Tag Archives: textiles

Check out our New Website!

September 16, 2019Bast fibers, Boro, Cotton, Fiber, Textiles, Thread and Yarn, UncategorizedAntique, Boro, China, chinese, dyeing, fabric, hand dyed, Indigo, Japan, Japanese, Katazome, natural dye, natural fiber, project, sashiko, shibori, spinning, textile, textiles, tsutsugaki, vintage, weavingNathan S

It has been a while since I have posted on this blog. I have been busy sourcing antique and vintage fabrics and dyeing katazome textiles. I have also been working on a new website and blog. Please visit our new website for blog posts on antique Japanese textiles and my new indigo dye projects. We also have a shop where you can purchase fabrics and an experiences page where you can learn about upcoming classes and textile tours. Visit the new website at: www.nsomerstextiles.com

Meiji Era Benibana Dyed Katazome

October 12, 2016Cotton, Textiles19th century, Antique, benibana, Cotton, Hand Spun, Hand Woven, Japan, Japanese, Katazome, meiji, momen, red, safflower, textiles, vintageNathan S

The two pieces of mid 19th century hand spun and hand woven cotton shown above are dyed using benibana or safflower. This flower in the thistle family is used to dye cotton and silk a range of colors from light pink to deep red. As benibana dyed fabrics age they begin to turn a more brown or rust color like the pieces in this post.

both of the fabrics shown here has been pattered using a katagami, or paper stencil used to apply rice paste to the fabric as a resist before dying. These stencil dyed fabrics are known as katazome.

Raw Materials: Wisteria Fiber and Wood Ash

September 3, 2014Bast fibers, Fiber, Garden, My Work, Thread and Yarnbast, fiber, fujifu, Hand Spun, Hand Woven, kudzu, spin, textiles, thread, wisteriaNathan S

I recently taught a class in Richmond, VA about making thread from wisteria and kudzu fibers. Here are some photos of my preparations. Wisteria bark fiber and hardwood ash.