Jenny Hermenze

Japanese Stencil Dyeing
3970 Bolton Valley Access Road
Richmond, VT 05477

t. 802-434-2202

Katazome

People often ask me how I got started in the arcane craft of katazome (Japanese stencil dyeing). I was once a quilter, vaguely dissatisfied at the idea of cutting up fabric in order to make the patterns I wanted. In 1998, I took a class in color theory at the Vermont Quilt Festival, and heard for the first time it was possible to dye your own fabric. I was off and running. At first I dyed simple squares of fabric, thrilled at turning a white piece of fabric into a new color, but I soon wanted to do more than that. I learned that the Japanese were considered premiere fabric dyers, and set about to learn Japanese techniques, katazome in particular. I found a wonderful mentor in John Marshall, a textile artist in California who’d studied in Japan. I study with John whenever possible, but mostly I work away at katazome on my own, carving stencils, steaming rice paste resist, and dyeing fabric for clothing. After nine years of practice, I’ve started teaching katazome, at Frog Hollow, Fletcher Farm School, and Brookfield Craft Center in Connecticut. In teaching and in showing my work, I'm doing my small part to keep this craft alive.

When I began working in katazome, I concentrated largely on the reproduction of lovely traditional Japanese designs. I still love these designs, and they will always be part of my work, but I've become far more interested in striking out on my own. I find myself designing patterns of, especially, leaves and birds, over and over again. My designs bring me both peace and excitement. When I apply them to scarves or other clothing, the patterns become fluid in ways I hadn't anticipated. The consummation of all the work is when a customer loves a design, tries on garment in just the right color, and her face lights up. Dyeing fabric is such a satisfying way of bringing a bit of joy to me and to others.

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