You can give any basic garment a decorative boost with a panel of twisted strips. It looks complex, but it’s simple to master. Wherever you decide to use it, a twisted bias-strip panel is an excellent way to add a special design element to your garments without a hit to your wallet. Kenneth King shows you how to apply it to straight seams and to gently curved seams. It works best in garments with some structure, like jackets and fitted skirts, and in dress-weight fabrics with some body.

Silk dupioni, wools, linens, cottons, and other silks, including brocades, are all good fabric choices. Make the insertion base panel from the same material as the bias strips for a subtle textural effect, or use a flesh-toned organza or bobbinet (a cotton or silk tulle) to create a translucent base and the illusion of skin behind the twisted bias strips.

From Threads #158