Fabric Weaving Tutorial: Cutting Pattern Pieces from Woven Panels
Weaving is a way of creating a unique, multi-dimensional textile that can be used like any other cut of fabric. Converting great patterns to triaxial weave opens up a whole new world of project possibilities.
For this tutorial, I am going to use The Velocity Bag as my example. The pattern for The Velocity Bag is a free download on the Art Gallery Fabrics site (their site has several galleries of fun and free projects!), and it's a popular item in their look books. I adore this bag, and wanted to weave at least one side in Wanderer Fabrics by April Rhodes for Art Gallery Fabrics.
I converted The Velocity Bag into triaxial madweave, which is the weave that is comprised of three layers and completely tiles a plane (no spaces between the strips).
The dimensions of one side of The Velocity Bag are approximately 16" x 16", and I am going to use 2" fabric strips folded and pressed to a prepared width of 1", which makes the conversion to triaxial weave extra easy. I knew I needed 19.5" long diagonal strips, and that I needed a total of 32 of those diagonal strips.
My cutting requirements were as follows:
- 1st Layer: (16) 2" x 16" strips folded and pressed to 1" x 16"
- 2nd Layer: (16) 2" x 19.5" strips folded and pressed to 1" x 19.5"
- 3rd Layer: (16) 2" x 19.5" strips folded and pressed to 1" x 19.5"
Once the 16" x 16" woven panel is pressed onto lightweight woven interfacing, I use a basting stitch around the outer edges to further secure it. Then I place my pattern piece on top of the interfacing, and trace around it with a fabric marker.
I sew right on the marked line, then cut out the pattern piece using a scant 1/8" seam, and sew with it as I would any other pattern piece.