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Japanese Stencil Dyeing in Vermont |
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Keeping a Craft Alive  Legend has it that in Japan, stencils were invented when people looked up and admired the patterns of leaves against the sky.
Katazome, or stencil dyeing, is a centuries-old craft seldom practiced now except in a very few studios in Japan and in the United States. The process begins with carving a stencil out of a special handmade paper. A sticky paste of cooked rice flour is spread through the stencil onto cloth, leaving the design. The stencil is quickly removed, and the paste is allowed to dry. The fabric is then dyed: areas which were covered by paste will remain white when the cloth is rinsed out. The process is akin to batik, but the end result has its own unmistakable look. (see above, "How It's Done.") I have been practicing katazome in Vermont for the past eight years, carving stencils based on traditional Japanese designs, dyeing fabric, and making clothing. I also collect, restore, and use antique Japanese stencils on some of my projects. I love katazome for its lively, handmade look, the irregular charm the Japanese call "wabi-sabi." ABOUT ME |
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