Sashiko-ori are supplementary warp and weft woven structures based on the Japanese folk stitching techniques of sashiko. In this workshop, students will start with a basic, but very versatile, threading to try out different types of patterns based on the hitomezashi style of sashiko. Students will then experiment with changes in threading, treadling, design, and color.  

Dates & Times:

• Saturday, April 10:  1-5 PM
• Sunday, April 11:  9AM-5PM
• Monday, April 12:  9AM-5PM

Registration Fee:  $325

Materials Fee (to be paid directly to the instructor at the beginning of the workshop): $42

Materials to be provided by instructor:

• Warp and weft yarns
• Stitching materials
• Handouts

Students will warp and thread cotton warps provided by the instructor the first morning.

Participant materials/equipment to bring: 

• Floor or table Loom YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH with at least six shafts 
• 8-dent reed
• Two boat shuttles and bobbins 
• Bobbin winder (if they have them, we can share) 
• 1/2” or 1” raddle (if they have them, we can share and I’ll bring a couple for back to front warping) 
• Sticks, heavy paper, mats, whatever they use to beam on 
• Threading, sley hooks, etc. 
• Graph paper or notebook 
• Laptop, smartphone or tablet helpful for design process with free program I’ll demonstrate. 

NOTE: Even though this is a supplementary warp structure it does not require a separate warp chain so no extra warp beams, weights, warp separators, etc. are necessary. 

Instructor Bio: 

Beth Ross Johnson is a weaver, teacher and workshop leader living in Black Mountain, North Carolina. A lifelong fascination with Asian art led to an interest in Japanese textiles and she has had two extensive stays in Japan to study kasuri (ikat weaving and dyeing) and sakiori (rag weaving) with master weavers there. Other avenues of exploration have been sashiko stitching and nyoho-e (Zen stitching). Recent studies have been in the ikat traditions of Europe, influenced by the 18th century wave of Orientalism on the continent, and woven structures like sashiko-ori and kasuri-ori that mimic hand stitching and ikat processes. She maintains a studio and teaches in formal and informal institutions. She is co-authoring a book on sashiko-ori.

Follow Beth on her website Beth Ross Johnson.