Quiltmania honors Japanese artists through their Indigo quilts

This week, Japan and more specifically Indigo are being celebrated at Quiltmania! January is here, and usually so is the Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival. Unfortunately it has definitely closed its doors after its last edition in 2020. Though we can’t share with you the best of its quilts and shows, as we normally do in the Quiltmania magazine, we offer you to discover Indigo as well as our Japanese artists’ talent.

What’s Indigo?

Indigo is a color that come from a natural dye called “Aizome”. Used for centuries, it is made from the true indigo‘s leaves and stems. This dye is known and used worldwide but processes can differ from one culture to another. It was the emblematic color for the Japanese rural class. Reserved to the farmers, it was indeed one of the only color they were allowed to wear since bright ones were prohibited.

As it is not chemical, this dye is victim of time. Its color gradually fade, from a dark blue to a light one. That is what, for us quilters, makes it so attractive.

Want to learn more on the traditional Japanese technique to dye fabrics by hand ? We invite you to watch this video:

In this article, we offer you an overview of the most beautiful indigo pieces that we had the pleasure to display in books.

Boro

Boro refers to Japanese worn out fabrics that have been mended or assembled in order to give them a second life. As fabrics were very expansive back in the days, farmers were patching their clothes, covers, sheets, etc. The Boro pieces are thus the witness of a non glorious period, they decided to throw away most of them, but, fortunately, not all! Today, collectors such as Kosaku Nukata, are happy to exhibit their Boro quilts. It is a precious heritage.

You might have guess it now, indigo is the principal color of these majestic pieces. Here is a demonstration :

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Traditional stitching techniques

Sashiko and Chiku Chiku are stitching techniques frequently associated to the Boro. They currently are very popular in the quilting universe and Japanese people are very proud of it. But what does it involve?

Sashiko

Sashiko is an ancient technique of Japanese embroidery, which developed during Edo period (1600). It aimed to recycle old clothes thanks to small regular running stitches. They allow to, first reinforce fabrics pieces and then, over time, ornement them with traditional and beautiful patterns.

Chiku Chiku

Chiku Chiku refers to a technique in which each fabrics pieces is appliquéd with large straight running stitches on a background fabric. Close to the Sashiko, the difference resides particularly in one fact : there is no rules !

Quiltmania & Indigo

My Little Japan

You can than explore the Blue & White shop of Amy Katoh, the Gallery Kei of Kei Kawasaki, the boro collection of Kosaku Nukata, and finally, the universe of the queen of chiku chiku, Akiko Ike.

If this special issue promises a total immersion in the heart of Japan, it also promises a medley of indigo pieces.

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Pieces of my life, a story of fabrics and passions, Shizuko Kuroha

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We invite you to visit her new Youtube channel. She even offers a video dedicated to indigo gradation!

Old Fabrics for New Quilts: the Story of a Rebirth, Etsuko Ishitobi