Sometimes a project begins long before we pick up a needle or thread. This one began more than sixty years ago at my grandmother's loom, and it’s been weaving new connections ever since.

My grandmother, Ilse Uhlmann, exhibited her artwork and wove commissioned fabrics for architects, interior designers, and tailors. In 1963, one of her fabrics was tailored by Chicago's House of Duro into a jacket for my grandfather. My father inherited the jacket, and it was one of the treasures I brought home after Dad passed in 2022.

I have no use for a men's sport coat, but I also couldn't imagine leaving this meaningful piece languishing in my closet. So, I carefully dismantled it, saving every bit of handwoven fabric, the lining, and the notions. Then I stalled. Unsure how to honor the fabric, I packed everything away, where it remained a classic UFO (unfinished object) until this past June. 

What changed? I registered for Liz Spear's upcoming class, ReUse/Recycle: Sewing to Update and Reuse Your Handmade Fabrics. This class was exactly what I needed: a deadline, fresh inspiration, and the promise of expert guidance from a master upcycler.

Of course, there were challenges.

Hurdle 1: My salvaged handwoven fabric pieces are small and/or oddly shaped. 



Hurdle 2: My grandmother’s bold fabric isn’t my style.

Cue a deep dive into Pinterest where I discovered this stunning Mieko Mintz jacket that combines many fabrics into one cohesive design. Suddenly I had direction. I also had another challenge:

Hurdle 3: I needed coordinating fabrics.

As luck would have it, the SEFAA Shop had exactly what I needed—rayon yarn in just the right colors, along with extra bobbins for my shuttles. I'm now weaving four coordinating fabrics on one warp, each with its own combination of weft colors and weave structure. 

Another thread fell into place when I met a few fellow registrants at the SEFAA Center to make a large, communal piece of Nuno felt. Liz often uses this lightweight type of felt for embellishments, so we wanted to have some on hand to share during our upcoming class. We experimented with a new-to-us way of making Nuno felt, played with color, and exchanged ideas about patterns, fabrics, and construction. And, because we were at the Center, we got to share the process with Lunchtime Fiber Open Studios participants and visitors to the current Square Foot Fiber Pin Up Show exhibition. 

There's still plenty of weaving and sewing ahead, but already this project is about so much more than repurposing a vintage garment. When I finally wear my new jacket, I'll be wrapped in my grandmother's craftsmanship, my father's memory, new skills learned from a generous teacher, inspiration from fellow fiber artists, and materials found at the SEFAA Shop. And I’ll forever be reminded that the threads connecting us - family, creativity, and community - are often stronger than we realize.