The Value of the Handmade

One of the things I love most about Japan, is the immense variety of handmade crafts that continue to be done here as well as the continued appreciation of them.  I do understand that some of these traditions are not necessarily being handed down to the younger generations.  A few of the artists that I know personally do not have children that want the family business.  Some have assistants that they have trained that will continue the craft.

A few weeks ago was the Arimatsu Shibori Matsuri (festival).  I didn't get to go last year so jumped at the chance to go with our Japanese teacher and her husband this time.  I didn't even know it was scheduled, so I'm so glad they invited us.  Shibori is a type of fabric manipulation used when dyeing fabric.  It was probably handed down from China, but Arimatsu developed it's own style and was set along the Edo trail, which was the road from the capital of Tokyo (Edo) to Kyoto.  Arimatsu has a 400 year tradition of the shibori trade.

The streets and shops were swamped with people buying discounted shibori ready made and fabric yardage.  There were food booths (of course) and craft booths where you could learn several different craft techniques.  It isn't entirely handmade any longer.  Small tools have been developed to make it a less laborous process.

I ended up buying only a handmade and hand dyed linen scarf.  It was dyed with natural ingredients, the green was rosemary, blue was indigo and pink was madder.  Here is a description of madder.  The lovely lady that I bought it from had a henna rinse in her hair.  Ken says that's a "no go" when I mentioned getting a henna rinse myself. I think the scarf is so beautiful.  It has already softened up from wearing it.  

Here are some photos of beautiful fabrics at the festival.

This display was incredibly impossible to photograph.  It was in a gym so there was that distraction, but it was stunning the way the light played off of the fabrics.  

These are coasters I made for Mari's birthday.  They are made from vintage Yukata (summer cotton kimono) fabrics that have patches and stitches and seams.  She was actually with me when I purchased the fabrics over a year ago. Because the fabrics were rustic, I decided to do Sashiko stitches in a heavier weight thread with more of a rustic, primitive feel to them.  I love how they turned out and she did too.  I've learned recently that the traditional Sashiko indigo and white colors were used because it was illegal for commoners to wear bright colors or large ornamentation during the Edo period.  That is why most of the designs are small and the colors are blue and white.  This came from a book with the history of Sashiko that another Mari gave me.  It's called The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook by Susan Briscoe.  

Recently I asked a friend from the UK to teach me how to do EPP (English Paper Piecing).  Another friend joined in and we were taught this lovely piecing technique.  

I made a coaster for myself out of my little flower.  

Since I've been talking about Sashiko, I thought you might like to see how I mended my jeans recently. I used an iron-on patch on the back and then sewed some Sashiko stitches for reinforcement.  This idea is referred to as "visible mending".  Google it and you'll see lots of ideas.  I think it would've been easier if I would have used regular fabric instead of iron on.  That was difficult to stitch through.  But, I did and I read that they will be so strong that the fabric around it will be weaker.  So, we will see how these hold up.  In the mean time, I think they look cool.  Okay, so enough about Shibori and Sashiko for now.  We've had lots of company in June and so I've taken so many sightseeing pictures as well.  Maybe that will be my next post.  Or flowers.  

Our sensei and her husband, Keiko and Akio.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit,

Karen

Why Japan is a Crafter's Paradise . . .

Japan has not given up on their crafting and sewing population.  Many normal stores have some kind of a sewing section for supplies for all kinds of crafts, hobbies and sewing.  While they have many hobbies that we do not in the U.S., they have many of the same.  I found a bead store that I briefly mentioned previously.  Today, I'm going to show you a five story fabric store that is about 3/4 mile from our apartment.  I didn't take photos of each floor.  I think I was too stunned and the place was hopping.  When I walked into the front door there were bolts of beautiful classic wool plaids right at my fingertips.  At the time I was way too hot to even think about buying any wool, but it has cooled off and I'm still thinking about some Royal Stewart plaid that they had. If this link doesn't work for you because I am in Japan, just Google Royal Stewart Plaid.  You'll recognize it.  

There was an entire floor dedicated to knits, one for evening wear fabrics and weddings.  I don't even know.  I'm going to have to return soon for more research.  One of my favorite fabric lines are Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics.  They are pretty pricey, but they are incredibly beautiful to look at and touch. It is possible to find them in the States, but not common. You definitely want to see and touch them before you purchase.  Check their website, but you just can't tell how beautiful they are unless you see them.  You can also buy them in the states from Purl Soho.  Again, better in person.  If you live in Southern California, Purl Soho has their shipping location in Tustin, I believe.  It's definitely worth a visit, but isn't fancy like a knitting/fabric shop.  

The three photos above are Liberty. 

I've been working on this embroidery piece.  I'm not sure it's completed, but now that I have my sewing machine here (yeah, sea shipment arrived yesterday), I can buy some backing fabric and get 'er done.  I am planning on Liberty yardage for the back.  

They even had a selection of Marimeko prints.  Check out the history of the company on their website.  It is a Finnish company that began in the early 50's and is still going strong today.  Their prints were highly popular in the United States in the 60's and 70's, you might recognize them.

This is a poor photo, but I was so excited to see this.  Cosmo is a Japanese floss that I had first purchased at French General in Los Angeles.  Definitely a store to visit if you're in the area. I read on the labels that it was made in Japan.  Of course, I had not come across any yet, only DMC.  Then I saw this! All the Cosmo I could ever want. It's beautiful floss with amazing color ways.  

Then I found the Indigo.  Oh, the Indigo.  I think I will have to do an entirely separate post about this subject.  Especially when I've learned a little more about it.  In the mean time, I'm going to plan a project with it.  If you're on Pinterest, do a search of Indigo.  Maybe even on Google.  It's a feast for the eyes.  I mean it.  Especially the hand dyed fabrics, Shibori, nui, Kumo, Hagime, and batik to name a few.  I don't even know what all of those are yet.  But, I am planning on finding out. 

 I did start trying my hand at Sashiko embroidery.  They sell little kits for beginners. When you buy the needles, it comes wrapped so perfectly and inside is also a needle threader.  I love that!

This photo is a collage of the different stages of opening the pretty little needle package.  

The Japanese have a gift of presentation. 

I was suppose to mark around the piece and trim it off.  I didn't have a ruler, let alone for millimeters.  Then I realized my Moleskine notebook had a page with a ruler on it. So, there you go! Very helpful for measuring. Yes, I did already have my fabric marker.

This is the beginning stages of my Sashiko. 

The store had samples available to entice you to buy a kit.  It didn't take much. 

The fabric store had a lovely section of yarn.  I understand that crochet more popular than knitting here. I brought several knitting projects to finish, so it may be awhile before I begin a new one. Especially since I've already started other projects and am dreaming about more. Japanese women evidently love their sewing and handcrafts enough to keep stores like this in business. Their clothes sewing is an entirely different subject worth it's own post. And yes, I've purchased two Japanese pattern books already.  

All Done

I have umpteen unfinished projects around here.  I have sewing projects, knitting projects, decorating projects, and so forth and so on. I'm sure you're much better at finishing than I am.  I do finish projects, I just start many,  many more.  Earlier this week, I was rooting around in my sewing room.  I can't even remember what I was looking for.  I discovered fabric I bought three years ago to make a scarf.  Here is the original post.  You can find the pattern here.

I decided to take the time this week to GET IT DONE.  The fabric is voile by Anna Maria Horner. It is so soft and lightweight.  The fabric is definitely I think what sold me on the pattern.

The fabrics are joined with french seams.

Twist the scarf up and dampen.

Pardon the fuzzy photo, but the finish is a crinkly scarf.

Sorry, I have trouble smiling at myself, however, the scarf is light and bright and DONE

What project have you finished recently?

The Little Summer Dress

During my trip to NYC I was so inspired by all the cute dresses I saw walking the streets. It was incredibly hot and humid during our visit. Maybe I was so taken because they all looked so cool, comfortable and adorable. The girls usually had on sandals or ballet flats. Because of that, I came home with the plan to sew a dress or two to finish out our hot summer which goes into October.

I started off at my only fabric store choice, JoAnn Fabrics. This is what I came home with. 

This is McCalls #M6102. I decided on View B with little short sleeves. Unlike the pattern, though, I made the sleeves out of the contrasting fabric. I also shortened it a tiny bit and made some fit adjustments. Here she is. 

Here's a closer picture of the detail. 

Simple, simple. I love it. Now on to dress #2. What have you sewn lately?

Join me at the Sew Darn Crafty Link Party this week!