Vintage Thread Dyed for Kasuri - Wrapped Bright Indigo

Here’s a rare look behind the loom: this vintage cotton thread was dyed for kasuri (ikat), a process in which threads are first resist-dyed, then woven into pattern-rich fabric. This particular variant was part of a now-unfinished kasuri project—found alongside other hanks in the same workshop collection.

What makes this version special is that it’s still wrapped. The threads are tightly bound with a waxed black thread intended as the resist. When dipped into indigo, the waxed thread is meant to block the dye from reaching certain sections, creating contrast when the fabric is woven. But in this case, the resist didn’t hold strongly. After removing the binding thread, the resulting cotton shows only faint variegation—likely due to limited time in the dye vat or a wax that wasn’t fully impermeable. We suspect that’s why the cloth was never woven, leaving behind these curious and beautiful half-finished materials.

Uses
While this thread wasn’t originally intended for hand-stitching, it can be used creatively with beautiful results. The strands appear to be single-ply twisted and are surprisingly strong—they don’t break easily when pulled. We've tested stitching with one, two, and three strands. All hold well, though the experience differs from using sashiko or embroidery floss:

• For best results, use with loosely woven fabrics or pre-punched surfaces.

• Expect texture: the thread isn’t smooth and may resist being pulled through tightly woven fabric.

• Multiple strands won’t lie flat like embroidery floss—they create a more organic look.

Recommended for slow stitching, textile collage, raw-edge appliqué, couching for textured surface design, mixed-media fiber art projects.

Because it’s not as smooth or pliable as traditional floss, it works best when celebrated for its character and rawness. If you love process and imperfection, this thread’s for you.

Photos show the full hank as we found it and the process of unwrapping the resist thread. You’ll receive your own 30" section (uncut from the hank). We label this variant as “A” in our comparison photos—just slightly lighter than the “Medium Blue” (variant B), but distinct enough that we’ve kept them separate.

Dimensions: Sold in 30" lengths
Origin: Japan
Fiber: Cotton
Color: Bright Indigo Blue with faint or no visible resist pattern