intermezzo

two big i think din-a 2,kozo sheets gifted by a friend.it is of a thicker kind but ill be able to get a lot of thread from them. i have to think about the writing they are so big i'd have to write the poem 4-5 times which would stop being fun and become a chore.

also discovered in the proverbial drawer some shifu that i had bought on my first trip to japan in toyama i believe.

it is wonderfully translucent and has a nice crisp sound.

more shifu to make kami ito. great because i am aiming at a 30 cm wide weaving. ambition is blinding.

neki desu 

 

about the process ii

also learned that there's a great difference when the thread is steamed and when it is not.

after losing the fear of ending with an ink mess the next practice was to transfer  the yarn to a bobbin and steam set  it.

it becomes sturdier like more compact and less papery if you get my drift. 

 this is all practice sheets however, as they are getting better i may be able to use them as well.

neki desu 

 

about the process i

 learned that there's a considerable difference when spinning the shifu previously moistened and not moistened. the strips twist a lot better and are less prone to breakage. also learned that too much accumulated twist on the spindle shaft leads to breakage. given the rigid nature of paper  it is a much different animal to treat than wool for example. so the spinning principles apply, but with a different twist,pardon the pun. the twisted length need to be shorter and then gathered on the shaft below the whorl. at least this has been my experience.any shifu spinner out there please chime in!

neki desu