Kata- Stencil
Zome- Colouring

Stencil for fabric

This was a mysterious technique for printing designs on fabric.
When this art of stencil,( which came from Chine to Japan) actually arrived is not known.
There is no evidence so far left of the early ages of fabric which used this method for transferring design.
The earliest dated fabric is from the beginning of the 16th century The Edo Period ( 1603- 1868). A period of peace in which Japan Island was in isolation from the rest of the world.

The "Katazome" has been so well developed to an essential craft for repeat design there is none like it in the world.
The stencil is made of two layers of fibres paper (handmade mulberry fibres), between the two sheets is laid very thin woven cotton to strengthen the frame. After sticking the two sheets together it is dipped or seeped into a solution of Persimmon Juice, and place to dry thoroughly.
The design desired is then cut out often very complicated and with many intricate details, this is then laid out on a cloth and brushed over with a rice paste glue and put to dry.
Afterwards the cloth is painted, then the cloth washed out the rice past glue acts as a resist, and the process is repeated. Although the stencil is very thin in addition with a very intricate cut out it is very sturdy allowing use over and over again, without taking away from the delicate brush work and the
natural feeling in the line, when printed .

It is one of the methods of printing which Masa Kumagai uses in her art works in this exhibition