The Crane Maiden, Assorted Japanese papers and thread, 96x65 cm
I chose to print on paper rather than fabric because that is the material I understand and admire from many years of printmaking and bookmaking. (In fact, I hadn’t touch a sewing machine before beginning this series since Grade 8 Home Economics class). The most difficult aspect to sewing with paper is that you get one shot at creating that hole. No amount of burnishing can hide it once it’s made (believe me, I tried!) For the hand sewn embroidery seen on the side flaps of the kimono in The Crane Maiden quilt, all the holes in the Sashiko Pine Bark Diamond pattern were made by first punching through a paper pattern clipped to the quilt. These pre-pricked holes guided the needle when coming from the back to the front of the quilt. Of course, I also had to substitute paper clips for pins and though pressing by hand worked well, I could not avoid using an iron set on permanent press to finish the quilts.