Day 9. Another walk in the Gion District. I love walking around this area because there is so much beauty. This was our last day in Kyoto and so nice to go to places we liked a second time.
A lovely place in the Gion District.
Walking along Teramachi Street again.
We visited Aoni Textiles shop this morning. They specialize in bast fibers: linen, hemp, and ramie but here are examples of wild silk from India. Look for the stem in the photo where the silk worm attaches the cocoon to a branch. Those stems are what the skein of yarn is made of. The loose fibers come from the outside of the cocoon–not the good silk from unwinding the cocoon. We were told nothing is wasted: neither the stems or rough stuff on the outside of the cocoon; it all goes into making carpets. The cocoons were bigger than I’ve ever seen, maybe 1 1/2 inches long ( and beautiful).
love the posts…makes me homesick! will be in Kyoto in May and apparently that dye shop is just steps from our hotel. dangerous! enjoy every minute!
Do you have any photos of the carpet they make out of the cocoon stems and roughs? I so wish I was there seeing these things for myself but the next best thing are your blogs !
Thank you so much for posting about your trip. I lived in Japan for a year, but was young and dumb (also pregnant, or with an infant, and working full-time) and didn’t know anything about textiles at that time. Oh, I’d like to do it again now at my age!
Thank you for sharing your very interesting and beautiful trip to Japan. I enjoyed reading all the posts.
I think your posts about your trip have been marvelous. Thank you so much for sharing the beauty and joy of your weaving adventure. I have really, really enjoyed it. Thank you.
The store front in the Gion District looks like the cafe front in Midnight Cafe, a Netflix favorite. I very much enjoy your photos and tag lines.