Specifications
| Brand: | Valley Yarns |
| Designer: | Anita Thompson |
| Craft: | Weaving |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Techniques and Construction: | Seamed |
| Pattern Code: | 231 |
Product Description
Believe it or not, Valley Yarns Falling Waters Top is made from a simple 4-shaft weave using just two yarns. Together our Valley Yarns 8/2 Variegated cotton and Valley Yarns 8/2 Tencel produce a gorgeous, vibrant fabric perfect for handwoven garments. We used a Style Arc sewing pattern for a shirt with a modern look, which is easy to download online and comes in sizes US 0-20*. Intermediate Sewing Skills required.
Equipment: 4-shaft loom at least 26” wide, 1 bobbin, 1 shuttle
Other: Style Arc Pattern “Quinn”*, about 1 yard ultra-fine fusible interfacing, blue or medium gray sewing thread, spray starch, usual sewing supplies, 1½ yards commercial fabric for mock-up top. A rotary cutter, mat, and ruler are helpful.
Warp Yarn: Valley Yarns 8/2 Variegated Cotton (100% Cotton; 3,360 yds/lb) shown in 9172 Lapis Lazuli
For AUS sizes 4–12 (US 0–8) – 2408 yards
For AUS sizes 14–24 (US 10–20) – 2675 yards
Weft Yarn: Valley Yarns 8/2 Tencel (100% Lyocell; 3360 yds/lb) shown Grey Blue
For AUS sizes 4–12 (US 0–8) – 2013 yards
For AUS sizes 14–24 (US 10–20) – 2301 yards
Warp Length: 535 ends for all sizes. AUS sizes 4-12 (US 0-8), 4½ yards warp; AUS sizes 14-24 (US 10-20), 5 yards warp
Sett: 22.5 epi (2-2-2-3 in a 10-dent reed), 22 ppi
Weave Structure: Twill
* The sewing pattern used for this top is from Style Arc and must be purchased separately online. It uses Australian sizes, which are about two sizes smaller than US Sizes (for example, Style Arc size 10 is a size 6 in US). There is a conversion chart on the website. The patterns are downloadable, so you must print out and tape the pages together, then cut out the paper pattern pieces.
Note: if you wish to purchase the WIF format instead, please select it from the Related Products.
Valley Yarns Falling Waters Top
What is Being Made
The Falling Waters Top is a woven garment designed by Anita Thompson for intermediate sewers. This modern top combines hand-woven fabric with commercial sewing pattern construction, using the Style Arc Quinn pattern (available separately). The design creates an attractive striped fabric through the combination of variegated warp and solid weft yarns, producing instant visual interest without complex weaving techniques.
Weaving Techniques and Structure
This project uses a twill weave structure on a 4-shaft loom, which creates a diagonal line pattern characteristic of twill fabrics. The weaving technique is straightforward, employing a single shuttle and one bobbin for efficient production. The designer notes that the striping effect achieved is more visually interesting than a simple single-shuttle weave might suggest, making this an excellent project for weavers seeking dynamic results from basic techniques.
The fabric is woven at a sett of 22.5 ends per inch (epi) using a 10-dent reed with a threading pattern of 2-2-2-3. The pick density is 22 picks per inch (ppi), creating a balanced weave suitable for garment construction. The width in reed measures 23.77 inches, accommodating the pattern pieces needed for the finished top.
Yarns and Materials
Warp Yarn: Valley Yarns 8/2 Cotton Variegated in Lapis Lazuli (#9172), a 100% unmercerized cotton available on 1-pound cones at 3360 yards per pound. Yardage requirements vary by size: Australian sizes 4-12 (US 0-8) require 2,408 yards, while Australian sizes 14-24 (US 10-20) require 2,675 yards. The warp is 535 ends for all sizes, with warp lengths of 4½ yards for smaller sizes and 5 yards for larger sizes.
Weft Yarn: Valley Yarns 8/2 Tencel in Grey Blue, a 100% Lyocell fiber also sold on approximately 1-pound cones at 3360 yards per pound. The Tencel weft adds subtle sheen and improved drape to the finished fabric. Yardage requirements are 2,013 yards for Australian sizes 4-12 (US 0-8) and 2,301 yards for Australian sizes 14-24 (US 10-20).
Equipment and Supplies: A 4-shaft loom at least 26 inches wide is required. Additional materials include approximately 1 yard of ultra-fine fusible interfacing, blue or medium gray sewing thread, spray starch, standard sewing supplies, and optionally 1.5 yards of commercial fabric for making a practice mock-up top. A rotary cutter, cutting mat, and ruler are helpful for pattern preparation and fabric cutting.
Sewing and Finishing
After weaving is complete, the fabric is finished and used with the Style Arc Quinn sewing pattern to construct the garment. The pattern requires intermediate sewing skills and is available for separate purchase as a downloadable PDF from Style Arc's website. Sewers must print, tape together, and cut out the pattern pieces themselves. The pattern uses Australian sizing, which runs approximately two sizes smaller than US sizing (for example, Style Arc size 10 corresponds to US size 6), with a conversion chart available on the Style Arc website.
The combination of the woven fabric's natural drape from the Tencel weft and the structured twill weave creates a modern garment suitable for contemporary styling. The variegated cotton warp paired with the solid grey-blue Tencel weft produces the signature striped appearance that defines this top's visual appeal.
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