Rag woven mat, detail
I made this myself on Sunday while visiting the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial. At Kinare, the big exhibition center in Tokamachi, they have a hands-on room set up with looms, shibori dying vats and silk painting materials. It took me 30 minutes to weave up this little mat.
Tod took an onsen bath (I was barred because of my tattoo) while I wove. It's been a long time since I last sat in front of a loom. My results are a little bit uneven, but not too bad, considering how rusty I am.
As much as working on this made me happy and left me with a big smile, if I had a loom of my own I'd never use it. I really despise warping treadle looms.
Do you think your dislike of warps has anything to do with that summer job?
Nah, the creeling jab didn't put me off warping. It's all the careful threading you have to do in the heddles. It's daunting and persnickety work. Raises my hackles just thinking about it.
Wonderful! The KIMONO I bought for the first time on my salsalary was a TOKAMCHI-TSUMUGI.
Why can't you use an onsen with a tattoo?