I discovered a new shop not far from here: Asia Gallery in the Kilbirnie (Wellington) shopping district. I first heard about it a while back on Rachelle's blog and my visit there last week was pretty amazing. Picture a small back-street den crammed with racks of vintage kimono and shelves of handmade pottery dishes, dark wooden antique furniture and some eccentric retail staff. I bought some old kimono that were in pretty worn condition (there was a $5 bin of 'cutter' kimono!), and when I got home I slowly unpicked them to use the fabric.The last photo above shows the dip-dyed silky lining from one of the jackets, as well as the lines of neat handstitching.
The outer fabric is a navy/black silk with pixelated-style red roses and vines. Deconstructing the kimono was very interesting because I know nothing of kimono techique or history, but I can see now it might be something like origami in the way the fabric is peiced together, and when I undid all the neat hand-stitched seams, I was left with long strips of a similar size.
I used the dark rose fabric to make small curtains for the kids' room,to cover a leadlight window by their bunkbeds. I lined the curtains with wool fabric for extra darkness and warmth.
I really love the truly unique nature of the kimono fabric I found - and I've been dreaming of what else I could make from them.
