Katazome Printing Workshop with Sarah Desmarais

Japanese katazome (or stencil dyeing) is a centuries-old method of printing on cloth using paper stencils and a rice paste resist in combination with indigo or, more recently, synthetic dyes. It was often used in the past to produce fabric for kimonos. In this virtual workshop we’ll look briefly at the history of this art, and consider ways of designing successfully for the medium. Then participants will use traditional Japanese stencil paper (made with sheets of mulberry paper that have been laminated with fermented persimmon juice and then smoked to become waterproof) to hand cut stencils from their own designs. These will be used to print a repeat pattern onto a silk square, using a traditional rice paste resist made from sweet rice flour and rice bran. When the resist is dry, the fabric will be dyed with fibre reactive dye, and then washed out to reveal a white pattern on a dark ground.

Participants will end the day with reusable stencils, a handprinted silk square of suitable dimensions for a scarf, and a comprehensive resource list that will enable them to explore this beautiful textile print medium independently. The workshop is suitable for any level of design or textile printing experience, and a material pack will be sent to participants in advance.