Valley Yarns #241 Jeweled Mosaic Scarf

Valley Yarns Jeweled Mosaic Scarf

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Jeweled Mosaic Scarf is a woven textile accessory designed by Jill Staubitz that produces two finished scarves from a single warp. Each completed scarf measures 10 inches wide by 65.25 inches long, excluding fringe. The design creates a distinctive visual and tactile effect through the interplay of weft floats and plain weave sections, resulting in a bubbly, tiled appearance once the fabric is wet-finished.

Weaving Structure and Techniques

This project employs the M's and O's weaving structure, a four-shaft technique that offers significant design versatility and textural complexity. The M's and O's pattern creates alternating blocks of weft floats (the "M" sections) and plain weave areas (the "O" sections). The weft floats form distinctive columns that, combined with the plain weave interlacement, produce the characteristic bubbly, tiled aesthetic. Color play is incorporated through the alternating blocks, with different weft colors creating visual interest throughout the design.

The weaving process requires careful attention to several technical details. Weavers must begin with filler yarn to spread the warp evenly and should leave at least 7 inches of unwoven warp at the beginning to serve as fringe, using spacers if needed. The project employs a two-shuttle weaving method where both shuttles start on the same side, with one shuttle following the other and the two wefts interlocking at either end. This interlocking technique creates clean edges without requiring a floating selvedge.

Equipment Requirements

The Valley Yarns Jeweled Mosaic Scarf requires a 4-shaft loom with a minimum width capacity of 16 inches. Additional equipment includes 2 shuttles, 2 bobbins, and a 12-dent reed. The loom is dressed with 292 ends following the provided threading draft, which is repeated 8 times across the warp to achieve the desired weaving width of 12.1 inches in the reed.

Yarns and Materials

This scarf is woven entirely with Valley Yarns 8/2 Tencel yarn, which is composed of 100% Lyocell fiber. The Tencel fiber creates a beautiful sheen once the finished fabric is washed and dried. The warp is worked in Navy Tencel, requiring 1460 yards. The weft incorporates two colors: Gray Mauve Tencel (586 yards) and Gold Tencel (586 yards), allowing for the color variation that defines the alternating blocks. Valley Yarns 8/2 Tencel is sold on approximately 1-pound cones at a yardage of 3360 yards per pound.

Specifications and Finishing

The project calls for a warp length of 5 yards containing 292 ends. The sett is 24 ends per inch, achieved using a 2/dent configuration in a 12-dent reed. The peg plan specifies 22 picks per inch. Once woven, the fabric undergoes wet-finishing, which activates the Tencel fiber's natural sheen and allows the weft floats to fully develop their characteristic columnar appearance, completing the jeweled mosaic effect.