September 6/8
With Sarah and Elise, we started to experiment Katazome/stencil print technique. I worked with Katazome in a project before but this time we use different resist paste and stencil paper so I wanted to do small test round before making a public workshop.
For stencil, we use N paper I bought from Japan. Sarah made the raven stencil out of plastic film and laser cutting.. so it will probably work with different material as well. N paper is probably good if we are then sticking net material on it like this one.
The original drawing of the sunflower that I tried here was originally drawn by Elise. Then I traced it on tracing paper and modified it so it works as stencil. Then I copied the pattern on stencil paper using carbon paper. Carefully cut out the stencil using a sharp design knife and a round knife (marukiri). Elise made a stencil out of a radish drawing of her mother, Sarah made a spider stencil out of the spider we found at the Hütte.
After the stencil is ready, place it on a fabric, and print with the katanori (rice flour and rice bran mix) and dry it well.
Our first attempt was a disaster. The way we hang the fabric was a bit too long, so it touched the sukumo gue in the vat and made a stain on the bottom. Also, it looks like I manage to print on a fabric that does not take color (or maybe vat was not coloring this day). After 4 dip of 3 min each, the katanori seems still holding.. but after washing no color was there. In terms of stencil, it looks like it worked. I can see a slight motif in this very very light blue fabric.
Few days later, Sarah dyed her fabric as the katanori paste was dried perfectly. Big success! she dipped 3 min x 3 times and the fabric was blue and you could see the motif well! Sarah later said she would recommend that the paste is applied thick enough so it does not dissolve before you are finished with all the dips you want.
