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kami-ito / paper thread
Japanese paper made of fibre from the kozo (paper mulberry) tree, crisp, handmade, strong
Fold and cut into 2-10mm strips
Roll on cement blocks to soften and start thread formation
Roll
Separate strands into one long thread
Separate
Spin to add twist and turn into thread
Fold and cut into 2-10mm strips
Spin
Finish by boiling or steaming to set the twist. Dry and wind into skeins
shifu / paper cloth
Weave the kami-ito into cloth
resources for learning
Interested in learning how to make kami-ito? Take a class.
Books, articles, videos
A Song of Praise for Shifu by Susan J. Byrd, Michigan: The Legacy Press, 2013.
Kigami and Kami-ito by Hiroko Karuno, Kyoto: Shikosha Publishing, 2017.
“Paper Weight” by Stephen Szczepanek on Hiroko Karuno, Selvedge Issue 22, 2008.
Paper Threadmaking for Shifu by Susan Byrd, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtQFB1Ztb84
Rolling Paper Strips into a Thread by Susan Byrd, https://youtu.be/Qm8WPhowKwk
Video Moeki by Moeki Yamada, https://vimeo.com/380250543
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