The new SAORI fabric cutter/ slitter

There is a popular trend in Japan to cut up kimono's and use the strips  as weft to weave the fabric .
the new fabric cutters are designed by Kenzo Jo, the creater of Saori equipment and looms.

link to utube video cloth cutter  see it in action.

 Here is the book on this tecnique. Is now out of print 

 there are the three sizes of cutters.

The saori cloth cutter was launched in Japan earlier this year.
In Japan the  recycling weaving method called "Sakiori" is very popular.
In Sakiori, weavers cut the Kimono fabrics into strips and weave them
into rugs, bags and clothes. many cut fabrics by hand and it can be time consuming.
untill now a good tool was not available to make the strips.


The SAORI Fabric Cutter has 3 different-sized blades cartridges, and
you can cut thick fabrics such as towels and jeans
by switching the cartridge into a wider sized blades.


The fabric cutter can be ordered please email me jill@saorisantacruz.com
The orders are back up in the Japan factory so allow about a month/6 weeks or longer from the  time of orders.
plus tax when appicable and shipping within the US)

Because the USA does not have any cutters so i can not show your the sizes i have roughly cut some silk for an example to the close to the sizes of the saori cutter.
left to right 4mm,5mm, commercial 1/4" bias tape,8mm
optional cartridges:


           5mm( 3/16 ") (about 1/8")
                           4mm( slightly less than 3/16")
                           8mm (5/16")  (very slightly more than 1/4")

"The Graphic Sakiori book is a full-color book with a lot of photos of
Sakiori weaving created by many Japanese weavers,
including some SAORI Weavers and instructional plus tax when applicable + shipping within the US only.)


you will need to use stick shuttles when weaving with fabric strips not your boat shuttes.
I carry 8",12" 16" 21" length cherry wood stick shuttles as well.

I use a ski shuttle the best for sakiori 

Go here in my etsy shop Ski shuttle here

peaceful weaving
Jill Nickolene
www.saorisantacruz.com
ETSY saorisantacruz

A Saori banner

First of 5 Saori banners I  am going to weave for open studios in october.
I always catch myself  thinking , I should not have used that color then clear that thought from my mind and  trust in saori and find my peaceful center and continue weaving.  I was weaving  outside on the deck , it was so peaceful. I wove up to the end  knots on the warp rod , squeezing the last little bit of warp as the shed narrows , unknot the warp and unfurl the weaving and I am always so amazed and get so excited when I see the whole piece . I played with a more open set with this banner.

Threading with the saori threading holder

 I twisted my fringes and washed it to "full" the wool wefts("Fulling is the process of fluffing up an already woven or knitted piece of woolen cloth. It's to be distinguished from felting, which takes raw fleece and puts it through the same process without having any initial structure. Felting usually yields a fabric that's a lot stiffer than fulling.")  it is out side drying on the deck in last couple of hours of direct sun.

Now to plan for the next warp. Thinking  this one will be all wool, warp and weft.

Peaceful weaving
Jill Nickolene
www.saorisantacruz.com
ETSY shop saorisantacruz

Scotts Valley Artisans SAORI weaving class

A fantastic new art gallery and class room expanded the begining of this year. Scotts Valley Artisans  is located in the Santa Cruz mountains of Cailfornia SVA
My first class  was this week, a introductory class  to saori weaving. what a fantastic classroom. here is a photo drop in peek of my two students, Teresa, and Lisa.

 

Lisa is handicapped and she was unable to weave on  regular floor looms until  she tried Saori looms last year. Her weaving was restricted to levered table looms untill she tried saori looms. She weaves easliy and well on them, and even with limited hand function she was able to spin yarn on the built in Saori bobbin winder with no problem and  then she did weave  her spun yarn right into her sample.

  A fun class and loosening up  the barriers on the old concepts about the " correct way to weave"  were defiantly  broken sucessful.

Donna droped by for a visit to the studio.  She is an amazing sewer. I have enjoyed  her hand sewn garments she has brought to the guild meetings for years, some out of hand wovens.
Some times connecting with other weavers and consulting is so important. She had just returned from  CNCH,  cailfornia weaving conference, and taken a class in rigid heddle weaving from Syne Mitchell. The  saturated color scarf  on the table was the result. She  also wanted to see if some of her yarns , like rayon were chenille ,were ok for a warp for a saori loom  woven scarf as well.

I forget the whole  story but some how she ended up with a long warp some one gave her with no cross! so it was usless as a warp.

I sugested to use the great yarns  by  snipping and cutting up multiple sections  of the warps and use in her weft  for her  future weavings . A huge giganatic thrum. She was excited  to not waste it and to try something new.  She gave me a part , she said she could not use it all , I  am always up for multiple wefts in my  saori weaving too.

Some of my more recent happenings.... 

 I designed  and sewed a saori ipad cover out of some weaving scraps.....

Some hand dyed fleece I spun for a swap on ravelry

When I am not weaving, spinning sewing, dying, teaching  I am thinking about doing all those  fibery things.


PEACEFUL weaving
Jill Nickolene

www.saorisantacruz.com
esty store store saorisantacruz

Saori students bags, kids and Saori , and other musings

6 months ago Linda started weaving with her new saori sx60 loom. She has been weaving ,designing  and sewing  some beautiful bags about 10. I thought ,everyone should see these lined fantastic bags , so here are some photos, I love  how these bags work linda!

I made some saori barrettes with interchangeable snap off and on woven features . 

 I just recieved some more saori cotton yarn sets, my favorite rainbow 18 cone set. First layer

second layer for sale on www.saorisantacruz.com or  etsy

  I was instructing one of my students to prewash/shrink cording before we  cover and sew welt trim for some pillows .  Then I saw the result. Oops We had a good laugh, on the right  is the cording  she  washed in too hot of water cording on the left  the unwashed cording.  Looks like art yarn! Lesson  here , use tepid water.

Newest warp, threading with the saori threading holder, soooo easy then I take it over to the saori loom to beam on.

I had a wonderful mothers day.Our son picked me up and I spent a day with the family and my other son and his family came by too.  I brought the saori piccolo loom which is just right height & well designed  for children under 7 years old, my 4 yr old grand son loves to weave. This time he wanted to put "puffys" unspun wool into her weaving too. and my 2 yr old granddaughter like sitting on her dads  lap turning the bobbin winder while he wound the bobbins.
The weather was perfect,  and being surrounded by family and grandchildren and enthused children weaving Saori was so joyful!

peaceful weaving
jill nickolene
www.saorisantacruz.com
my etsy shop
SVA saori weaving classes that I am teaching