This listing is currently for the kit materials only. I will schedule another workshop for this project this summer. Contact me if you have a group you want to schedule this workshop for.

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One of my favorite classes to teach is this komebukuro bag. Considered an offering bag or at times a treasure bag in Japan, originally made of collected and scrap fabrics, it reminds us that cloth is precious.
It also serves the spirit of “mottainai” which is a Japanese word expressing that one shouldn’t waste precious resources.
The first one I saw-even before I knew what they were, was at a temple sale with my friend Carola’s husband Makoto in 2012. It was just so interesting. After buying it out of the bottom of a box of very dirty textiles, I studied and researched what this actually was. I just knew it was old and precious.
Years later ,I prepared a workshop inspired by this piece to make these, combining used & collected Japanese textiles, sashiko, boro-esque stitching, indigo dyeing, and a moon.
You can see a couple of my old blog posts on this at the links below:
the beauty of teaching post
Komebukuro sample from Meiji era found at a temple sale in 2012

Kits, of lovely Japanese vintage fabrics (plus a moon!) are available with the workshop, or you can join and use your own fabrics-preferably from the scrapbag. You can order extra kits too- I have two color choices:
Indigo- contains a selection of collected Japanese vintage fabrics (kasuri, katazome, indigo, and an indigo moon, and silk lining) plus a bit of sashiko thread and all the accessory textile bits to complete one komebukuro.
Browns- I started a collection of assorted kasuri, madder dyed, and other various Japanese vintage textiles that I thought worked well together. This one does not include a moon but includes a square of already sashiko stitched kakishibu dyed fabric.
All kits have the cording, a stiffer base piece, silk lining, sashiko thread, and some lightweight fusible to enhance the body of the finished bag if desired.
Bags can be made entirely by hand stitching if you like, following the same process which will be demonstrated on the Zoom sessions but I will be demonstrating the bag as assembled by machine.
What you will need:

-basic sewing skills and a basic machine-(straight stitching only is just fine)
-a sashiko needle and sashiko pattern transfer materials if adding sashiko to your bag
-basic sewing needle (I usually use a #8 or 9 milliners straw needle)
-a blue or brown cotton thread that can be for both machine and hand stitching
-scissors
-a large needle to pierce the upper fabric band for lacing(should have a large eye and a good point)
-an iron for occasional pressing and for adding the fusible if you use it
-ability to use Zoom


I will also do a mid session live “check-in” on Thursday January 27th for anyone having questions in between the two sessions.
If you miss a session, you will be able to access the recording via zoom link the day following the session. The check in session will not be recorded.