A "how do I do that" question

[Annie Thomas Wall]

I was at a show of clothing by a weaver's group and saw there a shawl with a most interesting aspect - it was full width for about a 3rd of the weaving, then it pleated in to about half the width then back out to full width. It's driving me nuts trying to figure out how it was done. Anyone know?

[Diane]

Was it simply stitched afterward? Or did you get the idea from the weaver that it was done on the loom? You can change from stitched double weave to double weave that will open out but it would be easier to just do it afterward. Did the weaving structure appear to change in the pleated area?

[Sandy Gunther]

Did it look woven all the way or did it look like it was felted in the middle? There are various ways to do this, collapse weave, is the most common. You can also use elastic thread in the center only.

[Annie Thomas Wall]

From what I'm remembering the weave structure appeared to be the same all through.

Diane said:

Was it simply stitched afterward? Or did you get the idea from the weaver that it was done on the loom? You can change from stitched double weave to double weave that will open out but it would be easier to just do it afterward. Did the weaving structure appear to change in the pleated area?

[Annie Thomas Wall]

Now why didn't I think of this - elastic thread in the centre only!!! I think that's how it was done.

Sandy Gunther said:

Did it look woven all the way or did it look like it was felted in the middle? There are various ways to do this, collapse weave, is the most common. You can also use elastic thread in the center only.