Category Archives: Textiles

Antique Japanese Spinning Wheel

March 27, 2016Bast fibers, Cotton, Fiber, My Work, Textiles, Thread and YarnAntique, Hand Spun, Japanese, spinning, spinning wheelNathan S

I recently found this antique Japanese spinning wheel. I had to beg the owner to ship it to me in North Carolina. After tinkering with the spindle I love the way it spins.

Strip Woven Project using Hand Spun Cotton

August 23, 2015Cotton, Fiber, Garden, My Work, Textiles, Thread and YarnAfrican, Cotton, Hand Spun, Hand Woven, Home Grown, mali, momen, strip woven, thread, weavingNathan S

I have been inspired recently by African strip woven cotton fabrics, many of which are dyed with indigo. I used my own hand spun cotton to weave a strip 20′ long by 8″ wide. After the strip was woven It was dyed in old indigo to leave an inconsistent pattern on the fabric. The strip was cut into shorter sections and then sewn together with hand spun thread before being over dyed with a strong indigo dye to darken the fabric. The over dying left the fabric with a beautiful mottled color that matches well with the inconsistencies of the hand spun thread.

Amazing Antique Repair on Sashiko Furoshiki

Antique Hand Spun Furoshiki with Crossed Feathers Mon

October 12, 2014Boro, Cotton, TextilesAntique, Cotton, feathers, furoshiki, Hand Spun, Hand Woven, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, kamon, meiji, momen, mon, sashiko, tsutsugakiNathan S

New Weaving Project: Cotton and Kudzu

October 6, 2014Bast fibers, Cotton, Fiber, Garden, My Work, Textiles, Thread and YarnCotton, Hand Spun, Hand Woven, Indigo, kudzu, kuzu, momen, new, project, thread, weaving, yarnNathan S

I started a new project a few days ago. I used a natural linen for the warp with hand spun indigo dyed cotton and kudzu for the warp. I am pleased with how it is coming along.

Growing Ramie

September 21, 2014Bast fibers, Garden, Textiles, Thread and Yarnasa, bast, fiber, jofu, ramieNathan S

This summer I planted a few ramie plants in the hopes of being able to harvest some ramie fiber next year. Ramie is a member of the nettle family and has been used throughout Asia to create a beautiful and strong fabric similar to linen or hemp.

Here are some examples of ramie fabric from a small komebukuro. Komebukuro are small patchwork bags used for giving gifts of rice and beans to friends, family, or a temple. The fabric was woven using a double ikat technique and may have originated from the Ryukyu Islands located at the southern end of the Japanese archipelago. Here is a short Japanese video about how ramie plants are processed into beautiful fabric. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIGscKahEqY

Boro kimono made from hand spun furoshiki

July 19, 2014Boro, Cotton, TextilesAntique, baby, Boro, child, children, Cotton, furoshiki, futonji, Hand Spun, Hand Woven, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, kamon, kimono, meiji, momen, tsutsugakiNathan S

This small kimono for a baby was made out of old material called boro or “rags” pieced together to make usable fabric. The boro material was intended to be the liner but, I have decided to show it off as the shell. the boro material probably came from an indigo dyed tsutsugaki furoshiki or “free hand resist dyed carrying cloth”. These were traditionally given in sets to a new bride and groom and were often dyed with the families mon or “crest”. I love the idea that the newlyweds used it until it became tattered and then remade it into clothing for one of their children. The outer fabric shown below as the liner has a design of small dogs. This fabric was factory made and was meant to replicate a double kasuri or “ikat” material. This fabric shows patches that do not make their way through to the lining material meaning that this material had been used and repaired at the time that it was made into this garment. More than likely it was also a hand me down.

Kamon Katazome on Antique Indigo Cotton

July 15, 2014Cotton, TextilesAntique, Boro, Cotton, futonji, geometric, Hand Spun, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, kamon, Katazome, meiji, modern, momenNathan S

This antique katazome of overlapping squares has been hand dyed with indigo on beautiful well worn machine woven cotton. I love the bold design of this fabric and I think there is something really modern about the design. The fabric was more than likely created for a nuptial futonji given to a bride and groom on their wedding.

Vintage Indigo plaid

July 15, 2014Cotton, Textiles, Thread and YarnCotton, futonji, Hand Spun, Hand Woven, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, meiji, momen, thread, vintage, weavingNathan S

This vintage Japanese cotton plaid was hand woven using machine spun thread during the first half of the 20th century. The weaver included chunky silk threads in the weft to mimic the texture of hand spun threads. The deep indigo colors are great and the fabric has a wonderful worn feel. this fabric had been used as the top of a futonji.