Specifications
| Brand: | Valley Yarns |
| Designer: | Barbara Elkins |
| Craft: | Weaving |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Techniques and Construction: | Stripes |
| Pattern Code: | 236 |
Product Description
Looking for a satisfying project to replenish your stash of giftable handwovens? Look no further; Valley Yarns Barbara’s Gift Bank Towels are just for you! Written by our founder, Barbara Elkins, this long warp will yield 4 towels in a stunning false damask, sure to impress friends and family in our versatile 8/2 cotton. Weave them all in the same color weft or feature different colors on every towel.
Equipment: 8-shaft loom with minimum 24” weaving width, 1 boat shuttle, 1 bobbin. A temple is optional but very helpful. Natural or matching weft color sewing thread for hems, approximately 35 yards.
Warp Yarn: 2010 yards Valley Yarns 8/2 Cotton (100% Cotton, 3360 yds/lb) shown in 8176 Natural
Weft Yarn: 1671 yards Valley Yarns 8/2 Cotton (100% Cotton, 3360 yds/lb) shown in 5680 Sagebrush for 4 towels, including hems.
Warp Length: 5 yards of 402 ends (includes 2 floating selvedges)
Sett: 20 epi (2 per dent in a 10-dent reed), 23 ppi
Finished Dimensions: 17⅜” wide and 26⅜” long. Makes 4 towels.
Weave Structure: False Damask
Note: if you wish to purchase the WIF format instead, please select it from the Related Products.
Valley Yarns Barbara's Gift Bank Towels: Woven Striped Cotton Towels
Project Overview
Barbara's Gift Bank Towels is a downloadable weaving draft designed by Barbara Elkins for Valley Yarns. This project creates a set of four finished towels using a false damask weave structure. The design was inspired by Mary Atwater, a pioneering figure in the American handweaving revival, and features a neutral warp that allows weavers to customize each towel with different colored wefts for varied visual results.
What Is Being Made
This pattern produces four finished bank towels, each measuring 17 3/8" x 26 3/8". Bank towels are compact, practical household textiles ideal for kitchen or bathroom use. The neutral natural warp paired with colored weft yarns creates striped visual effects across each towel.
Weaving Technique and Structure
The towels are woven using a false damask weave structure on an 8-shaft loom. False damask creates texture and visual interest through the interplay of warp and weft without requiring the complex threading of true damask. The threading draft specifies heddle counts across three shafts: 48 heddles on shaft 1, 48 heddles on shaft 2 (which includes floating selvedges), and 48 heddles on shaft 3. The pattern is centered for a weaving width of 20.1" in the reed.
Striped Design and Sett Details
The striped technique is achieved through the combination of a neutral warp and colored weft yarns. The warp is set at 20 epi (ends per inch), achieved by sleying 2 ends per dent in a 10-dent reed. The weft is beaten at 23 ppi (picks per inch), creating a balanced weave suitable for absorbent toweling. The warp consists of 402 ends over a 5-yard length, including 2 floating selvedges for finished edges.
Materials and Yarn Specifications
Warp Yarn: Valley Yarns 8/2 Valley Cotton in Natural (#8176), 100% cotton, 3360 yards per pound. The project requires 2010 yards wound on 1-pound cones.
Weft Yarn: Valley Yarns 8/2 Valley Cotton in Sagebrush (#5680), 100% cotton, 3360 yards per pound. The project requires 1671 yards (sufficient for 4 completed towels including hems) wound on 1-pound cones.
Additional Materials: Natural or matching weft color sewing thread for finishing hems, approximately 35 yards total.
Equipment Requirements
- 8-shaft loom with minimum 24" weaving width
- 1 boat shuttle for weft insertion
- 1 bobbin for weft yarn
- 10-dent reed for proper sett
- Temple (optional but recommended for maintaining consistent width)
Finishing Process
After weaving, the towels are finished with hemstitching using sewing thread. The pattern includes instructions for weaving hems with sewing thread to secure the edges and prevent fraying, completing the four finished towels from a single warp.
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