Hari-kuyo, A Book for Broken Needles

A few weeks ago I signed up for Susan Elliott’s online class, The Hari-kuyo Needlebook Course.   Susan does a great job explaining Hari-kuyo, the Japanese Festival of Broken Needles on her blog.   This cultural festival lays to rest the needles broken during service each year.  Susan has designed a resting place for, not only our working needles, but those that are broken, until they can be disposed of.  I’ll share with you some pictures of my book along with some thoughts about the project and the class.

For the class, Susan provided optional kits for those who wanted them.  Seeing that my current mantra is use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without, I chose to come up with my own supplies.  My husband and his family lived in Japan for a number of years, and my father-in-law continued to work in Asia for many more years.  I have been the fortunate recipient of LOTS of lovely Asian fabrics that I knew would work well for this project.  I began with a piece of cotton ikat that I purchased some years ago from Susan McCauley with Mekong River Textiles.  From there I developed my color-way by combining vintage kimono scraps with Asian-inspired quilting cotton.  For the inner felt pages I turned to my supply of felted wool.  I found a particularly appropriate piece to house the broken needles:  a small scrap from my late father’s sweater (which I blogged about previously here and here).  I love that above that piece I embroidered, “Broken but not forgotten”.  With my supplies at hand I was ready to start the class.

Susan’s materials were first rate.  The class was broken down into 5 lessons, each with a different topic for the day which Susan would post on a private blog.  The materials included written instructions in PDF format along with lots of clear pictures as well as videos showing exactly how to accomplish the steps.  Susan’s videos were really great.  Her speaking voice is pleasant and easy to understand, and her photography very clear.

FRONT COVER

BACK COVER

For this project we did ribbon embroidery, floss embroidery, machine stitching and 3D flower making.  I really enjoyed every step, and now I can’t wait to use my new needlebook!  With all of the hand embroidery I've been doing lately, I think it will get some use.

Comments

[Susan]

OK...your broken needle page is my absolute favorite takeaway from this class so far...it's just terrific that you used a bit of your Dad's sweater and in such a fitting place. I can see your love for him in all the ways you've used that special felt...Beautiful, Julie, absolutely beautiful...in so so many ways. Just to think that you have him as part of a tool that you will use often...is just...plain...awesome. Thanks for taking my class. I've learned a lot from you...