It’s Hip to be Square

Take a bit of loosely woven Merino wool, add a dash of hot water, a hot dryer and voilà — a chic new look created by weaver Patricia Palson of Contoocook.

Known for her clever combinations of traditional weaving patterns, Palson has developed a new technique using loosely woven fabric. Her “cool squares” yardage is felted before cutting and sewing into her own jacket and skirt designs.

It was a huge learning curve for Palson to get the felting process right. Many things can go wrong, she explains, and indeed she once fell asleep while 26 yards of hand-woven fabric was overheated in the dryer. Now she uses a timer.

Palson exhibits annually at the League of New Hampshire Craftmen’s Fair at Sunapee and has won Best in Show several times. There, she shows her latest designs and gauges the appeal of new colors, cuts and weaves for her wholesale business for the remaining season.

In March she will be showing at the Paradise City Arts Festival in Marlborough, Mass. (www.paradisecityarts.com).

Her work is also available at Angelica’s Muse in Portsmouth (430-7700).

Clothing is sold off the rack or custom made to measure. Scarves, $190; jackets, $790; coats, $2,000.

– Susan Laughlin