Sonoran Desert by Bonnie Tarses

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Bonnie Tarses was so captivated by the Aurora Earth desert colors from her Desert Dream Towels that she now presents her latest design, the Sonoran Desert shawl or towels.

This yarn pack includes 8 solid colors and 1 variegated color. You will be able to weave with different weft colors so that your fabric will be unique and one-of-a-kind. Extra yardage is included for so many possibilities!

With a touch of the technique Bonnie calls Almost Ikat, you can create unique variegated stripes. Directions for lining up the variegated yarns with the Almost Ikat technique can be found on Bonnie's YouTube Channel in her video called Almost Ikat Weaving Tutorial with Bonnie Tarses. Keep in mind that you can also just wind the variegated yarn as you would a solid to create an interesting random effect that is also quite pleasing. Whichever warping method you choose, you will be thrilled with this color warp!

This weaving kit includes all the yarns needed to weave a light-weight Sonoran Desert shawl or set of three oversized towels.

Weave structure: plain weave or straight twill

Yarns: 8/2 Aurora Earth and 8/2 Variegated 100% cottons. Colors included are Rust, Special Green, Charcoal, Antique Gold, Cinnamon, Light Brown, Beige, and Light Orange along with the variegated Flower Garden.

Equipment needed: 4-shaft or rigid heddle loom; 24.6” weaving width; 10 dent reed; 1 shuttle; 9 bobbins

This project can easily be adjusted to any size loom.

Finished size: one light-weight shawl 23” x 88” with 4” fringe or three towels 23” x 28” each hemmed.

Instructions: included with kit.

Designed by Bonnie Tarses. Visit bonnietarses.com to learn more about Bonnie’s amazing mastery of color blending.

Photos by Jessica Ybarra

Learn more about the Sonoran Desert

The Sonoran Desert is one of the most vibrant and unique deserts in the world. Some say deserts are nothing but sand and wind, but the Sonoran Desert disagrees. This desert’s secrets begin with water. By definition, there shouldn’t be any. The absence of water is what signifies a desert. But not in the Sonoran, where torrents can pour furiously from the sky. Even in August, monsoon rains may inundate canyons. Water quickly evaporates above ground, but below the surface, it nourishes the world’s lushest desert, where 2,000 plant species thrive. Year-round, the succulents win our attention. Towering saguaros, chubby barrel cactuses, branching chollas. But in spring, delicate wildflowers compete for the limelight, painting the desert floor in a fleeting, phantasmagoric show of golden poppies, blue-purple lupine, yellow brittlebush, and red-flowered chuparosa. Even the soil of the desert with browns, rust, red, and gold. Learn more about the Sonoran Desert by visiting the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.

Buyers should be aware that the yarns are not the same color as the photo of the scarf

Buyers should be aware that the yarns are not the same color as the photo of the scarf. The original colors are more orange, butterscotch yellow, purple and a lighter green, and the substituted colors are rust, brown, gold and darker green. That being said this scarf is lovely! I wove mine in a twill and it is so soft and drapey! The Autumn colors are gorgeous! I gave it to my daughter and loved it so much I’m now making one for myself. I just think you should post a photo of the scarf with the new substituted colors so someone isn’t disappointed.

Quality merchandise, and great customer support.

Sonoran Desert by Bonnie Tarses

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