Valley Yarns #230 Neel Scarf

Valley Yarns Neel Scarf: Woven Lace Design

What is Being Made

The Neel Scarf is a handwoven scarf designed by Shilpa Nagarkar, measuring 12" wide by 87" long (excluding fringe) in finished dimensions. This elegant lacey scarf combines rich color work with intricate weaving techniques, featuring a primary Royal blue color complemented by warm Sienna copper tones inspired by the designer's creative process.

Weaving Techniques Used

This project employs multiple advanced weaving techniques to create visual interest and texture:

• Plain weave forms the foundational structure and appears in the opening section and alternating blocks throughout the scarf
• Lace pick-up creates delicate, openwork patterns by selectively lifting warp threads to form decorative holes and designs
• Leno lace produces an airy, elegant texture by twisting warp threads around the weft, adding sophisticated visual depth to the design
• Hemstitching finishes the warp tail in groups of 4 ends, securing the beginning of the scarf with both functional and decorative results

Weaving Structure and Sett

The scarf is woven on a rigid heddle loom with a 15" weaving width capacity. The warp is set at 10 epi (ends per inch), while the weft is worked at 13 ppi (picks per inch). The warp width in the reed measures 14", creating the final 12" finished width. The total warp length required is 110" with 140 ends, providing ample length for the finished scarf plus fringe.

Pattern Structure

The Neel Scarf features a thoughtfully organized design with distinct sections:

• An initial plain weave section in Royal measuring 2.5" with hemstitched selvage
• Alternating blocks of Sienna and Royal throughout the remaining length
• Each Royal block spans approximately 9" total, consisting of a 4" pick-up pattern, followed by a 1" leno lace section, then another 4" pick-up pattern
• Each Sienna block measures 4.25" in length
• The varying height of leno weave sections allows for natural variation in the overall scarf length

Materials and Yarns

The Neel Scarf is woven entirely with Valley Yarns 5/2 Bamboo, a luxurious yarn composed of 100% rayon derived from bamboo. This yarn yields 2100 yards per pound and is sold in approximately 1.25 pound cones.

Warp yarn requirements: 428 yards of Valley Yarns 5/2 Bamboo in Royal

Weft yarn requirements: 300 yards of Valley Yarns 5/2 Bamboo in Royal and 140 yards in Sienna, allowing the designer's inspiration of copper tones to shimmer throughout the finished piece

Equipment Needed

To weave the Neel Scarf, you will need a rigid heddle loom capable of accommodating a 15" weaving width, two stick shuttles for managing the two weft colors, and an 18" or larger pick-up stick for executing the lace pick-up sections with precision.

Design Inspiration

Designer Shilpa Nagarkar created the Neel Scarf around the stunning Royal color from the WEBS 5/2 Bamboo collection. The addition of Sienna weft was inspired by a copper water jug catching morning light on the designer's desk, bringing warmth and elegance to the lacey structure. This thoughtful color pairing creates a scarf that is both visually striking and sophisticated.