My husband is a Jazz musician, so, for the Jazz Festival, I wanted to weave him a new vest…. (last year, I wove him a new shirt).
I started weaving the vest in April, (LINK to post) so you would think that I could have gotten it done for the end of June, right?
Well…. I did…. but…. Oh my! I was scrambling at the end to get it done so he could do this:
copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay
It began here in April:
copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay
I started out weaving the narrow bands for his vest on my vintage Structo loom.
I was freeformie Saori-ing and then thought that I should check with Jim to see if he wanted it more sedate…
and he voted for not going wild, but keeping it plain and simple.
I enjoyed weaving the narrow fabric on the Structo, but knew that it wouldn’t be enough for the vest,
so, I wove some inkle bands on my Mirrix Loom:
copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay
(The red band became part of a prayer flag and an inkle doll.)
I was juggling a lot of deadlines and projects and suddenly, the Jazz Festival was upon us!
EEEP! I realized, once I started cutting out his vest, that I didn’t have enough fabric! eegads and little fish!
I madly warped up my Saori loom… on… you guessed it… the afternoon of Jim’s gig (blush)
copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay
Holy honkinhaleujah! my feet and hands were FLYING as I wove up the rest of his vest fabric! yikes!
It only has the border on one side because of the way I was piecing it into the vest.
I managed to get the fabric washed, dried and the machine stitching done….
copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay
but ending up doing the hand stitching as we drove in to the city for the concert.
Which was sold out and was great!
copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay
And so was the gig the next day with his other trio:
copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay
Blush…. I didn’t get the buttons, buttonholes and back belt done for a couple of days, when he had his next gig:
But… here he is, with his buttons and buttonholes in place!
copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay
and the belt on the back…. right over the freeformie, Saori weaving- I couldn’t resist sneaking it in 😀
(and my friend, Arwen, who has fab design sense, said she liked that bit the best 🙂 )
copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay
copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay
He likes it and says it’s very comfortable to wear.
This is essential, because, if it isn’t comfortable, there’s no way he’ll wear it to perform in.
I’m happy. 😀 It was a frantic rush at the end, but it was worth it for my Honeybunny 🙂
I used Simplicity #2741 as the pattern for this vest.
Tottie Talks Crafts Blog 
… an awesome work of art! ❤
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Thank you so much, Rene! 😀 There was love in every stitch!
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As always WOW!!!!! It makes me want to dust off my Structo and do something with it. I am get very interested in the Saori weaving concept.after reading your blogging about it.
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Thanks, Sharon 🙂
I love my Structo- it’s actually the only 4 harness loom that I have now.
It’s so sturdy and well built that it is a joy to weave with.
So, I say, yes! Do dust off your Structo and have some play time with it 😀
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That is beautiful. Thanks for the opportunity to see it in full. I listened to the Youtube you put in the Freeform blurb and it was awesome. Loved it that thanks for sharing.
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Thank you so much, Barbara!
I am so pleased that you liked the video – isn’t it wonderful?
I am going to post the link here, so people can see and hear what we are talking about:
😀
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It is a joy to wear. It’s so clearly made with great skill and impeccable taste 🙂
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Awww, thanks m’Darlin’…. it’s a joy to weave special things for you 😀
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Yes skill and impeccable taste but shining from the wearer is the obvious knowledge it was made and given with much love; how great to have love wrapped around you as you play:)
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Thank you so much for your insightful comment, Daisy-Winifred! It’s true, it is entirely my intention to wrap my Beloved in my love, as he unfolds his magical music- gifts given, gifts received! 😀
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