For this 2-part workshop, we will utilize reclaimed fabrics to create a one-of-a-kind drawstring bag whose design originates from the Japanese Komebukuro, a bag that traditionally served as a vessel to carry offerings to temples & local festivals or to store special keepsakes. These bags were often made from the salvaged scraps of textiles that were saved & valued until they could no longer be utilized. Unless you have woven fabric from home you'd like to use and a favorite pair of scissors, Turnip Green will supply all materials needed for this project.
For the exterior surface design of the bag, we will be learning the “Stitch & Slash Chenille” method. This involves a process of layering up fabrics and cutting the layers between stitched channels. The cut edges are then frayed to create a fluffy, velvet-like surface texture with contrasting colors exposed between the layers. This will be an introduction to the basic process that will then lend itself to an array of artistic variations.
This project is inspired by a cultural intersection of methods from the past that we will apply to a contemporary reuse craft. With a reverence for cloth & mindful consumption of materials, we will be creating a modern take on the timeless concept of prolonging a material’s lifespan through an inventive curiosity for reimagining materials toward a fresh purpose.
This hands-on workshop is appropriate for both the skilled seamstress and the complete beginner new to sewing. Participants will complete the workshop with a finished object that is functional, simple in design, & adorned in their own unique handwork and choice of color palette. Participants will leave equipped with a new set of skills & techniques that can be carried on to a range of other applications.