The Textile Traditions of Bhutan tour 2016 has come to an end in Bhutan, but the memories and insights continue to be processed as guests return home. I am hearing from some that they are now reluctant to wash textiles purchased from nomads as their smell of wood smoke evokes Bhutan so strongly. Here is a little of what we got up to… Continue reading
I wrote previously about Textiles Imitating Textiles with reference to pieces in the exhibition China: Through the Lens of John Thomson at the National Textile Museum in Washington DC. Here are some more of the incredible pieces on display there for another fortnight. Continue reading
I am fascinated by cross-pollenations between textiles of different cultures (such as batik influenced by patola designs, or block-printed fabrics imitating Thai kit designs) as well as across media (such as stone carvings depicting patterning in clothing). In October, I finally made my first visit to the National Textile Museum in Washington DC, and saw the exhibition China: Through the Lens of John Thomson and found another skilled imitation of one textile technique in another textile medium. Continue reading
In Zoucheng, our lovely guide took us to visit 3 families who were producing zha-ran, or stitch-resist tie-dye. Continue reading
Among pieces of tie-dye I had purchased in Arimatsu in Japan, were some pieces of indigo-dyed heavy cotton. I was fascinated with the small butterfly stitch-resist patterns, but despite scouring books on shibori techniques, I failed to find out how to create them myself. Continue reading
To avoid having to pick up the required warp threads to create each row of a supplementary weft pattern, Lao-Tai weavers have devised several methods of storing these patterns on their loom. Continue reading
Lao-Tai weavers introduce patterns into their weaving in several ways, one of which is by inserting extra weft yarns after each pick of ground weave.
I recently encountered a Bhutanese kira that is unlike any other I have seen. The weaver has pushed the boundaries both literally and figuratively. Continue reading
I had plenty of opportunities to see all stages of warp preparation while I was at Ock Pop Tok for 2 months and during a couple of visits to Vientiane, Continue reading
I saw this impressive piece covered in sihos (mythical lion-elephant creatures) pregnant with double-headed nagas (protective river serpents) and carrying their young and a frogman (or perhaps an ancestor spirit) on their backs at Phaeng Mai Gallery in Vientiane. Continue reading
