Wilder Days Bandanas: Contrast in Color & Spirit

Wilder Days Bandanas

This month, we’re honoring the spirit of the outdoors with a project that’s light, wearable, and full of texture and contrast.

Our Wilder Days Bandanas, designed by Jessica Ybarra, are a stunning blend of texture, sheen, and softness, woven with Bamboo Cotton 8/2 in both warp and weft, and highlighted with shimmering warp stripes of Bambu 7. The combination creates a fabric that’s lightweight, eco-friendly, and so comfortable to wear.

Meet the Wilder Days Bandanas! - a dynamic duo of handwoven pieces that bring contrast, creativity, and a spirit of adventure to your loom. They reveal how yarn choices and color value can speak different moods, even within similar designs.

Woven with a blend of cotton and bamboo, these bandanas are incredibly soft and breathable — perfect for summer hikes, garden days, or tying back your hair while you weave. The bamboo yarn adds a silky drape and a subtle sheen, while the cotton provides strength and structure. Together, they create a fabric that’s smooth, airy, and easy to love.

Echo Canyon is woven on a deep black background that makes the color palette feel grounded and bold, like shadows dancing across canyon walls.

River Song uses a natural background, giving the colors a brighter, more delicate feel — like sunlight glinting off water. Each bandana tells its own story, shaped by the interplay of color and texture.

There’s something powerful about weaving with light and dark colors, not just in how it looks, but in how it makes us feel.

Natural warps, like in our River Song Bandana, reflect light and feel fresh, open, and uplifting. They can evoke the feeling of a bright sky or a sunlit trail, bringing clarity and calm to your weaving.

Wilder Days Bandana - River Song

In contrast, black warps, like in our Echo Canyon Bandana, absorb light and feel grounding, bold, and introspective — like a deep forest path or a desert just before the storm.

Wilder Days Bandana - Echo Canyon

Much like how sunny days can energize us and stormy days invite stillness and reflection, the colors we weave with can shift the emotional tone of a project. This bandana set is a beautiful way to explore how those shifts in color can mirror the moods of the natural world and also in ourselves as we weave.

These bandanas are for anyone who has a love for nature, whether you're headed to the mountains, the beach, or just soaking in a quiet moment in your backyard. They're also a wonderful gift for the outdoor-loving pets in your life! Tie one around your pup’s neck, wear it on a hike, or keep one tucked in your bag for spontaneous adventures.

They are ideal for rigid heddle or multi-shaft loom weavers looking to explore fiber contrasts while creating something wearable and fun. Let them wrap you in the spirit of the wild, wherever your days may lead!

So Many Ways to Wear (and Share) Your Bandana

Whether you're wandering through mountain trails, strolling downtown, or styling up for a cozy day at home, here are some fun and functional ways to make the most of your handwoven bandana:

Around the Head

• Classic Headband
  Fold it into a strip and tie it around your head for a retro-chic look—perfect for keeping hair back and style forward.

• Headscarf Style
  Fold it into a triangle and tie it at the nape of your neck to keep hair in place on breezy days.

• Boho Turban
  Wrap and twist it into a soft turban-style wrap for effortless bohemian flair.

• Bandana Crown
  Fold and tie across the forehead for that easygoing, festival-ready vibe.

Around the Neck

• Cowgirl Style
  Go western-chic by folding it into a triangle, letting the point fall forward, and tying it in the back.

• French Knot
  Roll it into a neat band and tie it off to the side like a classic neckerchief—elegant and timeless.

• Under the Collar
  Tuck it beneath your shirt collar for just a peek of color and texture.

On Accessories

• Bag Charm
  Add a personal, handmade touch to your tote or handbag by tying it to the handle.

• Hat Band
  Wrap it around your favorite straw or felt hat for a custom accent.

• Wrist Wrap
  Twist and tie it around your wrist as a soft, casual bracelet with woven charm.

Other Creative Uses

• Pet Bandana
  Let your furry friend join the fiber fun—because they deserve handmade, too!

• Face Covering or Dust Guard
  Fold and tie it as a lightweight face covering when needed—stylish and functional.

• Textile Art
  Hang it on the wall, frame it, or drape it on a small table to show off your handwoven work.

• Belt Loop Pouch
  Thread two corners through your belt loops, tie the top and bottom corners together, and voilà—a handy, no-sew pouch for trail treasures.

If this project speaks to you, we’ve bundled up everything you need to weave your own bandanas — ready and waiting for you to bring it to life on your own loom!

Order your Wilder Days Bandana Kits today!

Jessica 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.