Valley Yarns #277 Café Au Lait Placemats

Valley Yarns Café Au Lait Placemats

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Café Au Lait Placemats are a set of four woven table linens designed to evoke the aesthetic of a French café. Each finished placemat measures 16.25 inches by 11.5 inches. The design features an intersection of warm, neutral colors inspired by coffee beans and the soft tones created when coffee and cream blend together, making these placemats both functional and decorative home décor pieces for table settings.

Weaving Structure and Techniques

This project uses a color-and-weave weaving structure, a technique that creates visual pattern and depth through the strategic combination of colored yarns in both the warp and weft rather than through complex loom threading. The color-and-weave method allows weavers to produce sophisticated striped and intersecting color effects on relatively simple looms, making it accessible to weavers of various skill levels.

The design employs striped techniques achieved through a carefully planned warp color order that alternates between blocks of solid color and blocks of alternating stripes. The warp is organized with repeating sequences of 12 ends of Alabaster, followed by alternating pairs of Baked Clay and Alabaster, repeated five times, then finishing with 60 ends of solid Alabaster. This structured approach creates the visual intersection of colors that defines the placemat's aesthetic.

Equipment and Loom Setup

The Café Au Lait Placemats are woven on a rigid heddle loom that is at least 15 inches wide, equipped with a 12-dent heddle. The sett (density) is 12 ends per inch (epi), with one thread per dent in the 12-dent reed, and 12 picks per inch (ppi) in the weft. The weaving width in the reed is 13 4/12 inches, and the total warp length required is 3.25 yards (118 inches) of 160 ends.

Weavers will need two shuttles or bobbins to manage the two weft colors used in the project. Additional supplies include matching sewing thread and fray check to finish the edges of the completed placemats.

Yarns and Materials

The Café Au Lait Placemats are made entirely from Valley Yarns 3/2 Cotton, a 100% mercerized cotton yarn available in 1-pound cones with a yardage of 1260 yards per pound. This yarn weight and fiber content provide excellent drape and durability for table linens.

Two colorways are used throughout the project:

• #1089 Alabaster: A light, neutral cream tone used for 459 yards of warp and 378 yards of weft
• #7285 Baked Clay: A warm, earthy tone used for 66 yards of warp and 52 yards of weft

The mercerized cotton fiber provides a smooth finish, subtle sheen, and excellent stitch definition, making it ideal for creating the crisp color intersections characteristic of color-and-weave designs. The yarn's durability ensures these placemats will withstand regular use and washing.

Finishing and Yield

The project produces four finished placemats from a single warp setup. Finishing involves tying the warp onto the front apron rod, spreading the warp with scrap yarn picks, and carefully managing the two weft colors according to the threading chart. Once weaving is complete, edges are finished with matching sewing thread and fray check to prevent fraying and ensure a polished, professional appearance suitable for table linens.