Boro inspired mending - studio class

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.

In this class you will learn:

• The history and origins of Boro. Examples of vintage Boro collected in Japan by the tutor will be shown
• Traditional Japanese stitches and their uses
• 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

Students need to have the following in order to participate in the class:

• An item of clothing to repair (denim or heavy cotton/linen are best). Wool, silk and synthetic fabrics are NOT suitable for this class.

A kit containing patches, Sashiko needle and thread is provided as part of the class.

Suitable for complete beginners.

Host or Publisher Rob Jones, Romor Designs