Valley Yarns #267 Dragonfly Dance Wall Hanging

Valley Yarns Dragonfly Dance Wall Hanging

What is Being Made

The Dragonfly Dance Wall Hanging is a woven homeware piece designed by Tammy Bast of The Rogue Weaver. This decorative wall hanging measures 16.5" x 16" (excluding fringe) and features a design inspired by the delicate movement of dragonflies. The pattern combines traditional weaving with mixed fiber textures to create dimensional visual effects reminiscent of Impressionist painting styles.

Weaving Structure and Techniques

This project uses plain weave as the primary weaving structure, enhanced with supplementary weft floats to create visual interest and texture variation. The stripe technique is employed throughout the design, incorporating different materials to add depth and movement to the finished piece. The supplementary weft floats allow for the introduction of contrasting fibers that float across the surface of the base weave, creating the dimensional quality that gives the wall hanging its distinctive appearance.

Equipment and Loom Setup

This project is woven on a rigid heddle loom measuring 20" wide. The following equipment is required:

• 7.5 or 8-dent heddle
• 2 stick shuttles for weft insertion
• 2 pick-up sticks measuring 22" or longer
• Hanging rod approximately 18-19" long (¼" dowel recommended)
• Dark blue sewing thread and standard sewing supplies
• Sewing machine with optional walking foot attachment

Warp and Weft Specifications

Warp Yarn: Valley Yarns Amherst in Navy color, 100% merino fiber. The warp requires 210 yards total, which equals 3 balls of Amherst (109 yards per 50g ball). The warp consists of 148 ends measuring 51" in length.

Weft Yarn: The project uses two different weft materials. Valley Yarns Amherst in Navy provides 70 yards of the base weft, while Malabrigo Nube roving in colorway #866 Arco Iris contributes approximately 2 ounces (62 grams or roughly 40 yards) as the supplementary weft. The Malabrigo Nube is a roving fiber sold in 4-ounce braids and is responsible for the dimensional, almost Monet-like quality of the finished piece.

Loom Settings and Sett

The weaving sett (threads per inch) is set at either 7.5 or 8 epi (ends per inch), with a pick density of approximately 7 ppi (picks per inch) for the Amherst yarn. The width in the reed measures approximately 19.75" when using a 7.5-dent heddle, or 18.5" when using an 8-dent heddle. Direct warping requires 74 slots on the loom.

Materials Summary

The total yarn requirement for this project is modest and accessible: 3 balls of Valley Yarns Amherst (100% merino) and 1 braid of Malabrigo Nube roving. The merino base provides a smooth, durable foundation, while the Malabrigo Nube roving adds textural contrast and visual movement. The combination of these materials creates the distinctive artistic effect that inspired the dragonfly theme of the design.

Design Features

The use of odd bits of stash is encouraged in this pattern, making it an excellent project for fiber artists looking to incorporate leftover materials. The supplementary weft floats create areas where the Malabrigo Nube sits prominently on the surface, allowing its texture and color variations to dominate the visual composition while the Navy Amherst provides structural support and visual grounding.