Friday, June 1, 2012

kantha commencement



here you can see the slightly different coloring of the jean piece that i have slipped inside the frazzled cuff. i started working the kantha stitches in a hand-dyed indigo cotton thread, but it just disappeared into the denim and hated to waste the thread for something that wouldn't be visible. so i started over in some heavy vintage cotton thread instead. i'm really liking this so far. 


i thought about changing direction with the stitching and creating a pattern, but decided i'd rather keep this one simple. besides, i want to add some more boro patches to it as well and don't want it to start looking too messy. most likely won't be a "plain" boro patch either... i'm thinking skull shaped or something else different and unexpected at the ankle in more contrasting denim on one leg. perhaps a bone or something else on the other? or a simple geometric?


i'm off to a good start. slow going since denim is so thick...and two layers of denim thicker still...but going nonetheless! i could kiss whomever invented thimbles!


namaste'

11 comments:

  1. Great how you have adapted these techniques to your jeans..... I love the simplicity of what you are doing stitch wise. Very utilitarian.

    I have to catch up on what I've missed in Jude's boro workshop since I have been away...looking forward to it.

    Jacky xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks! i've been having a lot of fun with this project...and it's nice to finally have something to join in on the workshop with besides sitting on the sidelines commenting on others' work!

      Delete
  2. I once decided to embroider the Swan Song record label image on the back of a boyfriend's denim jacket ..... until I came to the four layers of denim that made up the French seam across the back, even a thimble couldn't persuade a hand wielded needle though that lot ... I wonder what happened to it. Love the way the kantha stitch on this creates its own patterns to trip up the eye and prove that we can't look at anything without seeing some kind of order there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i can imagine. i did something like that back in the late 70's...but instead of embroidering directly onto the jacket, i did it onto muslin and then stitched it to the jacket like a patch. worked real well.

      Delete
  3. see that? all is well in your neck of the woods!

    ReplyDelete
  4. hello Joe, so nice to meet you! thank you for your comment....I really like these jeans, love the kantha-stitching; I am inspired, have several pairs with frays like yours. Have been scrolling thru your posts here: you are incredibly creative and make such beautiful 'things', I have a question: are the arms covered in tattoos yours?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i will be looking forward to seeing what you come up with for your frayed jeans!

      yes, the tattoos are mine. :)

      Delete
  5. Joe, This is wonderful!I have been drawing the kantha stitch, though I just found out a name for it :-). Over and over, I can't stop!
    I can't wait to see how these jeans turn out.xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  6. This jean leg is so fine! Just right. I like your restraint and think the patch will look great because of it. xo

    ReplyDelete