Boro Aesthetics and Mending the Japanese way

Boro means “tattered rags”- a method of mending garments and accessories to extend their life of usefulness. The Japanese mended their kimono, fishermen jackets, firemen jackets, futon covers, and general worn clothes. Their clothing was made of bast fibers: hemp, wisteria among others. This was not warm, so they would layer fabrics and stitch them together with scraps of cotton. This type of mending is not unlike what we do to extend the life of our blue jeans.

In this workshop you will learn at least four basic mending techniques. You will be creating a “sample” mending book by trying each method on a separate piece of fabric. These fabrics will be used to construct your “mending sample book”. This will be a reference for your future mending projects. You will also begin mending a piece(s) of clothing, quilts, etc. that you have brought with you.

Lunch will be provided by Friends & Family, a wine and small plate bar off Congress street in Portland. At Dandelion Spring we believe that by engaging all of our senses through sharing nutritious food, we are setting a table for conversations about larger cultural and environmental issues related to our communities.

Kathleen is proficient in the processes of Shibori and Sashiko stitching after two trips to Japan. Kathleen explores the boundaries of design and explores techniques that mimic textures in nature. Kathleen uses indigo dye to communicate the soft edges and beauty of Shibori on fabric. Her passion for these art forms comes through in her workshop.