Valley Yarns #290 Weaving a Tallit PDF

Over many years of developing weaving drafts for Webs, this weaver has been asked many times for instructions for weaving a tallit for a grandchild, a family member, or maybe a friend. The time has come. And no, the weaver does not have to be Jewish although the recipient probably is. This tallit is woven with Valley Yarns 10/2 Cotton, 8/2 Tencel, 5/2 Bamboo, and 20/2 Silk on four shafts. The twill treadled as overshot looks much more complex than it actually is to make the draft accessible for weavers of all levels.

Weave Structure: Four-shaft twill treadled as overshot

Required Equipment:
- Four-shaft loom with minimum 30” weaving width; two or three boat shuttles with three bobbins;-
- a set of tzitzit - the ritual strings attached to the corners of the tallit;
- fine point disappearing ink pen (Dritz or any other brand);
- large eye, blunt tip tapestry needle and slim, blunt tip tapestry needle.
Optional but recommended:
- Four-shaft narrow loom for the neck band and corner patches;
- two smaller boat shuttles and appropriate bobbins;
- temple for the wider warp.

Warp Yarn: Valley Yarns 10/2 Cotton #8176 Natural 2,352 yds for the body of the tallit, 219 yds for neck band and corner patches.
Weft Yarn: Valley Yarns 8/2 Tencel Natural 794 yds; 5/2 Bamboo Navy 299 yds; 20/2 Silk #644 Aqua 282 yds.

Warp Length: 4 yds of 587 ends (includes 2 floating selvedges) for tallit; 3 yds of 73 ends (includes 2 floating selvedges) for neck band and corner patches.
Sett: 24 epi (2 per dent in a 12-dent reed) for both warps.
Picks per inch: Plain weave: 20 ppi; pattern & tabby: ~36 ppi
Width in reed: Tallit: 24.46”; neck band & corner patches: 3.04”
Finished Dimensions: Tallit: 22¾” x 66” (length may vary depending on the weaver's or wearer’s choice)