Outside the Box

Lately I've been giving a lot of thought to what it would be like for me to not weave all my fabric. This has been a struggle because when I found weaving , I felt I had found a part of myself that had been missing. With my last name Weaver and those who came before me (although it had been lost in recent generations) weaving has been my identity since I took my first class 16 years ago. Although I do other fiber arts such as digital imagery on fabric and dyed silk items, I still think of myself as a handweaver.
Weaving fabric and sometimes dyeing the fabric and then designing clothing from this fabric is time intensive, and the customer often does not appreciate the time involved in this process. I'm realizing that the style I create is often more desireable than the handwoven fabric.

So I stepped outside my box and ordered yards of undyed cotton velour and spent most of the last two weeks dyeing and sewing my newest design - a fun and comfy top. I'm really excited about this piece since I've had many requests for items for larger sizes. This is a one-size-fits-all so anyone can wear it comfortably. It comes in a short and long version - this one works well with leggings - and the fabric has stretch too. Best of all, it is completely machine washable and dryable.

I'm already imagining this in a lighter fabric for spring/summer and new colors.