Shifu Study Group

Join us Monday, June 24th, 1-3pm to begin creating a stash of paper thread that we’ll use in an October workshop day with Barbara Nitsberg. Shifu is the Japanese tradition of weaving cloth from thread made of paper.  Kozo, rice and gampi papers were used along with commercial tissue paper from commercial sewing patterns.  The paper is cut into thin continuous strips, rolled and spun then woven into fabric. Erika Mills has graciously offered to give us a refresher course and teach new students.

See the gallery images below to see of the things you can make with paper thread. You can weave (yes, cloth too) make baskets and more.

Where: Pacific Textile Arts Classroom
When: June 24, 1pm – 3pm
This will be an ongoing group that meets from now until October with the goal of becoming proficient at creating paper thread and accumulating a stash for the Shifu Study day on October 19, 2024, with Barbara Nitsberg.

You’ll need to bring or borrow:
Utility knife  – please bring
Cutting board (PTArts has some if you don’t
Paper cutter – PTArts has some of these if you don’t
Scissors + paper clips to hold the paper in position 
Papers – we have sewing patterns that we used with Barbara, no need to bring
Medical table cover tissue ( white and printed) Erika likes using this and I believe she will bring some but will clarify with her
Pencil and ruler to mark the distances.
Water bottle for humidifying the paper.
Drop spindle to spin the yarn. –
We provide bobbin winders if you don’t have a drop spindle.

EMAIL; outreach@pacifictextilearts.org if you have questions.