Live Thread Studio evolves with the Slow Cloth Movement from  weaving only to custom design sewing using hand woven cloth and hand sewing embellishment.

What Happens to Design and Sew Custom Art to Wear

The design process involves developing the initial concept, then proceeds to the design of the underlying sewing pattern that will be the support for the hand sewn raw edge applique. Once the sewing pattern is designed it is custom fitted with a “toile” or test piece. After the fitting is completed this toile is taken apart in order use as the final pattern. Since each person is her own shape this process is unique to her.

The Tunic Vest uses a handwoven fabric chosen from the collection of Live Thread Studio or a special fabric supplied by the client. The back fabric and binding fabric are determined after to co-ordinate with the front piece for color, weight and material compatibility. Fabric choices come from many sources, mostly from online to have the best choices but hunting down the right choice can be time consuming. After the pattern toile has been fitted, it is taken apart and then used to cut and sew the final fabrics. The vest might be finished with a lining depending on the choice of the client. Without a lining all seams are completed with a Hong Kong finish. The arm bindings are hand sewn.

The Raw Applique Vests start in the same way with pattern fitting and construction of the toile, then proceeds to the design process, which I nvolves working out the color palette and fabric choices, perhaps the client has a collection of fabrics to be included or she wants to use a handwoven fabric from the collection of the studio to use as the major theme with other fabrics supporting the design. Every piece is an original, distinct and separate design that takes many hours in determining and ordering the fabrics to use, placement and design of the fabric applique.

Before the applique sewing begins the vest base is sewn using the custom pattern and confirmed to properly fit the client.

The fabric applique pieces are hand sewn one piece at a time using decorative threads. The hand sewing takes place over many days in 2 hour sessions since the hand work thru layers and with the thicker decorative threads is hard on the hands.

                  

             

                                                         

On some pieces additional hand stitching embellishments is added to bring more design possibilities.

After the main hand sewing is finished, the lining is cut from the custom pattern and sewn in. The binding is then sewn on and finished by hand.