Valley Yarns #274 Bauhaus Blocks Rug

Valley Yarns Bauhaus Blocks Rug: Weaving Pattern Summary

Project Overview

The Valley Yarns Bauhaus Blocks Rug is a downloadable weaving pattern designed by Merriel Miller that creates a durable, stylish wool rug featuring a classic block design. This project combines cotton and wool fibers to produce a finished rug measuring 21 inches by 39 inches, suitable for enhancing home décor while withstanding frequent use.

Weaving Technique and Structure

This rug is woven using the Summer and Winter weave structure, a traditional two-shuttle weaving technique that creates dimensional pattern effects through the strategic alternation of weft yarns. The Summer and Winter structure allows weavers to produce complex block patterns by switching between a pattern weft and a tabby (plain weave) weft, creating visual depth and texture in the finished piece.

Equipment Requirements

Weavers will need the following equipment to complete this project:

• 8-shaft loom with a minimum weaving width of 26 inches
• 2 shuttles for alternating between cotton and wool wefts
• 2 bobbins for winding the two different weft yarns
• 12-dent reed for proper sett and yarn spacing

Warp Materials and Specifications

The warp is created using Maysville 8/4 Cotton Carpet Warp, a 100% cotton yarn with a yardage of 1,600 yards per pound. The warp requires 1,312 yards of #12 Forest Green, wound on 8-ounce tubes containing 800 yards each. The total warp length is 2.33 yards consisting of 563 ends, which includes 2 floating selvedges that are not placed in heddles but dented separately for finished edges.

The warp is set at a density of 24 ends per inch (epi), achieved by placing 2 threads per dent in a 12-dent reed. The weaving width in the reed measures 23.6 inches, creating the finished rug width of 21 inches after take-up and finishing.

Weft Materials and Specifications

This pattern uses two different weft yarns in a two-shuttle weaving system:

• Maysville 8/4 Cotton Carpet Warp (#12 Forest Green): 229 yards of the same 100% cotton yarn used for the warp, functioning as the tabby (plain weave) weft that structures the rug
• Valley Yarns Collingwood Rug Wool (Lichen colorway): 187 yards of a wool-blend yarn containing 80% wool and 20% nylon, with a yardage of 900 yards per pound, sold on approximately 1.1-pound cones. This yarn serves as the pattern weft in the Summer and Winter structure

The finished rug achieves a density of 11-12 picks per inch (ppi), creating a balanced, durable fabric suitable for floor use.

Weaving Process and Technique Details

The weaving process begins by winding the 2.33-yard warp of 563 ends using the cotton carpet warp, then dressing the loom following the provided threading draft and centering for the 23.6-inch weaving width. After securing the warp to the front apron rod, weavers spread the warp with several picks of scrap yarn using treadles 1 and 2 to ensure even tension.

The actual weaving commences by winding two bobbins—one with the cotton and one with the rug wool. Weavers begin with 2.5 inches of plain weave using the cotton. The cotton is not cut at this point, as the Summer and Winter structure requires continuous alternation between the wool weft (which creates the pattern) and the cotton weft (which creates the tabby base). Following the provided treadling draft, weavers continue until the piece measures 48 inches including the first hem, then weave a second hem. The completed rug measures approximately 50.5 inches before finishing, with the final dimensions of 21 inches by 39 inches achieved after blocking and finishing processes.

Design and Aesthetic

The Bauhaus Blocks design draws inspiration from modernist design principles, featuring a classic block pattern created through the interaction of the Summer and Winter weave structure with the two contrasting weft colors. The combination of forest green cotton with lichen-colored wool creates visual interest while maintaining a cohesive