Stretchy Stripes Bag

Keep your project materials right at hand but out of the way as you weave (or knit!) with the help of Deb Essen’s bag. She used bright shades of Tubular Spectrum cotton for her version.

About this Project

Deb has long wanted to weave a project with alternating lengthwise bands of 1/3 and 3/1 twill, and took this opportunity to do just that. The woven fabric is gathered with the help of a few cords in the weft, and those twill bands set into pleats during wet-finishing. The resulting piece is free to expand and contract. Deb made her version into a saddlebag-style project bag with pockets at both ends, but believes it would make a lovely scarf or shawl.

Contents

• Stretchy Stripes Bag Project Instructions PDF
• Bag WIF

Details

Structure
Twill

Equipment
8-shaft loom, 17" weaving width; 8-dent reed; 1 shuttle.

Yarns
Warp: Tubular Spectrum 5/2 cotton (2,100 yd/lb; Lunatic Fringe Yarns), Black, 198 yd; #5 Purple, #10 Blue, #10 Green, #10 Yellow Red, #5 Yellow, and #5 Red, 96 yd each.
Weft: Tubular Spectrum 5/2 cotton, Black, 560 yd. 10/2 or 8/2 cotton to use as gathering cords, 5 yd cut into 1 yd lengths. Note: Deb used thrums for her cords.

Dimensions
Width in the reed: 16²⁄₈".
Woven length: (measured under tension on the loom) 70".
Finished size: (after wet finishing and sewing) 7 ½" × 39" (fully expanded) with 12" deep pockets plus 2½" fringe.

---

Visit our help article for more information on WIFs, including what they are and how to use them.