Valley Yarns #278 Touch of Lace Shawl

Valley Yarns Touch of Lace Shawl

What is Being Made

The Touch of Lace Shawl is a woven rectangular shawl designed by Tammy Bast of The Rogue Weaver. This pattern demonstrates advanced rigid heddle loom techniques to create an elegant lace-structured wrap. The finished shawl measures 69 inches by 16 inches plus fringe, making it a generous accessory suitable for layering or draping.

Weaving Craft and Structure

This project showcases the versatility of rigid heddle looms, which are compact yet capable of producing sophisticated textile designs. The shawl employs a lace weave structure with strategic warp and weft floats that create openwork patterns characteristic of lace weaving. The design utilizes pick-up sticks and string heddles to manipulate the warp, opening new creative possibilities for rigid heddle weavers beyond basic plain weave.

Techniques Used

• Lace weaving: Creates openwork patterns through the strategic placement of warp and weft floats
• Pick-up stick manipulation: Uses pick-up sticks to selectively lift warp threads for creating pattern variations
• String heddles: Custom heddles (122 total) provide additional control over warp thread movement beyond the rigid heddle's standard slots
• Hemstitching: Decorative and functional finishing technique applied in bundles of 4 threads at both ends of the shawl
• Direct warping: Warp is wound directly onto the loom or prepared separately and dressed onto the loom
• Plain weave foundation: The shawl begins and ends with 9 picks of plain weave in both up and down sheds for structural stability

Weaving Specifications

Sett and density: The shawl is woven at 12 ends per inch (epi) and 12 picks per inch (ppi), creating a balanced weave structure. The weaving width in the reed measures 19 4/12 inches, utilizing 116 slots on the rigid heddle loom.

Warp and weft: The pattern alternates between two blocks throughout the weaving process, with the weaver following the provided draft until the piece reaches approximately 78.25 inches in length. The shawl ends on block 1 for visual balance.

Fringe: The finished shawl includes 8 inches of fringe at each end, created by leaving unwoven warp threads. An additional 4 times the warp width is reserved as a tail for hemstitching purposes.

Materials and Equipment

Yarn: The Touch of Lace Shawl is woven entirely with Valley Yarns Charlemont, a luxury blend yarn. The warp requires 696 yards in the Sage colorway, while the weft requires 573 yards in the same color. Valley Yarns Charlemont is composed of 60% Fine Superwash Merino wool, 20% Mulberry Silk, and 20% Polyamide, with each skein or ball containing 439 yards. This fiber blend provides softness, sheen, durability, and easy care characteristics ideal for a wearable shawl.

Loom and equipment: This pattern requires a rigid heddle loom at least 20 inches wide fitted with a 12 dent reed. Additional equipment includes 1 shuttle for weft insertion, 4 pick-up sticks for pattern manipulation, 122 string heddles for enhanced thread control, 2 dowels at least 24 inches long to serve as heddle rods, and painter's tape for securing elements during setup.

Warp specifications: The total warp length is 108 inches with 232 ends, providing ample length for the finished shawl plus fringe and finishing techniques.