by Meli Alness

Some sweater in the back of my design-mind for some time, for awhile,

Something I’ve seen

on Etsy?

Big Bobble Sleeves

But why? Why re-design the designed?

~

Because I want to make it and wear it.

That’s valid.

~

A Saori weaving class with Chiaki O’Brien:

“Live in the moment and weave in the moment without judgement.

There are no rules, just don’t break a loom.”

Cool, very cool, I’m gonna like this.

Two hours in, I asked her to help me unroll my project to see what I’d woven thus far.  I knew enough about art to know that I wanted some continuity in my fabric.  Chiaki smiled, paused, and said,

“I can certainly show you how to unroll it from the loom; but Saori, in the strictest sense, doesn’t allow you to look back at what you’ve made until you’re finished.”

No looking back

Living in the moment

Weaving in the moment

Without Judgement

And then the freedom came.

Do you see it?  Do you want it? Can you taste the sweetness?

Goodbye, Inner Art Critic

The sleeves of Chiaki Sweater are a meditation on Saori-style crafting, the practice of making art like a child with no inhibitions. When you want to make a bobble, make a bobble. And after bind off, the fun really starts with a simple embroidery stitch that is quick and so satisfying as you conduct pathways of  lines, curves, junctions, and negative space on your Saori sleeve. May the process and the result be

Whimsical

Fun

Freeing

Inspiring

Fantastic

Surprising

and New.

Chiaki Sweater is a high waisted top with a slim fit and slightly dropped shoulders that blossom into wide (and perhaps wild) sleeves. It is worked in the round from the bottom up, then separated for sleeves and worked flat until an unusual but simple join of live stitches at mid-back. Sleeve stitches are picked up and worked in the round with decreases and cuff ribbing fully written in the pattern.  You choose when to work bobble stitches and how many to work (or none at all!).  After bind off, embroidery is worked on the sleeves according to your taste. Embroidery drawings and video tutorial are included for inspiration.