BORO workshop Saturday: 31.07.25

Join us at the Sussex Prairie Garden for a KOBO A–B, BORO (ぼろ 襤褸) one-day workshop.

Make an Azuma Bukuro – a wrapping cloth sewn and shaped into a bag.

BORO in Japanese means old and tattered. The term is now commonly used for all Japanese textiles that are patched or repaired garments or bedding mended, using fragments or scraps of cloth. BORO textiles originate from the Edo period to the beginning of the Showa period in Japanese history. These items were often handed down from generation to generation, usually within a family and have become prized and treasured pieces of textile art, for the beauty inherent within each piece.

This BORO workshop begins with an introduction to BORO by looking at pieces from the KOBO A-B BORO collection. We will then introduce and teach you the basics of Sashiko stitching and the patching/construction process of creating a BORO-inspired piece.

What you will learn:
• How to use mending stitches.
• The application of repair and mending techniques, using scraps of both modern and vintage Japanese fabric.
• The use of visible repair stitch techniques to enhance and strengthen textiles.
• New approaches to creating textile projects, using fabric scraps with traditional stitching techniques.

We will provide pieces of vintage and antique Japanese fabrics, needles and thread for your usage and to work with. We will also have examples of antique BORO, stitching styles, and reference books for you to look at and refer to during the workshop.

A range of vintage Japanese textiles will also be available for you to purchase on the day, should you wish to and if you are interested in continuing with any future BORO projects at home.

Booking and payment: x12 places, £120.00 per person for 6hrs, which includes free access to the garden.

Start: 10:30
Finish: 16:30

Please note that lunch is not included, so please bring a premade lunch for yourself. Refreshments will be available and provided by the Sussex Prairie Garden.