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News

How She Made It: Kuna Hapi

February 21, 2020 7 Comments on How She Made It: Kuna Hapi

A truly talented customer (from northwest Washington state), Susan, sent me photos and a description of an impressive and gorgeously-made lined and quilted Hapi Jacket from our 129 Japanese Hapi and Haori pattern.  Susan has allowed me to share her project below and I think you will enjoy it very much!  This jacket's simplicity allows for lots of artistic interpretation - an amazing example of which is seen here.  And, Susan's sewing talent allowed her to change this unlined jacket pattern and change it into a lined and quilted coat that is perfect for the cool weather of the very northwestern US.  Her artistic vision is outlined below - in Susan's words and photos:

A stash of brilliantly-colored, reverse-applique Kuna Indian mola patches has been nagging at me for years. Created by young girls as sewing samplers, later sold for pennies to tourists, they feature relentlessly cheerful birds and monkeys in unambivalently tropical habitats. What could be more inspirational during dark, January days? When a friend donated a few yards of African polished cotton from Mali, boldly printed in ochre diamonds on black, I set about inventing a garment for her that would combine these equatorial textiles into something suitable for Lummi-wear.


Assembling the components


Struggling with the back - a needle-breaker.  Because of the varying thickness of the fabrics, this was difficult to sew on the machine and I ended up hand sewing  a lot.

Sussing the neckband


Solving the neckband


Tricking out the mola

 


Front

Inside

Back


Bonus minaudiere

 



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7 Responses

Nancy
Nancy

March 04, 2020

Stunning jacket & love your fabric stash!

Catarina
Catarina

March 01, 2020

Beautiful! Well done you!

Rita DeWitt
Rita DeWitt

March 01, 2020

BRAVA !!!!!!

Gaylyn
Gaylyn

March 01, 2020

I am speechless, but want to give gratitude for such ability and talent and beauty. Thank you for sharing.
So inspiring…such detail and love…exquisite

Gaylyn
Gaylyn

March 01, 2020

I am speechless, but want to give gratitude for such ability and talent and beauty. Thank you for sharing.
So inspiring…such detail and love…exquisite

linda hoey
linda hoey

February 21, 2020

This is truly amazing.

Kathy
Kathy

February 21, 2020

This is a stunningly beautiful garment, I can see you brightening the dreary, rainy days of the Pacific Northwest.

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