe

The finished scarf measures 9.75 inches wide by 68.25 inches long, excluding fringe. The pattern includes provisions for approximately 8 inches of fringe space on each end (totaling 5.5 inches of fringe on both ends in the final piece), with an optional 55 yards of weft yarn available for creating decorative fringe if desired. Weavers begin by tying the warp onto the front apron rod, treadling plain weave with scrap yarn to spread the warp evenly, and inserting spacers to reserve adequate length for fringe development.

Striped Pattern & Color Movement

The combination of Pacific and Peppermint silk creates a two-color striped effect that is enhanced by the advancing twill structure. As the twill progresses across the scarf, the interplay between these two colors creates the illusion of movement and depth, making the pattern appear to shift as the viewer's perspective changes. This technique transforms a simple two-color palette into a visually complex and dynamic finished textile.