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By Patricia Belyea
OKINAWA JP It felt like a miracle! I wove a coaster with a super-cool square flower pattern that rose above the background fabric — a technique known as hanaori.
In Japanese, hana means "flower," and ori means "weaving."
I was surprised by all the things I had to coordinate each time I scooted the shuttle across the loom — pressing my feet on the pedals, raising and lowering the heddles, and counting to follow the pattern.
I was at the Chibana-Hanaori Cooperative, an Okinawan center for weaving.
This experience was made possible by an expert team who set up my loom and an instructor who guided me kindly.
The members there use regional plant materials to dye their yarns.
Following traditional patterns, they set up their looms to produce intricate designs. The cotton textiles are typically used for clothing worn at festivals and formal events.
To visit the Chibana-Hanaori website +click here
Location
5-6-7 Chibana, Okinawa City, 904-2143
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ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria sell Japanese textiles online, host creative quilting experiences, and lead quilting & textile tours to Japan.
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