Explorations in Kudzu Fiber

Members of the Kudzu Cooperative and Local Cloth are excited to facilitate a workshop that explores the ancient processes of harvesting, cooking, retting, and rinsing kudzu vine fiber. This lustrous, dynamic fiber has been used for thousands of years in various parts of Asia to make rope, cloth, and paper. Kudzu is so abundant in our bioregion, and the Kudzu Collective is committed to promoting this culture of use. Join us in exploring the vast story kudzu has to tell us, and bring your ideas of how its fibers can be used for fiber art! Instructors from the Kudzu Cooperative, will guide workshop participants in hands-on kudzu vine processing throughout the morning. We will begin the day harvesting in a nearby urban kudzu patch, and then work together to rinse already retted fiber (retted means “rotted,” so prepare for a stink!). Wear clothes that you don't mind getting wet and a little messy. During lunchtime we will hear the story of kudzu, an intriguing tale of many layers, and introduce the group to the culinary and medicinal benefits of kudzu root starch, another valuable coproduct of this useful plant. Throughout the afternoon, we will then work with processed kudzu fibers to explore how the fiber responds to various manipulations. A small skein of pre-processed fiber will be provided for participants to experiment with spinning and weaving. Feel free to bring a small loom or other spinning and weaving equipment to experiment with. Additional pre-processed fibers will be available for purchase. Don't miss this unique workshop that encompasses ecology, sustainability, anthropology, and fiber art!

Level: All

Materials Fee:  $10

Registration: Members $50, Non-members $60

Instructor: Kudzu Co-Op Members