A Bird's Eye View - Exploring Color Contrast with Bird’s Eye Twill

A Bird's Eye View - Exploring Color Contrast with Bird’s Eye Twill

Bird's Eye View Runner

This month, we’re continuing our exploration of the exciting ways color contrast can transform your weaving, and we’ve got something really special for you—an exploration of how only two colors can create stunning visual interest using the classic Bird’s Eye Twill weave structure.

What is Bird’s Eye Twill?

Bird’s Eye Twill is a type of twill known for its distinctive diamond or “eye” shaped pattern that resembles the tiny speckles seen in a bird’s eye. This structure is created using a repeating sequence of floats that form small diamond motifs across the fabric.

Why We Love Bird's Eye Twill:

• Beautiful Texture: The repeating pattern adds rich texture and visual interest to your cloth without being overly busy.

• Subtle or Bold: Depending on the color contrast between your warp and weft, Bird’s Eye can look subtle and elegant—or bold and graphic. 

• Versatile: It works beautifully for table runners, towels, scarves, and more.

• Classic Appeal: This structure has a timeless charm, often found in vintage linens and traditional textiles.

How It’s Woven:

• 4-Shaft Loom: Traditionally, Bird’s Eye Twill is woven on a 4-shaft loom with a point twill threading that creates the diamond pattern.

• Rigid Heddle Loom: For rigid heddle weavers, we’ve adapted the look of Bird’s Eye using color contrast and creative warp/weft sequencing to mimic the feel of the classic pattern—two heddles are required.

Pro Tip:

Bird’s Eye Twill really shines when there’s strong contrast between your warp and weft. That’s why we’re using a vibrant warp color and pairing it with Bleach White in the weft for this project—the contrast makes those little "eyes" pop right off the fabric!

Why Color Contrast Matters

Contrast is one of the simplest yet most powerful tools a weaver can use. It creates definition, drama, and dimension. In this project, we’ll highlight contrast by selecting a vibrant color from our Softspun Perle Cotton palette for the warp and pairing it with a Bleach White weft. This sharp light/dark difference allows the Bird’s Eye pattern to truly pop, showing off the tiny diamonds and textures that make this weave structure so admired.

Why We Love Softspun Perle Cotton

Softspun Perle Cotton isn’t your average mercerized cotton. It’s got a gentler twist than traditional perle cottons, giving it a touchable, almost rustic charm—without sacrificing the shine and strength we all appreciate in a great weaving yarn. It's durable, color-fast, and a dream to weave with!

The Project: Bird’s Eye View Table Runner

This project is available in two options:

• 4-Shaft Loom Version: A traditional Bird’s Eye Twill pattern that beautifully showcases the interplay of warp and weft. Designed by Jodi Ybarra for multi shaft weavers. The pattern can be found in this blog and is also included in the kit. You will also receive a PDF download with kit purchase.

 Bird's Eye View Runner woven on 4-shaft loom

• Rigid Heddle Version: This Birds Eye Twill is, essentially, a diamond twill with a “dot” in the center, representing the bird’s eye. This design has two staggered diamond layers which creates a larger motif that shines with the mercerized cotton. One side of your fabric will be predominantly white while the opposite side will show off more color. Designed especially for rigid heddle weavers by Michele Marshall. The pattern is included with kit purchase along with a PDF download.

Bird's Eye View Runner woven on rigid heddle loom

While the multi-shaft and rigid heddle versions differ slightly in appearance, both showcase a stunning take on the Bird’s Eye Twill pattern.

Cotton Clouds is offering both 4-shaft and rigid heddle versions as kits, complete with the instructions and all the Softspun Perle Cotton you’ll need to bring your project to life. We’re offering several color options for the warp, so you can choose the one that speaks to your personal style—we’re confident you’ll find a color that you love!

Let's Weave Bird's Eye Twill!

Bird's Eye Twill can be woven on a 4-shaft loom or rigid heddle loom using two heddles. 

• Gather your supplies: We've supplied the 4-shaft pattern in this blog to help you get started. The pattern will give you the yarn amounts, weaving width, suggested sett and finishing techniques to weave one runner. You will need Softspun Perle Cotton in the color of your choice and bleach white. The rigid heddle pattern is included when purchasing a kit.

• Our Bird's Eye View Runner Kits make gathering your supplies easy. These kits include the pattern and all the yarns you'll need to weave your runner. Choose from the many irresistible color options that we offer!

• Join the Cotton Clouds Weaving Community on Facebook so that you can share your questions, pictures and accomplishments. 

• Let's Weave together!  I'm here for you every step of the way! Just send an email to jodi@cottonclouds.com if any questions come up as you are weaving your Bird's Eye View Runner!

Happy weaving and enjoy the process of bringing color into your home with these beautiful Softspun Perle Cotton yarns!

Order Your Bird's Eye View Runner Kit Today!

     Bird’s Eye View Runner    

This pattern was designed by Jodi Ybarra for 4-shaft looms

Weave Structure: Bird’s Eye 2/2 point twill

Equipment needed: 4-shaft loom; 15” weaving width; 10 dent reed; 1 shuttle

Warp Yarn: 800 yds Softspun Perle Cotton in a color of your choice

Weft Yarn: 600 yds Softspun Perle Cotton white

Total warp ends: 300 + 2 floating selvedges

Setts: 20 epi; 20 ppi

Warp Length: 2.5 yds (90”)

Other supplies: hemstitch needle

Finished Dimensions: one runner 13" x 47" plus fringe.

Winding the Warp

Wind a warp of 302 threads using Softspun 5/2 Cotton in the color of your choice. 

Dressing the Loom

Warp your loom using your preferred method (front to back or back to front).

The warp ends are threaded with two threads in each dent and one thread in each heddle.

Thread heddles in 4, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3 sequence.

Tie up the treadles with 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 3 and 4, 1 and 4.

Threading Sequence

Tie Up

Treadling

Winding the Bobbins

Wind bobbins with Softspun Bleach White weft yarn. 

Weaving

Weave with scrap yarn allowing for 2” fringe and to spread the warp evenly.

Weave four picks leaving a tail about 60” long that you can use for hemstitching. Hemstitch across in groups of 6 warp and 4 weft threads.

After hemstitching, continue weaving for 62” or until your runner is the desired length. You can make different sized mats or one long runner.

Weaving sequence will be treadles 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 4, 3, 2.

After weaving your desired length, hemstitch at the end as you did at the beginning.

Finishing

Remove your woven fabric from the loom and trim fringe to the desired length. I chose a 2” fringe on each end.

Your runner is ready for display. Hand wash and lay flat to dry for future laundering.

Press with warm iron if needed.

Order Your Bird's Eye View Runner Kit Today!

Thank you for weaving with Cotton Clouds! 

Jodi Ybarra
Cotton Clouds, Inc

© 2025 Cotton Clouds. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced without prior written permission of Cotton Clouds Inc.

All yarns for this design are available from Cotton Clouds Inc. If you have any questions while weaving this pattern, don’t hesitate to send an email to jodi@cottonclouds.com and I will guide you along the way! You may sell products using my patterns but please credit Cotton Clouds for the design.