Valley Yarns #51 Placemats in 16/2 Linen

Valley Yarns Placemats in 16/2 Linen

What is Being Made

This downloadable weaving draft produces elegant linen placemats measuring 12¼" x 18" when finished. The pattern yields four placemats from a single 5-yard warp, or five mats with careful planning, plus a 36" runner and allowance for loom waste. Each placemat is a functional yet sophisticated piece of home décor, suitable for everyday dining or special occasions.

Design and Origin

This project was designed by Barbara Elkins and adapted from a vintage draft created by S. A. Zielinski, originally published in a 1977 Leclerc Corp. newsletter. The pattern combines classical weaving techniques with a contemporary twist, making it both a nod to weaving tradition and a modern home accessory.

Weaving Techniques

The placemats showcase stripe patterning created through sophisticated shaft work. The 8-shaft draft employs straight draw and point twill threading methods, which are fundamental techniques in multi-shaft weaving. What makes this design particularly elegant is its unbalanced tie-up, which creates visual interest while maintaining structural integrity. The combination of these techniques produces a fabric with dimensional depth and refined aesthetic appeal.

Loom Setup and Threading

This project requires an 8-shaft loom with a weaving width of 13¾". The threading structure includes 343 warp ends total, distributed as follows: a right border of 24 ends, a center unit repeated 21 times (295 ends), and a left border of 24 ends. The pattern uses a 10-dent reed set at 25 ends per inch (epi), which is considered a moderate sett appropriate for 16/2 linen yarn. Heddle counts vary by shaft: Shaft 1 requires 28 heddles, Shafts 2 through 7 each require 48 heddles, and Shaft 8 requires 27 heddles.

Materials: Yarn and Equipment

The placemats are woven entirely in Valley Yarns 16/2 Linen, a two-ply linen yarn that provides strength and durability for functional textiles. The color palette combines two tubes of natural linen with two tubes of half-bleach linen, creating subtle tonal variation and visual interest through the stripe technique. The half-bleach yarn is recommended for the warp due to its superior twist structure. A single shuttle and temple complete the essential equipment list.

Yarn Characteristics and Weaving Notes

16/2 linen is an excellent choice for weavers new to linen textiles because the yarn is inherently strong and does not require an extremely fine sett, making it more forgiving than finer linen counts. The yarn's natural irregularities—including slubs and minor knots—integrate beautifully into the finished fabric and remain virtually invisible in the final textile. When preparing the warp, it is advisable to wind multiple narrow chains in five-inch sections or less with single-end crosses to minimize length and tension variation. Secure the warp with choke ties every 18 inches during the beaming process, using back-to-front beaming with a raddle and lease sticks for optimal results.

Finished Fabric Characteristics

The completed placemats feature a balanced combination of structure and drape, with the stripe pattern creating visual movement across the surface. The linen fiber provides natural durability, making these placemats suitable for regular use while maintaining their appearance through repeated washing and handling.