Valley Yarns #237 Loopy Cotton Washcloths

Valley Yarns Loopy Cotton Washcloths: Woven Homeware Pattern

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Loopy Cotton Washcloths pattern produces a set of two soft, absorbent washcloths designed for sensitive skin, particularly suitable for babies and gentle daily use. Each finished washcloth measures 7.75" x 7.75" after hemming and washing. This is a downloadable weaving pattern created by designer Marthe Young, distributed by Valley Yarns and WEBS.

Weave Structure and Techniques

Plain weave with loops (also known as tissage boutonné) forms the foundation of this design. The striped pattern is created through the strategic use of multiple yarn colors in both the warp and weft, producing visual interest while maintaining the functional, absorbent qualities necessary for a washcloth. The loop technique—achieved by manipulating the weft yarns to create raised, textured loops on the fabric surface—adds softness and increased absorbency without compromising durability.

The designer selected this loop weave technique specifically for its suitability to cotton fiber, having previously tested the method on a pillow project. The combination of plain weave structure with dimensional loops creates a fabric that is both visually appealing and highly functional for bathing purposes.

Loom Setup and Sett

• Loom: Rigid heddle loom, minimum 15" wide with a 10-dent reed
• Warp length: 42" with 91 ends
• Sett: 10 epi (ends per inch) and 10 ppi (picks per inch) in plain weave sections
• Width in reed: 9"

Tools and Equipment

• 3 stick shuttles or 2 boat shuttles with 4 bobbins for weft insertion
• 1 knitting needle US 8/5mm (at least 10" long) for loop manipulation
• E/4 crochet hook for finishing details
• 8"-11" temple (optional, for maintaining consistent width)

Yarns and Materials

Warp Yarns: Valley Yarns Westhampton (100% Pima Cotton, 109 yards per ball) in three colors creates the foundation structure. Natural (#01) requires 88 yards, while Haze (#15) and Midnight Sky (#13) each require 9.5 yards for color accents. The Westhampton yarn was selected for its nice twist and structural integrity, making it ideal for supporting the weft yarns and loop formations.

Weft Yarns: A combination of two Valley Yarns cotton varieties creates the looped surface and striped pattern. Valley Yarns Westhampton (100% Pima Cotton, 109 yards per ball) in Natural (#01), Haze (#15), and Midnight Sky (#13) provides 29 yards each of the first two colors and 5 yards of the third. Valley Yarns Montague (100% cotton, 110 yards per skein) in Natural (#002) and Plum (#016) each requires 30 yards. The Montague yarn, with its loosely twisted cotton core wrapped in finer cotton, was specifically chosen for the loop portions due to its soft, absorbent qualities and gentle texture suitable for sensitive skin.

Reinforcement Yarn: Jawoll Reinforcement Bobbin (75% Superwash Wool, 18% Nylon, 7% Acrylic) in Off White (#94) totals 14 yards and is used for hemming to add durability and structure to the finished edges.

Total Yarn Requirements

• 2 balls Valley Yarns Westhampton #01 Natural
• 1 ball Valley Yarns Westhampton #15 Haze
• 1 ball Valley Yarns Westhampton #13 Midnight Sky
• 1 skein Valley Yarns Montague #002 Natural
• 1 skein Valley Yarns Montague #016 Plum
• Jawoll Reinforcement Bobbin #94 Off White for hems

Design Inspiration and Fiber Properties

The pattern was created to fulfill a specific need: a special, machine-washable washcloth for a young child to use when bathing a newborn sibling.