What goes into making kudzu?
Click through to explore some notes behind this process.
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Harvest your kudzu vine. This fast grower is easy to find in the mountains of Japan. It is also considered an invasive vine in the U.S. after being introduced for erosion control. Grab your scissors and harvest in the summer months.
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This is one of the only natural fibers that uses a fermentation process. For kudzu this step is crucial in breaking down the outer skin.
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The river is your friend. Let it work with you and help you clean the fiber.
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Split the kudzu to your desired thickness. Then knot it together, and wind it up for weaving.
harvest
preparing vines
fermentation
kudzu knot
washing in the river
splitting fibers
collected fiber
wind up for weaving
weaving kudzu