When I first discovered kimono silk, I was in love with the fabric’s drape, weight, texture and unusual colors. As I used more and more kimono silks, I found myself falling in love with the different kinds of prints, the traditional, the modern, the wild and crazy, the quiet and subtle. I couldn’t resist and soon incorporated them into my work. I started first with tiny, subtle designs and slowly graduating towards the amazing and bolder prints.
For example, this roomy oversize jacket sewn from a gorgeous silk of cherry blossoms over a black and red stream design.
The weave is called ‘meisen,’ the amazing technique where the fabric is printed with a design, unwoven and then rewoven. When rewoven, the threads don’t line up exactly which results in soft blurred edges.
I only had a small piece of this cool butterfly silk, just enough for the front and back of this hitoe. I love these, they can be worn as either a blouse or an unlined lightweight jacket and layered on top of each other.
A detail for a close up look at all the different patterns of the butterflies.
A crazy gorgeous black and white print of leaves and branches sewn into a trench coat.
I’m pretty sure it was stenciled, you can see the little areas where the dye smudged and leaked through. A sure sign that it was printed by hand and not a machine.
I’ll be bringing these and many others, some quiet and subtle, others bold and bright, to the ACC’s American Craft Made in Baltimore. Check out more information here.
See you there!
I love black and white. It’s my favorite. You are an inspiration!!!!!
Thank you Marion!
Woohoo!
I’m loving the “roomy oversize jacket sewn from a gorgeous silk of cherry blossoms over a black and red stream design”! Viva la bold designs!
Have fun and best of luck in Baltimore!!