Shifu

One of my passions has been Shifu--the art of paper garments.  Using hand pulled paper, which is cut into small continuous strips, is then spun into fine paper yarn.  I have made several garments using this method.  Not only have I used hand pulled Japanese paper but also comic pages from newspapers and tissue paper (the kind used for wrapping gifts).  Today I share with you the technique that is unusual but has a long history.

Hand spinning paper into yarn, Video

Paper garments have long been used.

Enjoy this brief encounter into the art of

Shifu and paper spinning.

For more information and the beauty of Shifu,

check out this website

Art--Paper.......................................Creations!

Nathalie Boutte is a French artist that works with paper strips!  Yes, she cuts long narrow strips of paper and then she patiently assembles, one by one thus creating a feather effect which constantly evolves. 

We call this art too!!

 

Art Continues--Paper Weaving

Art is many forms--today we venture into the world of two weavers, each with an unique technique to achieve their form of art.  A collaboration of the minds--one from Japan, the other from United Kingdom.

 

Paper Rhythms features the work of Mayumi Kaneko.  Mayumi is a hand weaver. She has always been developing woven textures and patterns in various yarns to make beautiful and intriguing fabrics.  Recently, her main focus has been the exploration of the potential of Japanese paper yarn. The yarn is made from Manila hemp fibers and a Japanese paper making method is used to make it into yarn. It is a very unique, fascinating and sustainable material.

Jennie Parry works with an interesting loom, ‘Tri Takadai’ which is pictured in the bottom photo.

Whether it's origami or kumihimo technique, we call it ART!  

Revisit--ART! Paper......................................

On a recent blog topic, I asked "What is Art?"  So I thought it might be interesting to explore different aspects of "Art" pieces.  For the next few blog articles, I will feature art pieces and their makers.  First up is

Helen Hiebert who works in paper!  She features a weekly blog with different topics.

This weeks topic is Folded envelopes

What fun to work with handmade paper.  Her website gives you the opportunity to

enjoy the art of paper making.  Check out Pinterest and the art of envelope folding.

I spent a good hour or more browsing through her artistic pieces and learning how

this 'art' has influenced our lives!

What is Art?--Paper!

Another Pair of Socks?

How many pair of hand knit socks can one person have?  You can only wear one pair at a time.  And if you needed to wear a pair every day, which I don't, why do you keep knitting socks?  Can we call it an obsession!?? 

Here is the yarn for the this pair of socks--never knitted with this brand before. 

I usually begin my socks on four double pointed needles

transfer to two circular needles, knit to heel and once again back to pointy sticks

The pattern is designed by general-hogbuffer and is called "Bovary"

You can find this pattern--where else?? but on Ravelry! 

“Madame Bovary (1856) is the French writer Gustave Flaubert’s debut novel. The story focuses on a doctor’s wife, Emma Bovary, who has adulterous affairs and lives beyond her means in order to escape the banalities and emptiness of provincial life. Though the basic plot is rather simple, even archetypal, the novel’s true art lies in its details and hidden patterns.” ( Wikipedia )

We are heading to the toe!!

Tea + Knitting + Mystery = Perfect!!

 

It's close to September and the time to sip a hot Earl Grey tea, sit, relax and think about the next sock knitting mystery!

Yes, I know!  Not another mystery! and another pair of socks??  What's wrong with that gal?

But, I love tea and when I saw this sock knitting challenge was a mystery too--I just couldn't resist.

 

Five clues will be released around 5-7 am EST on

September 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29.

 

Top-down. Cables, lace, and BEADS!!  Fleegle heel--something new to my knitting technique! 
74 beads required.  Written in honor of tea drinkers and Star Trek fans everywhere!  Designed by Heidi Nick.  Pattern is free for Sock Knitters Anonymous Ravelry group

Okay, as a bonus, I'll give you couple Earl Grey tea recipes. 

Ingredients for Earl Grey Hot Chocolate:  Serves 2

• --
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 1 ½ tsp earl grey tea
• 6 square of dark chocolate, or to taste
• --

• 1. Combine the milk and tea in a saucepan and gently heat without boiling. Continue heating for approximately 10 minutes. The milk will take on a light tea color.
• 2. Place 3 (or more if desired) squares of chocolate into a heatproof glass. Pour the milk over the chocolate using a tea strainer/colander to strain off the leaves. Serve.  

Or how about an iced Earl Grey Tea:  Brew your Earl Grey tea strong--twice as much bags or leaves as usual.  Steep about 5 minutes.  Pour over ice, add some simple sugar syrup, little vanilla and add milk!  Ahhhh, delicious!

 

Boro--The Art of Mending!

Mending?  When the kids were small, I would be mending small holes on torn jeans, socks, shirts, etc.  just to save money.  Today we look at Boro--mending extra-ordinary! 

 

Now, if and when I need to mend--I will think of Boro and the artistic value of my stitches!

 

 

Slow Stitching by Jaki Bogg

BORO

 

A Japanese folk textile known today as 'the art of repair'. Boro textiles were the domain of the ordinary man and represented a collective, impoverished past. Boro faded out after the mid-twentieth century when Japan's society progressively moved towards mass-scale modernization. The patchwork practice was utilized by the rural population of Japan, predominantly in the northern region, as they couldn't afford new clothing. This meant extensively patching and mending littles scraps of fabrics over worn-out areas or holes within the cloth. In most cases, the fabrics were indigo dyed using the traditional 'Aizome' or 'Ai' method, which is said to be an ancient technique from 4000-5000 years ago. The basic raw material is the leaf of the 'Polygonum Tinctorium' mostly harvested in southern parts of Japan. The process yields a color that is commonly known as "Japan Blue" because of its unique hue. The dye also had natural properties to repel insects, preventing odors and a remedy for skin trouble. 

The scraps of fabrics were often sewn together using the 'Sashiko' needlework method (The Japanese Art of Quilting) to strengthen a single layer of fabric for patching worn cloth or quilting per se, and the purpose was to extend the overall life of the textile. Aesthetically, Sashiko is a contrasting running stitch worked in repeating or interlocking patterns. The closer the stitches, the more durable to garment therefore becomes.

Boro textiles were commonly used in farmer jackets, firefighter jackets, fisherman jackets and futons

 

Mending by Karen Swing