What the heck is Boro anyway??
Before I blithely proceed, I need to slow down a bit. A few folks have asked, what is boro? And isn't that just a great question.
This is a piece of boro in my personal collection bought at Sri
The following definition was pulled directly from the Sri web site (I have been to Stephen's gallery and it is scrumptious, if you come to NYC, go to Sri Threads. Please check out his web site and blog):
"Japan's mended and patched textiles are referred to as boro, or ragged, both in Japan and abroad.
Boro textiles are usually sewn from nineteenth and early twentieth century rags and patches of indigo dyed cotton. The diversity of patches on any given piece is a veritable encyclopedia of hand loomed cotton indigo from old Japan. In most cases, the beautiful arrangement of patches and mending stitches is borne of necessity and happenstance, and was not planned by the maker."
If you would like a slightly more in depth description of boro cloth, click here.
Jude Hill is a fabulous artist who blogs and teaches her techniques through online workshops. Jude uses the concept of boro cloth extensively in her work, definitely check her out too.
I don't plan to teach what I am doing, I just want to start blogging again and so have asked you to join me in a sew-along. I want to reengage with you after this long quiet year of cancer treatments, book writing and recovery. I plan to use embroidery and to illustrate some ideas through stitch onto the rockstar wrap
Here is an example of a piece I completed last year around this same time. It uses kimono fabrics, indigo dyed cloth and my own hand dyed threads. This hip pack 'journals' my trip to Spain and can be read about here and here.
My hopes for the Rockstar Boro project are to use rich, current-day fabrics to update and improve a velvet wrap. I may use velvets, organza and cottons that I hand dyed, or I may use commercial cloth from my stash. I will work in both hand dyed threads and whatever suits the next stitch best. Last night I was searching around and came across a link to Johnny Was and was inspired to do some big blowsy floral embroidery. I found that link thanks to Ricë. The point is, I could see Janis Joplin wanting to wear a boro inspired garment stitched by me, but I get to wear and keep this garment when it is complete!
I have set up a Flickr group for us
http://www.flickr.com/groups/rockstar...
Here is the link if you would like to spread the word on your own blogs.
Head over and become a member.
Perhaps you have a velvet shirt in your closet, perhaps you need to find a garment more suited to your temperament. If you would like to start discussing clothing options, upload photos of your garment to flickr and we will comment on them and help you get started. I have a few photos uploaded to the group already.
Let the fun begin.
I am trying to sit on my hands and not sew, we will see how long that lasts.
A little business: I will use the comments to answer questions and converse with you. I have a filter on the blog to help me combat spam-a growing problem. I hope this means that I can approve you as a commenter once and that my blog software will know you thereafter. If you have posted a comment in the last day it would be helpful to me if you would post again so that I can check to see if the blog is functioning properly. Thanks
