Valley Yarns Baker's Dozen eBook

Valley Yarns Baker's Dozen eBook: 13 Woven Towels

What is Being Made

The Baker's Dozen eBook is a downloadable weaving pattern designed by Anita Thompson that features thirteen different towel designs, all woven on a single continuous warp. Each towel measures approximately 24" x 18" in finished dimensions. This collection allows weavers to create multiple coordinated homeware pieces from one warp setup, making it an efficient and economical project for both experienced and intermediate weavers.

Weaving Techniques

This pattern showcases the versatility of Rosepath Twill as the foundational weave structure. By varying the tie-up and treadling sequences on the same threading, weavers can produce multiple distinct weave structures throughout the thirteen towels:

• Twill – the base weave structure created through the Rosepath threading
• Overshot – decorative borders and hems created using 20/2 cotton weft
• Lace Pick-Up – an openwork technique requiring a pick-up stick or sword to create delicate, airy sections
• Waffle Weave – a textured structure that adds dimensional interest to the finished towels
• Stripes – color variations achieved through different weft yarn selections across the thirteen designs

The pattern demonstrates how a single warp can be transformed into completely different visual and textural effects through treadling variations alone, ensuring that weavers never repeat the same design twice across the collection.

Stitches and Weave Structures

The primary weave structure is Rosepath Twill threading, which is threaded on an 8-shaft loom using the threading chart provided. The pattern includes specific heddle counts per shaft: each of the eight shafts accommodates 56 to 57 heddles, allowing for 451 total warp ends. The sett (density) is 22 ends per inch (epi), threaded in a 2-3-3-3 pattern in an 8-dent reed, or alternatively 2-2-2-3 in a 10-dent reed. The finished fabric is woven at 22 picks per inch (ppi).

The combination of Rosepath threading with variable tie-ups and treadling creates the foundation for all four weave structures. The overshot sections use a contrasting 20/2 cotton weft to create raised pattern areas, while the lace pick-up technique uses a pick-up stick or sword measuring at least 21" long by 1 1/8" wide to lift specific warp threads and create openwork designs. White sewing thread is used as a supplementary material for the lace pick-up sections.

Materials and Yarns

Warp Yarns: The pattern calls for Brassard 8/2 Cottolin (a blend of 60% organic cotton and 40% linen, yielding 3360 yards per pound or 1680 yards per tube) in the color #C0101 Blanchi (bleached). Alternatively, weavers may substitute 8/2 Cotton in White #8001 (100% unmercerized cotton, 3360 yards per pound). For a 4-yard warp producing four towels, approximately 1804 yards of warp yarn is required; an additional yard of warp length is needed for each additional towel beyond the first four.

Weft Yarns: The primary weft is UKI 20/2 cotton (100% mercerized cotton, 8400 yards per pound), used for overshot borders and under hems. The pattern notes that UKI 20/2 cotton is no longer carried by WEBS, and recommends substituting any 20/2 cotton with the same yardage specifications (8400 yards per pound) for sections requiring this yarn. Individual towel descriptions specify additional weft yarn selections for color variations and stripe effects.

Equipment Requirements

This project requires an 8-shaft loom that is at least 23" wide to accommodate the 20.5" width in reed. Additional equipment includes at least three bobbins and three shuttles, a slim boat shuttle for efficient weft insertion, and a pick-up stick or sword measuring