Learn about the art and craft of spinning washi into thread called kami-ito and weaving it into cloth called shifu.

A wonderful book by Susan Byrd published by the Legacy Press.

412 pages / 490 images / hardcover with full color dust jacket

Susan J. Byrd presents a comprehensive description of shifu—a Japanese textile woven from thread made with paper. This is complemented by an historical overview of the many uses of shifu through past centuries. Also included is detailed information about making the paper and thread from the sheet, spinning and weaving, as well as dyeing the thread and the finished textile with natural dyes. Appendices include artistic works created by internationally renowned artists, resources (suppliers, museums, and craftspeople/artists), and an extensive glossary in Japanese and English. Each copy comes with two samples: Nishinouchi shifu yoshi, a paper handmade for shifu by Daisuke Kikuchi and a finely woven silk and paper cloth made by Sadako Sakurai, the esteemed Japanese shifu weaver.

ISBN 978-0-9797974-6-0