DIY Hoodie Weave

This hoodie project started with Laura's basket weave shirt over at Trash to Couture (link).  I pinned her project hoping to make my band t-shirt look similar to her shirt.  As you already know from reading that post, I had to shelve that idea.  However, I was able to revisit it and happily it worked with this hoodie.  I did things a bit different from Laura's basket weave shirt only because I wanted to use a sewing pattern rather than upcycle a hoodie.

I used the Built by Wendy Hoodie pattern from her Home Stretch sewing book.  I added an additional yard to the fabric requirements to account for the fabric needed to weave the hoodie with.  I went ahead and cut out all of the pattern pieces, plus an extra pocket and back piece.  For the extra pocket and back piece I added additional length for the weaving.  I then constructed the pocket and back piece with the weave.  Here's how I constructed the back piece.

1.  Mark horizontal lines on the back piece.  I marked a line every 1 1/2".  I also marked a 1/2" seam allowance around the shirt, because I did not want to cut into the 1/4"seam allowance.  

2.  Mark the vertical lines on the extra back piece.  Here you see the extra back piece with vertical lines marked every 1 1/2".  Also, I did mark a 1/2" seam allowance around the back piece.  Note: I used a 1/4" seam allowance when sewing. 

3.  Cut on the vertical lines from the bottom up to the 1/2" marked seam allowance on the extra back piece.

4.  Cut the horizontal lines between the seam allowances on the main pattern piece.  I did not cut through the seam allowances.

Close up showing the horizontal lines cut up to the seam allowance.

5.  Pin the extra back piece to the main back piece.  Notice the extra back is behind the main back.

6.  From the right side, begin to weave the first strip of fabric by pulling the strip over and under each horizontal strip of fabric.

7.  Repeat with the second strip, however, start by going under over rather than over under.

8.  Continue to weave until the back is completely woven.  Pin the strips to the bottom of the shirt.  Cut off the extra length of the strips of fabric.  Stitch along the bottom, securing the strips of fabric in place. 

Once you have made the back piece, simply follow the patterns directions for constructing the hoodie.

After I washed the hoodie, the strips ended up twisting all around.  I untwisted a few, but left some twisted because I liked the texture.

Cheers,

Jamie