The National Handweavers Guild of America (HGA) Convention,June '08. I was also involved in a Design Challenge with 3 weavers and 2 other clothing designers. What fun. I had a wonderful experience teaming up with Nancy Peck, the current president of the HGA, to create a garment. We all started with the same hand-dyed yarns and came up with very different pieces. The HGA website should have photos up soon of all the pieces – look for Design Challenge 2008 on their site.

For our garment, I used The Peony Pattern #107, for a skirt and top. I shortened the top using the lengthen shorten lines on the pattern and also curved the seams out at the bottom for a little more flare.

Design Tip: Remember the lengthen –shorten lines on your pattern can be for design (and changing the overall silhouette of your garment) as well as fit.

There are so many sewing details and techniques that can come up when sewing with handwovens. I added peach colored silk organza in some of the seams and for a pleated collar piece. The turquoise rayon accents were used for the corder details. I placed the side/sleeve pattern pieces on the bias to show off the weave in a different angle. I also underlined most of the pieces (for added body) with silk organza or a sheer polyester. Outside pleats create a soft, fluid line to the garment...breaking up the grid aspect of the woven fabric.