Trying to master the kanoko pattern.
I call them diamonds but the Japanese term is kanoko.
Kanoko means fawn. The spots of the fawn are the kanoko.

The trick to the pattern is to get the kanoko all the same size. Sometimes I beat too hard and sometimes too soft. How to beat just right????

Second best part of my trip to Saga: I got my doll!
My praise to Mr Saganishiki for his creative design.

Mr Saganishiki had quite a time getting my loom and warp back in proper working order.
I was weaving way to tight and the warp was getting smaller and smaller.
By using the koyori, he was able to spread the warp out.




It took a few koyori to get everything well spaced.
Making the koyori is a skill that takes much practice. It is simply using a strip of paper and rolling it tight. Easier said than done!





There are many ways to make heddles but I like this one.
The heddle that comes with the loom from Echizenya is metal with paper warp holders. The soboko I got from Tokyo is nice and easy to use but is expensive and cannot be used for pattern heddles.


Materials are prepared to make the heddle.




Heddle done.
Ready to weave!

Returned from a great trip to Saga, Kyushu Prefecture, Japan. I took lessons from Mr Saganishiki. What a wonderful person who taught me so many 'tricks of the trade' in Saganishiki. My previous lessons were good to get me started but he enlightened me with the rationale of why things are done a certain way. He also showed me lots of shortcuts that will save me time.
What I liked about him was his desire to bring Saganishiki more in line with today's lifestyle. His Balloon lamp and dolls are creative and exquisite.
I still like the traditional uses for the fabric such as the jewelry and dolls.
We visited two sites that promote the weavers in Saga.
Some of my favorites:



The skill of these weavers is amazing. There are about 160 weavers of Saganishiki in Saga.
There is not an organized guild for weavers as we have in the US. Nor is there an organization such as Handweavers of America. There is not the same style of sharing and learning of skills/techniques that we depend upon to learn and promote the weaving craft here.

Some non weaving photos in Saga and Arita: