Specifications
| Brand: | Valley Yarns |
| Designer: | Julia Daniels |
| Craft: | Weaving |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Pages: | 6 |
| Finished Size: | 18" x 29" |
| Pattern Code: | 298 |
Product Description
Wide stripes of turned twill bordered with thin stripes of broken twill woven in a subtle, subdued palette of greys and purple in Valley Yarns 8/2 Cotton creates a thirsty set of towels for your kitchen or your gift pile. Four different treadlings make each towel distinct, so weave up all four or pick your favorite!
Weave Structure: Turned twill with broken twill
Equipment: 8-shaft loom with minimum 24” weaving width, 1 shuttle (5 shuttles preferred), 5 bobbins
Warp Yarns: Valley Yarns 8/2 Cotton (100% unmercerized cotton, 3360 yds/lb), #8990 Black 730 yds, #8799 Pearl Grey 480 yds, #8540 Shale 480 yds, #8001 White 480 yds, #6974 Grayed Lavender 480 yds
Weft Yarns: Valley Yarns 8/2 Cotton (100% unmercerized cotton, 3360 yds/lb), #8990 Black 698 yds, #8799 Pearl Grey 150 yds, #8540 Shale 565 yds, #8001 White 150 yds, #6974 Grayed Lavender 150 yds
Warp Length: 5 yds of 530 ends, includes floating selvedges
Sett: 24 epi (2/dent in a 12-dent reed), 18 ppi
Width in reed: 22”
Finished Dimensions: 18” x 29”. Makes 4.
Valley Yarns Spring Rain Towels - Weaving Pattern Summary
Project Overview
The Valley Yarns Spring Rain Towels (Draft #298) is a weaving project designed by Julia Daniels that produces four finished towels measuring approximately 18" x 27" or 29" each. This pattern showcases a sophisticated turned twill weave structure with broken twill variations, creating dynamic visual interest through strategic color placement and weave manipulation. The design draws inspiration from the dramatic sky colors of April showers in the Northeast, utilizing a sophisticated palette of black, white, and gray tones to capture the essence of spring storms.
Weave Structure and Techniques
The Spring Rain Towels employ a turned twill with broken twill weave structure, a technique that creates wider stripes of color than standard twill patterns. The designer manipulated the four outside threads on each side of color bands to create visual complexity. The tie-up configuration produces both warp-dominant and weft-dominant sections within the same piece, adding dimensional variation to the finished towels. By changing both the treadling sequence and color placement throughout the weaving process, the pattern achieves a sophisticated interplay between structure and color that prevents the design from becoming monotonous.
Equipment Requirements
This pattern requires an 8-shaft loom with a minimum weaving width of 24 inches. The loom setup includes one shuttle as a minimum, though five shuttles are preferred to accommodate the multiple yarn colors and reduce the need for frequent bobbin changes during weaving. The pattern calls for five bobbins to manage the various colored yarns efficiently throughout the project.
Yarn Specifications
The Valley Yarns Spring Rain Towels are constructed using Valley Yarns 8/2 Cotton, a 100% unmercerized cotton yarn with a yardage rate of 3360 yards per pound. This yarn weight and fiber content create towels with excellent absorbency and durability, making them both beautiful and functional.
Warp Yarn Colors and Quantities
- #8990 Black: 730 yards
- #8799 Pearl Grey: 480 yards
- #8540 Shale: 480 yards
- #8001 White: 480 yards
- #6974 Grayed Lavender: 480 yards
Weft Yarn Colors and Quantities
- #8990 Black: 698 yards
- #8799 Pearl Grey: 150 yards
- #8540 Shale: 565 yards
- #8001 White: 150 yards
- #6974 Grayed Lavender: 150 yards
Loom Setup and Specifications
The warp consists of 530 ends with a total length of 5 yards, including floating selvedges for finished edges. The sett is 24 ends per inch (epi), achieved by threading 2 ends per dent in a 12-dent reed. The weaving width in the reed is 22 inches, which produces finished towels of approximately 18 inches wide after finishing. The pattern specifies 18 picks per inch (ppi) for the weft density, creating a balanced and durable fabric structure.
Color and Design Philosophy
The color palette emphasizes black, white, and shades of gray, including Pearl Grey, Shale, and Grayed Lavender tones. This sophisticated neutral palette, combined with the turned twill and broken twill techniques, creates visual depth and movement that evokes the dramatic atmospheric conditions of spring rainstorms. The designer's intentional use of wider color stripes and strategic weave manipulation transforms what could be a simple striped pattern into a complex, visually engaging textile.
Pattern Notes
This is a downloadable PDF pattern distributed by Valley Yarns through WEBS. The pattern is intended for personal use only. The complete draft and detailed threading instructions are available through the Valley Yarns website. Weavers should follow standard loom dressing procedures, centering the warp for the specified 22-inch weaving width and tying onto the front apron rod before beginning the weaving process.
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