Soft and Gentle Warmth [HOMESPUN, Morioka

  • Iwate
  • Souvenirs
Homespun
As the hot season passes and the air becomes cooler, we start to miss "warmth" and "warmth". We introduce "homespun", which is recommended for the season when warm clothes and scarves start to become popular!

What is "homespun"?

Do you know what homespun is? Home", "bread", homemade bread? It looks delicious, but unfortunately, it's not! Homespun" is a woolen fabric made entirely by hand, from dyeing the wool by hand to spinning the yarn by hand. The name "homespun" is derived from "spun at home," and this hand-spun, hand-woven woolen fabric is said to have originated in Scotland and Ireland.
The warmth of handmade products

A traditional technique handed down to Japan and Iwate

The technique was introduced to Japan from England during the Meiji period (1868-1912). The importation of woolen textiles for military uniforms began during the global war of the Taisho period (1912-1926), and the Japanese government promoted sheep farming in Hokkaido, Nagano, Fukushima, Iwate, and other regions to establish a self-sufficiency system for woolen textiles. Homespun used to flourish in Hokkaido and Nagano, but today Iwate Prefecture is the only place where it remains as a local industry!

Michinoku Akane-kai" continues to preserve the tradition of handmade work.

Homespun" spread as a sideline industry during the off-season and developed into a woolen fabric unique to Iwate Prefecture. Today, Hanamaki City and Morioka City are the main production centers, and each workshop and maker creates its products by hand. Michinoku Akanekai" in Morioka City was established as a place for women who lost their families in the war to work. The reliable skills and honest attitude cultivated over a long period of time are the hallmarks of "Michinoku Akane-kai. The division of labor between spinning and weaving is used to continue the careful craftsmanship.

Work is done in a division of labor style

The charm of homespun

In this interview, we asked Ms. Watanabe of "Michinoku Akanekai" about homespun. Ms. Watanabe studied dyeing and weaving as an elective in her university teaching course. She has been working with homespun since her first encounter with it, and after many twists and turns, she has found her way to her current position. The changes in hue and texture that are woven from fiber to thread, and from thread to fabric, never get old. The teamwork of the company is a process where the accumulation of the past is mixed with the senses and ideas of the people gathered in the present to create something unexpected, and I feel fulfilled every day when I receive comments of delight from the customers to whom I deliver our products. He also said that the craftsmanship of changing the degree of weaving, such as "loose" or "tight" weaving, depending on the product, is a unique handmade craftsmanship.
The result of craftsmanship

How is homespun made?

There are many processes before the finished product. Here is a sneak peek at the work process.
Dyeing: Dyeing the raw wool with dyes.
Unraveling: The wool is loosened by hand.
Carding: The wool is passed through a carding machine to make it uniform. Color mixing is also performed at the same time.
Spinning: The yarn is spun, and the thickness and twist are adjusted.
Warp preparation: The width and length of the warp are adjusted, and the warp is wound up.
6. Threading: The warp threads are threaded through the heddles according to the weaving design, and then set on the machine.
Weaving: Using a shuttle, the weft is inserted according to the design.
8. Inspection and repair: Check for weaving errors and knots, and make any necessary adjustments.
9. Shrinkage: The fabric is lightly felted in hot water to give it a textured appearance.

Please feel its gentle touch!

About the future, he said, "We will continue to manufacture homespun in Morioka with the same handmade work as before. By doing so, we hope to continue to pass on the Michinoku Akane-kai's techniques that we have cultivated up to now, and to deliver the feel and joy of hand-made wool cloth directly to many people. We will continue to work with materials and handcrafts with sincerity so that this small company can exist in a society and world where manufacturing is an integral part of life. says Mr. Watanabe. I felt her strong desire to continue spinning into the future.

Michinoku Akane-kai offers not only shopping, but also workshop tours and hands-on courses. We hope you will take our products in your hands and feel the warmth of homespun directly!　
Soft and fluffy mufflers
Michinoku Akane-kai" website is here:

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