Using the mawata silk that I spun and dyed (described in a previous article), I thought that it would be perfect for making silk wallets. The colours were so stunning in this silk, that I wanted the colour changes to swim throughout the weave structure. I chose an undulating twill pattern, adapting it from Carol Strickler’s book, A Weaver’s Book of 8-Shaft Patterns. p. 52

This project made enough fabric for 6 silk wallets.

Warp:

For the warp, I chose 8/2 cotton in bright colours of cyan, bright pink and yellow. I sleyed the reed in stripes of these colours.

Width in Reed: 10 inches
Number of Ends: 160
Sett: 16 e.p.i.
Length: 3 yards
Loom waste: 24 inches

Weft:

For the weft, I used the mawata silk, spun as a singles. Its nubby texture gave the finished product an interesting feel. I wove the silk weft for 10 inches and then using 2/8 cotton, wove a band of 4 inches in length.

Finishing:

I cut the pieces in the middle of each cotton band. Folding the piece of fabric in the centre, I matched up the cotton bands. I sewed in a zipper between the two ends of the cotton bands. Then I sewed up the side edges of the silk, forming the silk wallet.

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