I started sewing at age 12, and I’ve been at it ever since. With my hubs’ encouragement, I went 15 years without buying a dress, and that was at the height of the “thou shalt wear a dress era.” And then, 40 years later, I began weaving. . .
As fabric first appeared under the fell line, I was smitten. Gobsmacked. Addicted. In weaving classes, when other weavers saw towels, I saw “Mother of the Groom” jacket. When they saw couch throw, I saw designer outerwear. Though my skills don’t match my ambition, I am driven by the desire to create the garment I want, starting from the threads up.
Enter ANWG conference, 2023.
In Bend, I was fortunate enough to take a class with Linda Kubick, Instructor Extraordinaire. I first met Linda years ago, when I bought some of her priceless handwoven at the Puyallup Sew Expo. (Don’t tell her, but I haven’t sewn anything with it as yet!). Her skill with a loom and shuttle is breathtaking.
So, of course, I signed up for her three-day workshop. Theoretically, we would all construct a coat or jacket from handwoven in just three days. I did manage to finish a jacket, which turned out beautifully and won a blue ribbon at the Puyallup Fair. But finishing a jacket in three days was nothing compared to the knowledge and understanding I gained under Linda’s leadership.
Though every class member had different handwoven fabric, chose different patterns, and wore vastly different sizes – from microscopically petite to generously padded, Linda managed to keep every step of every individual pattern in her head at all times. At any moment she could tell a student what step was next in “her” project. She kept us moving forward with understanding and kindness. Throughout the class, she would pause to give us resources for materials, or instruction on some dastardly construction phase – like the lapel and collar. I won’t kid you. Making a jacket in three days is no picnic, but under Linda’s leadership, you can do it!
Linda is just one of the many great teachers coming to the 2025 ANWG conference in Yakima, WA. There will be many to choose from, and I’ll feature them through the coming weeks. But, if you have a secret dream of learning to sew garments with your handwoven fabric, you’ll want to register early and stick with Linda. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Then maybe at the next ANWG conference you’ll be on the runway, strutting your own handwoven garment!