Specifications
| Brand: | Valley Yarns |
| Designer: | Marthe Young |
| Craft: | Weaving |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Loom Type: | Rigid Heddle Loom |
| Techniques and Construction: | Seamed, Stripes |
| Pattern Code: | 227 |
Product Description
Valley Yarns Pinwheel Tote is a fabulous bag made with handwoven fabric from just one sitting at your rigid heddle loom. By combining four different colors in our Valley Yarns Huntington Splash and Charlemont, you’ll end up with four unique quadrants of fabric used to construct the bag - each with its own unique pizazz from the variation in the weft. Show off your weaving skills with this bag in tow on your next errand or outing! Intermediate Sewing Skills required.
Equipment: Rigid Heddle loom 15” or larger, 12-dent reed, one or two stick shuttles 16” or longer, Elmer’s School Glue. Highly Recommended – weaving temple and locking stitch markers
Warp Yarn: Valley Yarns Charlemont (60% Fine Superwash Merino Wool/ 20% Silk/ 20% Polyamide; 100g/439yds)
185 yards shown in Sage
181 yards shown in Deep Sea
Weft Yarn: Valley Yarns Huntington Splash (75% Superwash Merino Wool/ 25% Nylon; 100g/436yds)
170 yards shown in 07 Indian Ocean
170 yards shown in 08 Amazon
Warp Length: 74” of 178 ends
Sett: 12 epi, 14 ppi
Finished Dimensions: 14” wide and 48” long (after washing, pre-construction), and the finished bag measures 9” wide, 15” long, and 7” deep
Weave Structure: Plain Weave
Valley Yarns Pinwheel Tote: Woven Bag Pattern
What Is Being Made
The Valley Yarns Pinwheel Tote is a hand-woven fabric bag designed by Marthe Young. This tote is sized to hold one or two baguettes comfortably without being oversized, making it practical for everyday use or gift-giving. The finished bag features a distinctive pinwheel or windmill pattern created through strategic color placement in the warp and weft, simplified from more complex versions of traditional windmill bag designs.
Weaving Techniques and Structure
Plain weave is the foundation of this project, creating a sturdy, balanced fabric suitable for a functional tote bag. The pattern is achieved through careful color sequencing rather than complex threading, making it accessible to intermediate weavers. The design uses a four-color warp approach, with two colors threaded in the slots of the rigid heddle loom to create the pinwheel effect when woven.
The weaving process begins by warping the loom with 178 ends at a length of 74 inches, centered for a weaving width of 14.8 inches. The warp is threaded strategically: Sage color fills 45 slots from left to right starting at center, while Deep Sea fills 44 slots from right to left, creating the foundation for the pinwheel pattern. The sett is 12 ends per inch (epi) in the warp and 14 picks per inch (ppi) in the weft.
Materials: Yarn and Fiber Content
Warp Yarn: Valley Yarns Charlemont is used for the warp, a premium blend of 60% Fine Superwash Merino Wool, 20% Silk, and 20% Polyamide. This fiber combination provides durability, softness, and easy care. Two colorways are used: Sage (185 yards) and Deep Sea (181 yards).
Weft Yarn: Valley Yarns Huntington Splash is used for the weft, composed of 75% Superwash Merino Wool and 25% Nylon for added strength and resilience. Two colorways create the visual pattern: #07 Indian Ocean (170 yards) and #08 Amazon River (170 yards).
Weaving Equipment
- Rigid Heddle loom, 15 inches or larger
- 12-dent reed
- One or two stick shuttles, 16 inches or longer
- Elmer's School Glue for securing warp ends
- Weaving temple (highly recommended)
- Locking stitch markers (highly recommended)
Construction and Finishing
After weaving, the fabric is transformed into a finished tote bag through seaming and assembly. The construction process requires intermediate sewing skills and a sewing machine. The woven fabric is seamed together to form the bag structure, and additional materials are incorporated to add stability and functionality.
Sewing and Construction Materials:
- Sewing machine with a walking foot (recommended)
- Neutral gray sewing thread
- ⅝ yard of cotton fabric for lining (45 inches wide)
- ⅜ yard of fusible lightweight quilt batting (45 inches wide)
- Cotton woven webbing, 1 inch wide, totaling 1¼ to 1½ yards for two handles, with length adjustable based on personal preference
The lining, batting, and webbing handles are sewn into the bag during construction, creating a professional, durable finished product suitable for regular use.
Pattern Details
This is a downloadable PDF pattern distributed by Valley Yarns through WEBS. The complete draft includes detailed threading instructions, color sequences, and step-by-step construction guidance. The pattern is designed for personal use and represents a thoughtful approach to combining hand-woven fabric with practical bag construction.
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