Valley Yarns #62 Log Cabin Placemats

Valley Yarns Log Cabin Placemats

Project Overview

The Valley Yarns Log Cabin Placemats are woven homeware pieces designed by Barbara Elkins. These table linens showcase a distinctive striped pattern created through strategic color placement in both the warp and weft. Each finished placemat measures 12 inches by 18 inches, making them practical additions to any dining table while demonstrating intermediate weaving techniques.

Weaving Techniques

This project employs striped weaving as its primary design technique. The placemats utilize a straight draw draft on a 4-shaft loom, where threads are threaded sequentially through shafts 1, 2, 3, and 4 throughout the entire warp. The design achieves its visual impact through careful manipulation of color in both the warp and weft yarns, combined with a simple tabby tie-up structure.

The weaving method involves a symmetrical center-point reversal technique. Weavers thread the loom, weave to the halfway point of the mat (approximately 10 to 10.5 inches for an on-loom length of 20 inches), then reverse the treadling sequence and weave back to the beginning. This creates a mirror-image effect within each placemat. Individual mats are separated during weaving using 3 to 4 picks of contrasting color yarn, allowing multiple placemats to be woven efficiently in a single warp.

Stitches and Weave Structure

The Log Cabin Placemats are constructed using tabby weave, also known as plain weave, which is the fundamental weaving structure. The tie-up configuration is straightforward: shafts 1 and 3 are tied together for one shed, while shafts 2 and 4 are tied together for the alternate shed. This simple interlocking pattern of vertical and horizontal threads creates a balanced, durable fabric suitable for table use.

Plain weave produces a stable, flat fabric with equal numbers of warp and weft threads visible on the surface. The coarse sett of 12 ends per inch allows the placemats to weave up quickly despite the use of two colors in the weft, making this an efficient project for weavers seeking substantial results in reasonable time.

Materials and Specifications

The Valley Yarns Log Cabin Placemats are woven using 3/2 Valley Cotton yarn in two colorways. Color A is porcelain (shade 2166), while Color B is alabaster (shade 1089). Both colors are used in the warp and weft to create the striped effect.

Equipment requirements: A 4-shaft loom with a minimum weaving width of 15 inches is necessary for this project. Two shuttles are required to manage the two weft colors efficiently. A temple is recommended to maintain consistent selvage tension, though it is not absolutely essential.

Yarn quantities and dimensions: The project requires one cone each of porcelain and alabaster 3/2 Valley Cotton. The warp is threaded at a sett of 12 ends per inch, with 165 warp ends total. A warp length of 4 yards accommodates four complete placemats plus loom waste. The reed width is 13¾ inches, which yields a finished width of 12 inches after removal from the loom. Each placemat is 18 inches in length.

Warp color order: The warping follows a specific sequence using pairs of ends wound together at a single end cross. The pattern alternates sections of solid porcelain, solid alabaster, and mixed porcelain-alabaster combinations in varying quantities to create the striped visual effect.

Finishing and Care

After weaving, each placemat receives stay-stitching at the ends to prevent unraveling. The finished pieces are soaked in cool water, then rolled in a towel to remove excess moisture before being dried flat or draped over a rod. Once dry, the mats are separated, pressed, and the ends are folded under and hemmed for a professional appearance.