TECHNIQUE FOCUS

Weaving a panel from fabric strips is easier than you think! Follow Kate Webber's expert tutorial and learn how to create unique effects with her step-by-step guide

Weaving a panel from fabric strips is easier than you think! Learn how to create unique effects with our expert step-by-step guide

PREPARING THE STRIPS

1The easiest way to make strips for weaving is to use a bias tape maker. You can use any size bias tape maker, and it should come with a guide to the size of strips to cut, depending on what type of fabric you are using. Kate uses a 1in tape maker and 2in wide strips.

2Cut WOF strips as required for your design. Take one strip and cut the end at an angle. This makes it easier to feed it through the bias tape maker. Press the end of the strip (Fig A). Pin the pressed end to your ironing surface, using a glass head pin (so it won’t melt!).

3Gently pull the bias tape maker along the strip, pressing the strip as you go (Fig B). You can use a touch of spray starch on the strip to make the folds extra crisps. Repeat with each of your strips.

4If you don’t have a bias tape maker, don't worry, you can simply press the long edges of the strips to the centre.

PREPARING THE BOARD

5To weave the strips, you need to draw guidelines on a piece of foam core board. The board should be a few inches larger than the size of the panel you require. First, draw a rectangle to the size of panel you require using a dark pen and quilt ruler. Then mark vertical lines across the rectangle. Kate used 1in wide prepared strips, so drew her lines 2in apart (Fig C).

6Aligning the 30-degree line on your ruler with the bottom of the marked rectangle, mark lines right across the rectangle (Figs D–E). These lines should be the same distance apart as the vertical lines in step 5. Then repeat this process to mark 30-degree lines going in the opposite direction (Fig F).

7Pin a piece of fusible interfacing on top of the marked board (Fig G). Make sure the sticky, fusible side is facing up, away from the board. The fusible interfacing should be slightly larger than the marked rectangle.

8Take one strip and pin in place so it lines up with the left edge of your marked rectangle. Pin at each end (Fig H). Make sure to keep the strip taut while you pin, and insert the pins at an angle so they sit flush with the board. The strip should extend approx 1in above and below the marked rectangle.

9Repeat step 8 to pin strips until you’ve completely covered the rectangle, using the marked vertical lines to ensure the strips are straight (Fig I).

WEAVING THE STRIPS

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Take your second colour strip, and begin weaving. Starting at the left side, weave the needle in an ‘under two, over one‘ pattern (Fig J). Use the angled guidelines to ensure your strip is aligned correctly. Kate uses a Wefty Needle, but you can also weave by hand. Trim the strip and pin the ends in place (Fig K).

!5Weave the next strip below the first. Begin weaving under one, over one, then under two, over one for the remainder of the strip (Fig L).

!6Weave the third strip in an ‘over one, under two’ pattern (Fig M). Continue the weaving pattern until you have reached the bottom of the rectangle (Fig N). Then fill in the corners using the offcuts from your strips (Fig O).

!7Have

a look at your board and identify the diamond areas between the vertical strips, as marked in Fig P. This will be the area covered by the third colour of strip. Take your third colour of strip and begin weaving from right to left (Fig Q). Make sure you are coming up under the angled strip, across the vertical strips and then down under the next angled strip (Fig R).

!8Continue weaving the strips, working your way down the rectangle, then filling in the strips at the top and corners (Figs S–T). Use your marked guidelines to ensure your strips are lining up correctly.

FINISHING THE PANEL

!9Take time to readjust any strips on your panel, ensuring they all sit tightly together. With your iron on a low heat, gently press in the centre of the panel. Carefully unpin the panel and interfacing.

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Remove the board from beneath the interfacing – do this very carefully to ensure the strips do not shift. Firmly press the strips in place, following the manufacturer’s instructions. You may want to use a pressing sheet to avoid pressing your iron on any uncovered areas of the interfacing. Take care that the ends of the strips are fused in place.

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Carefully baste around the edge of the panel to secure the ends of the strips (Fig U). Using a walking foot can help to sew over the layers more easily without disturbing them.

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Layer your completed woven panel on top of a larger piece of batting. Baste in place. Quilt the panel onto the batting, securing the strips in the process (Fig V). Kate quilted along the centre of each strip. Trim your quilted panel to the required size, trimming away excess batting. Turn to the next page to see what you can do with woven fabric panels…