Boro inspired Japanese mending (online event)

What will I learn?

In this class you will learn about how Boro was made in Japan and a variety of techniques to mend your clothes in the style of Boro.

Boro (more accurately ‘Boro boro’), meaning ‘rags or tatters’ is the art of repairing fabric using scraps and stitching. A source of shame in Japan for many years, the fabrics are now highly prized and can fetch significant sums. Boro work follows the British wartime tradition of ‘make do and mend’ but was used out of necessity in Japan to prolong the life of clothes and bedding due to extreme poverty and the scarcity of textiles.

Content:

• The history and origins of Boro. Examples of vintage Boro and other Japanese textiles collected by the tutor in Japan will be shown

• How to repair a garment using scraps, both modern and vintage
• How to use sashiko stitching to enhance your work
• Practice using visible repair to enhance and strengthen textiles
• Applique and reverse applique techniques will be shown
• A variety of types of Japanese stitches and their application

Who is this class for?: Beginner / looking for an introduction to Japanese mending in the style of Boro

Duration: 2 hours

Location: This class is an Online course run using Zoom. You will need a device that can access the internet with a camera and microphone to take this class.

What do I need to provide myself?

• An item of clothing to repair (denim or heavy cotton/linen are best). Woollen, towelling and fine fabrics such as silk are not suitable for this class. The mending techniques taught lend themselves best to denim, cotton and linen fabrics.
• Patches of printed/plain fabric to repair holes with. Bold prints and patterned pieces work well as a source of inspiration, although plain colours can work well as a backdrop to Sashiko stitched patterns
• Sashiko needle (an embroidery needle will do)
• Sashiko thread in various colours (embroidery thread will do)
• Small sharp scissors
• Strong cotton thread for tacking (you can use doubled ordinary cotton)
• A pen
• An iron and ironing board

A kit is available to purchase at https://www.romordesigns.com/shop/boro-kit