Elegant Lace Napkins - Weaving with Bambu!

Elegant Lace Napkins - Weaving with Bambu!

For our Cotton Clouds, June 2024 Yarn Exploration we will be weaving with Bambu 7 and Bambu 12 yarns!

Bambu is made from 100% bamboo, a renewable resource grown without pesticides or fertilizers and processed much like rayon yarns.

You're going to love the smooth, rayon-like texture of Bambu as well as the fantastic drape! 

It's ideal for weaving the most beautiful scarves, table linens, shawls and baby blankets with over 70 colors to choose from!

Bambu 12

What is Bambu?
The Softest Viscose-Type Yarn made exclusively from bamboo plants. A very strong fiber that can withstand any warp. There are three types of Bambu to choose from.

Bambu 7 at 2100 yds/lb
Bambu 7 Variegated at 2100 yds/lb
Bambu 12 at 6300 yds/lb

How is it made?
Bambu yarns are made from farm-grown bamboo plants. The cellulose fibers are melted down to a thick viscose solution and are then extruded through a spinneret to create a soft and drapable yarn, much the same as rayon is created from wood products.

Where is it made?
Our Bambu 7 and Bambu 12 yarns are manufactured in China, where bamboo grows best. The bamboo plant is grown without pesticides or fertilizers making it a healthy fiber choice.

What Can I Weave?
Weavers will discover stunning results with Bambu in their weaving projects. Bambu 12 is perfect for creating ultra-drapeable fabrics such as scarves, fine linens, shawls, and curtains. Bambu 7 is ideal for garments, baby blankets, tablecloths, and hand towels. Bambu 12 should be set at 24-32 epi, while Bambu 7 should be set at 16-20 epi.

How do I care for it?
Bambu is easy to care for. Your finished Bambu project can be machine washed in cool water on a gentle cycle and dried on warm. Remove immediately. Iron on a warm setting. Never use HOT water, air or iron on Bambu yarns. We recommend hand wash if your project has fringe.

More Bamboo Facts:
Three times more absorbent than cotton fibers and the fastest growing woody plant on the planet.

Bambu 7 Variegated

Let's Weave with Bambu!

• Gather your supplies ~ We've supplied a pattern that was designed by myself, Jodi Ybarra to help you get started. This pattern makes four napkins, giving you the weaving width, suggested sett, finishing techniques, and amounts of yarns needed. We are offering this free pattern as a download for the month of June! Download your pattern today!

• We make it easy!  Cotton Clouds makes gathering your supplies easy with our Elegant Lace Napkin Kit. This kit includes all the Bambu 7, Bambu 12, and Bambu 7 Variegated needed and is available in three color options, Sandy Beaches, Mediterranean Sea, and Morning Mist.

• Join our Cotton Clouds Weaving Group on Facebook so that you can share your questions, pictures and accomplishments with fellow weavers. 

• Let's Weave together! We are here for you every step of the way!  You can contact me by email at jodi@cottonclouds.com if you have any questions about this Elegant Lace Napkin project.

Elegant Lace Napkins - Weaving with Bambu

Weave structure:  spot lace or texture with weft floats

Yarns: Bambu 12, 6300 yds/lb; Bambu 7, 2100 yds/lb; and Bambu 7 Variegated, 2100 yds/lb.

(warp) Bambu 12, 1050 yds and Bambu 7 Variegated, 200 yds

(weft) Bambu 7 Solid, 600 yds and Bambu 12 for hems, 220 yds

note: extra yardage is calculated in these amounts

Equipment needed:  Rigid Heddle Loom; 12 or 12.5 dent reed; 2 shuttles

Weaving Width: 16.2” (12-dent) or 15.52” (12.5-dent)

Total warp ends: 194 ends doubled in slots and holes (388 threads)

Warp length: 3 yards (108”)

Setts: 24 epi (doubled in slots and holes); 15 ppi in plain weave or 18 ppi in texture weave

Finished Dimensions: four napkins 12.5” x 15” hemmed.

Other supplies: matching sewing thread for hems

Available as a kit from Cotton Clouds in three colorways. 

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Dressing the Loom:
Set up your loom to direct warp a length of 3 yards (108”).

Warp four threads in each slot. With direct warping you can warp in both slots and holes, but I prefer to warp only in the slots, then transfer to the holes after winding onto the back beam. 

I’ve added an extra doubled warp thread on the far right and left sides of the warp. I find that the selvedges need that extra width for take in. This helps keep all the stripes the same size.

The chart numbers represent the number of threads to warp.

For example, the first six slots will each have 4 threads Bambu 12 for a total of 24 threads. The next slot will have four threads Bambu 7 Variegated. The next five slots will each have four threads Bambu 12 for a total of 20 threads.

After warping the first 24 threads, repeat one slot variegated then five slots solid 15 times, finishing with six slots solid.

Wind the warp onto the back beam.
You are working with a lot of thin threads in this project so be sure to take it nice and slow while winding your yarns onto the back beam. I like to wind one-two turns, then give the yarns little tugs in front of the heddle.

When you have finished winding the yarns onto the back beam, transfer two threads from each slot into the holes.  Tie the yarns in small sections onto the front beam and tighten your warp so that it’s evenly tensioned.

Preparing the Shuttles
Wind one shuttle with Bambu 7 which is the thicker of the solid colors and a second shuttle with the thinner Bambu 12 for hems. The entire project will be woven single strand. I recommend winding your entire amount of weft yarns onto 16" stick shuttles. This way you won't need to stop to tuck in tails or start a new yarn mid-project.

Choose to weave your napkins in either spot lace or texture weave. You can weave two of each or all four the same. Both pick-up sequences are available below.

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Charging Pick-Up Stick for Spot Lace
9 up, *1 down, 5 up*, end with 1 down, 9 up.
Repeat from * to * 14 times, then last 9 up.
This will give you a spot lace in the middle of all the solid stripes except for the first and last stripe.
 
Weaving for Spot Lace:
Weave with scrap yarn to spread the warp evenly. 

With thinner Bambu 12, weave 1 ½” for hem.
 
Change to shuttle with Bambu 7 Solid and weave 15 picks in plain weave.
Continue weaving in the 16-step sequence for 15”.
Weave another 15 picks in plain weave to finish.
Cut off and tuck in the tail or use the split ply method.
Change to shuttle with thinner Bambu 12 and weave another 1 ½” for hem.
 
16-step pick-up sequence

1. Up
2. Heddle in Neutral with stick on edge
3. Up
4. Down
5. Up
6. Down
7. Up
8. Down
9. Up
10. Down
11. Up
12. Down
13. Up
14. Down
15. Up
16. Down

 
Each napkin will be approximately 17” not counting the hem.

For example:
Hem
15 picks plain weave
Pick-Up sequence for 15”
15 picks plain weave
Hem

When you have finished your first napkin weave a few rows with scrap yarn before starting the next.  You can weave all four napkins in spot lace or change it up and try out the 4-step texture weave.

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Charging Pick-Up Stick for Texture
7 up, *1 down, 1 up* end with 7 up.
Repeat from * to * until reaching the last 7 and place these last seven up.
This will give you a texture all across the width except for the first and last stripe.
 
Weaving for Texture:
Weave with scrap yarn to spread the warp evenly. 

With thinner Bambu 12, weave 1 ½” for hem.

Change to shuttle with Bambu 7 Solid and weave 15 picks in plain weave.
Continue weaving for 16” in the following 4-step sequence (not counting the hem).
After your napkin measures 16” from beginning, weave another 15 picks in plain weave.
Cut off and tuck in the tail or use the split ply method.
Change to shuttle with thinner Bambu 12 and weave another 1 ½” for hem.
 
4-step pick-up sequence

1. Up
2. Heddle in Neutral with stick on edge
3. Up
4. Down

Weave a few rows with scrap yarn before starting the next napkin.

When you have all four napkins woven, weave a few rows of scrap yarn before cutting your fabric from the loom.

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Wash Before Cutting:
Trim off any extra loose threads at the beginning and end of your completed fabric.  Wash the entire length of your fabric on gentle cycle and cool water. Remove from washer and lay flat to dry.
 
Finishing and Hemming:
Once your napkins have dried you can now cut them apart.
 
Trim off any extra threads and fold the hem area so that it meets the beginning of the napkin and iron across. Fold over one more time and iron across. You can pin this last fold being sure to match up the stripes as you pin.
 
Sew a straight stitch across each hem being careful to match up the stripes as you go. 

I hope you enjoy your Elegant Lace Napkins and share them with your family and friends!
 
Jodi Ybarra