playing with paper

the kami-ito stash

making paper thread is addictive

I cut the paper with a T-square

it took me ages to figure this out

it makes the process so much quicker and more accurate

I use a Olfal knife with break-off blades

in the first picture you can see how the blade fits into the handle and moves up with the button

just break off one section of the blade with pliers for a nice new sharp blade

when I first started working with shifu, at Kawashima in 1987

I bought the knife and a package of extra blades – still going strong!

the handle fits in the hand comfortably and reduces wrist/hand strain

still available to order on-line

  weaving on my old weave-it loom is much easier than my “nails on a board”

the thread could be a bit thicker

in the early morning sun

I stitched four squares together with paper thread to make a little bag

the stiff paper thread makes it three-dimensional

the squares are also good to make flower pins

and a knitted sample

you have to be careful as the thread doesn’t have any elasticity

but the knitted piece is very stretchy

this thread has been dyed with sumi ink

having fun