Leather look paper

[Nadean]

Hi Chris! I still haven't kakishibu'd the dog...

Any idea how those leather look paper hats were shaped? Are they made over a hat form? I expect they would have to be for them to look so perfect.

Course here's me daydreaming about those hats and I haven't even covered a basket or dipped a piece of paper yet.  Tried kakishibuing those recycled woven paper placemats from Dharma Trading. They must have a coating. Was difficult to get it uniform. And, well, it looked like ..... dirty paper. It is put away in the look-at-me-later box.

[Chris]

Thank you so much for joining the forum!  So glad to have your input.

Bet the dog is heaving a sigh of relief......I don't think they use a form for the hats.  I think it is just cut out using a pattern, just like you'd cut out cloth.  They are stitched on a machine, just like cloth would be.  The paper is so stable, I don't think it could be "formed" or shaped that way.  It is on my Wanna Do list, too.

Hmmm.  Dirty paper.  It is very possible that there was a coating.  What were they thinking, anyhow......If, after some time you still don't like the look of the color, you can always try modifiers on it.  Maybe do blotchy mixed modifiers, then the uneven color won't matter.  Love to know what you ultimately do.

[Nadean]

You are welcome for joining, thank you for hosting. Now we need to find all those other students...

We need that DOH: smack head emoticon. Forgot you could cut and sew the paper hats. That makes it much easier. So you could do tote bags and purses with it too... Maybe with a fusable web between the layers if you want it stronger?

[Chris]

One factor with using fusible web between layers is that heat changes the color of kakishibu.  You could end up with a nice iron-shaped shadow in the middle of your bag. 

Kakishibu IS an adhesive.......hmmmmmm....What about using 2 layers of washi laid on top of each other while the kakishibu is still wet.  That's how the stencil paper is made.  I think that somehow it gets pressed, but not sure how that is done and not have it adhere to whatever is doing the pressing.  What about adhering/fusing one layer of washi to cloth?  Ah, so many ideas to try, so little time.  If anyone out there gets inspired to try it, please share the results.

The other option for making a sturdier bag/purse/whatever would be to use heavier washi.  The paper we use in class is fairly lightweight for something that needs structural ingegrety.

Haven't seen the "smack head" emoticon.  I'm not very good at using them.  I forget they're available.
Let us know if you try the fusing approach and how it works.

[Nadean]

Now.. who's to say irons wouldn't make a great repeat print - maybe on an apron.

Those placemats still look like dirt BTW.

[Chris]

Apron?  You mean people actually wear them for other than dyeing?  Hmmmmmm....It would make an interesting repeat pattern.

As for the placemats.....Did you use any modifier on them?  What about some bengara?  That could cheer them up.  Then again, dirt may be their destiny.  I've had any number of things that were about as exciting as dishwater.  Just not a good foundation to put the kakishibu on.  Neither one did the other any favors.  Shoganai (It can't be helped).