Known for its distinctive crinkled, crepe-like texture, Awa Shijira-ori* is a cotton fabric ideal for making summertime yukata. The texture, similar to seersucker, does not stick to the skin in Japan’s hot, humid summers, and the openness of the weave allows for good airflow. Originating in the Tokushima Prefecture during the Meiji era (1868-1889), it…
Tag: textiles
New in the shop
I will be listing new items throughout the day, including the latest shipment of sashiko supplies. Yes, that means the thread prices will be going up (needles, thimbles and kits remain the same price), but not until I get to them. Right now I’m focused on getting other things listed first, so there is still…
Developments
Remember that post about lead in silk I wrote ever so long ago? Well, it came in handy this week. Seeking to finish (at long last) my Bachelor’s degree, I’ve applied at Mills College here in the Bay Area. The application gave me the option of submitting graded work from my previous college (none of…
Sakiori obi
Sakiori (saki=rag, oru=weaving) is one technique among the fine arts of resourcefulness and reuse. A worn out, damaged or otherwise ruined garment is torn to shreds and woven over a new warp to find another useful life. I know people who cringe when I tell them that I tear kimono apart, but this is something…
Bundles are back
The ever-popular kimono scrap fabric bundles are back in in the shop. My stash practically exploded and spilled out across the studio floor over the weekend, prompting me to take notice of all the bits and pieces I’ve been collecting for years and not passing on to wily crafters like yourself. Last time I put…
June sale now up
The special for this month is 15% off all Japanese yukata cotton yardage. I have a few bolts that are down to just one or two meter-long panels and I’d like to see them find good crafty homes.
Spring Sale now up
The current sale in the Etsy shop is 20% off all quilting cottons from In The Beginning, Kona Bay and Robert Kaufman. I need to make room for new bolts coming next month so jump on in and stock up! Sale runs from today, March 15 until April 15, 2009.
Japanese Fishermen’s Coats from Awaji Island
Japanese Fishermen’s Coats from Awaji Island (Fowler Museum Textile Series 5) arrived on my doorstep this morning, just in time for a leisurely read over tea and breakfast. And what an enjoyable read it was! This slim volume starts off with an historical essay by Luke Roberts, Fishing Villages in Northern Awaji, about the life…
Kimono fabric packs now in store
Finally! After all the sorting, ironing, bundling, photographing and editing (not to mention endless mugs of tea), I’m listing those long-promised kimono fabric bundles in the Etsy shop. I’ve started with a Baker’s Dozen, thirteen pieces of vintage kimono silk fabric that would be great for crafting, collage, scrapbooking, doll making and other projects. More…
This is why I’m here.
After several weeks of moaning and whining about not being able to find my library of reference books in the dark cavern of my storage unit, I finally dragged myself there and dug through to the very bottom box in the very farthest corner. I kid you not, it was the least accessible place I…
Three examples of indigo shibori
Due to circumstances that likely could have been avoided, I will be writing part 2 of the sashiko tutorial tomorrow instead of today. In the meantime, here are some great examples of shibori done in indigo and white. These three show just how diverse a medium shibori can be. The piece on the left is…
Some thoughts on being green
A loved one recently sent me a link to an essay written by a weatherman who essentially states that global warming is a scam perpetrated by Al Gore. While I prefer to err on the side of caution and support the idea of global warming (I tell the older generation “get back to me in…
A love for both the common fiber and the extraordinary textile @KimonoMomo 