Rustic Refined: A Vest

Fall is in the air as I work with Off White & Silver- I love this combination and am using it as a theme for this vest.  The relationship of rustic and refined, side by side always intrigues my design aesthetic. Using a variety of neutral textures and tints and tones, I started this piece by combining and creating shapes, mostly linen, that might come together like puzzle pieces to become a vest. 

Creating a grid: Serged strips were rubbed with some silver Jacquard fabric paint then woven together into rectangular and square shapes. The grids were sewn in one direction, down each strip to hold its shape. As shown, additional elements can be threaded through the grid for more texture and variation. Paint was applies to 'age' some of the pieces and integrate them.

Making pieces to drape: As the fabrics were lined and pieced, the grids were left open as windows through the garment.  I like to pause in the middle of making and spend time seeing the piece on the dressform for a while…. more choice often come in that process.

Making pieces to drape: As the fabrics were lined and pieced, the grids were left open as windows through the garment. Often the back is where I would start…letting it inform how I might approach the front. I like to pause in the middle of making and spend time seeing the piece on the dressform for a while…. more choice often come in that process.

A favorite woven wood pin will be the fastener for this piece and influences decisions about the center front fabric shapes. When draping on a dressform, I like combining  bias and straight grain pieces that might roll to finish neck and front edges. It’s almost there…looks like it will be a transition Fall piece once it is finished.

Fall is still just a whisper, a feather floating by reminding us the days are getting shorter and we’ll soon sleep with more covers. Drawing, hiking, weaving, baking, dancing,  painting, writing…… What makes you happy as you move towards fall?  Diane