In autumn 2016 I got chance to return to Kawashima Textile School to learn more about kasuri-technique by attending the Applied Kasuri I-III courses. In the first course I learned Zurashi Gasuri (shifting kasuri) and Nassen Gasuri (stencil dyeing kasuri). Next I worked with my own project: the traditional obi-belt!
I received The Chujo Watanabe Memorial Scholarship from the Japan-Finland Society (Japani-Suomi yhdistys -日本フィンランド協会) and it made attending the courses possible. I am very thankful to The Japan-Finland Society – KIITOS! ありがとうございます!
Zurashi Gasuri
Zurashi Gasuri means “shifting ikat”. The advantage is that only one kasuri-group can be dyed instead of many and the pattern is created by moving the the pre-dyed warp threads with special tool in the back of the loom. Detailed instructions about the design and the material (wool) were provided by the school. We chose the colours for the work. My colours are inspired by Japanese nature.
Dyeing the wool yarns green
The Shifting kasuri tool in the back of the loom
Nassen Gasuri
Nassen Gasuri means “stencil dyeing ikat”. The warp is set up on the loom and the patterns are dyed on the warp with the help of stencil or freehand like watercolour.
The material is light coloured cotton in plain weave. Inspiration for my pattern design came from Japanese flowers of this season, Camellia and Cosmos flowers. The hand has the meaning of friendship and handicraft.
Left: Cosmos Bipinnatus Right: Camellia Japonica
Colour samples for the dyes
Left: Watercolour sketch Right: Finished scarf
The warp is set up and sampling starts!
Work on progress
Half-woven pattern
