Sunday, October 31, 2021
Indigo at Kawagoe Shrine Sale
This vendor and I had an approximation of a conversation about sashiko and quilts. (By the way, these baskets are prohibitively expensive and so special).
And of course some beautiful vintage fabrics:
Back at the ranch, I washed and dried my indigo pieces.
My routine: I wash each piece two or three times in the sink just with regular detergent, until the water is clear, or nearly so (most indigo will run a little bit but that lovely light blue water is fine). I use that water for the next piece, and so on. I enjoy this process. Once I've washed a piece once or twice, if there is a stubborn stain, I just take scissors to it. I love this vintage indigo but only to the extent that I can get it really clean and feel good about using it in my quilts. Also, sometimes a piece continues to run dark blue very badly, but it's rare that that happens.
Anyway, once washed, I roll up into a towel to extract the water...
And then hang to dry (Japanese apartment systems are so efficient. You hang clothes in the small bath/shower room and there's a special hot fan setting that turns the space into a clothes dryer. I do a little laundry every day like that, and so this space is used for more than one purpose):
I'm sure these pieces will make their way into future indigo sofa throws... and maybe a bag? For now I'm just enjoying their earthy presence, with the bittersweet knowledge that my Kawagoe days are limited;). Another way to put it, is that I'm well on my way to leaving Japan in April with a lifetime supply of old indigo;).
xo
Cynthia
What fun! I love open markets with all sorts of things to browse and purchase.
ReplyDeleteThanks for walking us through your process for washing the indigo.
I loved seeing the boro stitching and of course those gorgeous kimono.
That was exciting, thank you very much ... a day at the market is simply delicious :-) Thank you for letting us go to your beautiful market ...
ReplyDeletehere in my small town there is a very old blueprint workshop with dyed fabrics and everything in indigo ... you would have your joy ... and I have it too.
I wish you a lot of joy with your new fabrics.
Many greetings from Viola
Another beautiful post with all your fabulous photos. I wonder if the indigos that still run badly after washing would benefit from a soak in Retayne. That was the only way I could stop the bleeding on a blue backing fabric a year or so ago.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post! I would be in heaven at a market like that and would also be focused on the indigo fabrics. If you ever decide to downsize/destash and want to get rid of any unused pieces, let me know!!😊
ReplyDeleteKind of a bittersweet post. I'm sure you are looking forward to coming back to the states but you know your 'once in a lifetime' adventures is coming to a close. The indigo pieces are so lovely folded and stacked upon each other.
ReplyDeleteHow fun! I love the open market - beautiful Indigo pieces you found. Especially that floral! Seeing people in their kimono must be neat and I love the little bags the women are carrying. They look like they'd be fun to make! I'm sure it's bitter sweet thinking that April you will be leaving. But coming home means seeing more of your family and that must be very exciting! Jan in MA
ReplyDeleteOhhh, I find those kokeshi dolls hard to resist!!! But as my mom says, I have a whole choir of them! Yes, I love the indigo, and the baskets, and the hashioki, ...!!!
ReplyDeleteI love going to flea markets with friends. Your new pieces are lovely. It's interesting about your clothes dryer room. Very efficient. You'd better keep shopping until you have to leave.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun is right! I just LOVE seeing these things. xoxo
ReplyDeleteSo nice to get out and have a fun day of shopping with friends. I love those indigos! And, I do believe that Boro style quilt was made in the potholder method. I would love to see how she put the squares together. So lovely. Thanks for sharing your day.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! So many interesting things to look at while walking around the shrine sale. Love your indigo pieces and enjoyed reading about your washing method. A lovely day out :)
ReplyDeleteOh what fun! Thanks for all the pictures and the lesson on indigo fabrics!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I wish I could have snuck along... Not that I need more fabric, but now working on my granddaughter's "big girl" quilt using a variety of yukata fabrics in blue and white, I might have found border help.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like such a fun outing! A flea market kind of sale is one of my favorite places to shop. The indigo pieces are so interesting and beautiful. I think I might like blue if I could use Japanese indigo fabric. The chopstick rests are so very cute. Who knew there was such a thing!
ReplyDeleteWill you miss Japan? I'm sure you'll be happy to be back in the States where your children and granddaughter are. Thanks for sharing you trip to the shrine sale with us. Very fun.
I loved going shopping with you today! Very cool idea for the butter bowl.
ReplyDeleteSeeing all the unique items in the shops, and the beautiful indigo fabrics makes me wish I really could have been there with you.
I enjoyed seeing how you handle the washing and drying of your fabrics.
Good thing you have stocked up on the indigo while you can. I look forward to seeing many more indigo creations from you for a long time to come!
My mother’s china was also Wild Strawberry, and when they downsized to their apartment…yes, I got to bring it home. Love this coincidence!
ReplyDeleteThe day at the shrine was such an adventure; thank you for taking us along. I love all the random bits and pieces you found and that you shared with us. And thanks for the indigo washing instructions. I brought some back from China, but haven’t dared use (b/c of dye stability). Now I know what to do! Have a good weekend.
You found some treasures! Street markets are fun in any country but if I could find indigo like that every time I would have trouble closing my eyes to all the beautiful things! I'd love a haori jacket made of indigo!
ReplyDeleteThe indigo fabrics are such treasures as is your flea market experience. These are the real Japan, what memories you will have despite the covid woes.
ReplyDelete