Sakiori is an approach to rag weaving used by Japanese peasants to cope with the scarcity of new cloth for clothing and household textiles. In modern times, there is instead an overabundance of cloth filling up thrift stores and being discarded. Weavers can use this source of “rags” to make useful and surprising new cloth. Depending on the fabric used, results can be rugged and utilitarian (like cotton rugs) or fashionable and delicate (like silk scarves).
The book begins with an overview of the history and context of sakiori in Japan, followed by methods and tips for successful rag weaving with a variety of materials and looms, including rigid heddle looms as well as floor looms. Charts and worksheets make it easy to find the information weavers need to get started, and 21 projects with instructions and drafts provide inspiration and ideas.
Amanda Robinette has spent the past seven years delving deeply into learning about and weaving sakiori. She has experimented with different fabrics and weave structures and focuses on making unexpected projects from rag weaving, including clothing. Her articles and projects can be found in Handwoven magazine, and she has been teaching and speaking about sakiori since 2014. She also shares her enthusiasm for sakiori and for weaving in general on her blog at westernsakiori.com. She resides in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.