Tag Archive for: clothing

The fabric for this vest is quite thick and heavy. The weft is 3-4 strands of wool wound together on a bobbin and I used lots of colour blending.

The warp was 10 thin threads of wool per dent and heddle (yes all put together to be like one thicker thread) and then 2 individual thin grey threads in the next two dents and heddles (more or less) so there are ridges in the warp.

I had this fabric for a while before I decided on it’s final form. I put two panels together sewn at the back and left the front open. Then I sewed the sides, but not at the edges as in the Y vest in the Beginners book. With these seams it makes the vest more form fitting, but loose at the same time if that makes sense.

 

Cozy and warm for a cool day.

Lynn has been assisting me for many years with all kinds of SAORI events in and around Victoria. She has also been doing some wonderful SAORI clothing design – I’ll let her share her story and some great photos!

My weaving journey began in 2006. My weaving ‘passion’ began in 2009 when I met Terri at a class at Knotty By Nature and was introduced to SAORI. I immediately embraced the free form style of weaving (I’d already strayed from traditional weaving), but also found that the philosophy truly spoke to me. “We do not weave a piece of cloth, but rather our true selves.” Six years after that first class, I continue to discover more and more of my creative self.

Terrified at first of cutting and sewing my precious cloth, I gradually, one seam at a time, grew to love creating wearable pieces of art. One of the first pieces I made was the ‘squid’ vest. It’s simple to make, drapes well, and like all SAORI patterns, is as unique as each person who weaves and sews the vest.

 

 

The squid vest eventually became a tunic. A cloth I decided to weave using up the end of a black warp with ‘treasures’ from my overflowing basket was used.

 

Then, there were the versions of the tunic. One with recycled t-shirt material because I didn’t have enough yardage. Then another one as a long vest. Again with t-shirt bits for closures.

 

My sewing discoveries have led to jackets over the past year. Victoria, even in the warm months, requires layers. So, the challenge of sleeves! A few jackets later, I remembered my beloved ‘squid’ vest and it’s growing family. I used a pattern that was the ‘squid’ vest with sleeves.

 

 

I’m thrilled with the way it turned out. It flows, it’s cozy, it has recycled silk shirts. It’s finished off with 2 of Bob’s buttons. The very first piece of wet felt I made became it’s pocket! If it’s too warm here in the next 2 months to wear it, I’ll just hang it in my studio and look at it!

I hope your SAORI journey is as exciting and satisfying as mine has been.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my ‘squid’ family here Terri!

Thanks so much Lynn. I love your Squid Family of clothes!

Happy Weaving,
Terri

My website: www.saorisaltspring.com

Yesterday, I posted this photo on Facebook:

Here’s the rest of the story…

I had finished weaving a piece this summer and it has been waiting to be made into something. Yesterday was the day!! I had an idea to make a shawl/jacket based on the pattern in the “blue” SAORI clothing design book – pattern # 28.

I measured my weaving and it was approximately the same width and the exact length – go figure! So I got started and made a few modifications to the design as I put it together.

When I was finished, I asked Alan to take some photos. I don’t like having my photo taken at the best of times – but it didn’t work on the dress form, so here I am modelling it.

With the large collar down….

With the large collar back…

With the large collar up as a hood….

With it rolled into a bulky collar…

From the back…

And then when I got tired of modelling (you know, where to put your hands? where to look? how to stand? – a model I’m not!), I jumped up in the air…Alan kept taking photos and so that’s how we got the photo that I posted yesterday.

Today, I found a few more ways to wear it. What to call it – a tunic, a shawl, a jacket, a vest – it is all of these….

And….so simple to construct…

Just 3 pieces sewn together along the selvedge edges with holes left for the arms!

Happy Weaving,
Terri

My website: www.saltspringweaving.ca