Japanese ‘Boro’ Stitching Workshop

Join Hiroko and Nigel Aono-Billson at the Garden House for a KOBO A–B, BORO (ぼろ 襤褸) workshop. Boro in Japanese, means mending and patching fabric. The term is now commonly used in reference to all Japanese textiles that are patched or repaired garments or bedding which have been mended, using fragments or oddments of cloth.

BORO textiles originate from the Edo period through to the beginning of the Showa period in Japanese history. These items were often handed down from generation to generation, usually within a family and have become prized and treasured pieces of textile art, for the beauty inherent within each piece.

To begin with we look at and talk about Boro by looking at range of pieces, some from Hiroko and Nigel’s BORO collection and other pieces that have been mended and worked on in the BORO style approach to reparation as references for you and to refer to during the workshop.

You will need to bring along to the workshop either a garment or item to work on. We will introduce you to and teach you the basics of Sashiko stitching and a patching/construction process. Vintage and antique Japanese fabric, needles and thread will be provided for you to use.

You will learn:

• How to use mending stitches.

• The application of repair and mending techniques, using scraps of both modern and vintage Japanese fabric.

• The use of visible repair stitch techniques to enhance and strengthen textiles.

• New approaches to creating textile projects, using fabric scraps with traditional stitching techniques.

Cost: £65, to include coffee/tea and cake

Host or Publisher The Garden House, Brighton