Knotting Sampler Workshop by Toyomi Harada

Regular price $160.00
Unit price
per 

UES Studio
Saturday, Sept 26, 10 am - 1 pm

Dumbo Studio
Sunday, Sept 27, 10 am - 1 pm

In this hands-on workshop, participants learn the Turkish knot technique using a small wooden frame loom—a miniature version of the very tool used to create the works on view in the exhibition. Working with yarn brought directly from Japan, each participant completes an 8 cm knotted sampler that can be displayed in a mini frame, or finished as a brooch or keychain to take home the same day. You can also learn the Persian knot if time permits.

Knotting is a craft that is quietly gaining popularity across Japan. Unlike tufting, which requires a specialized gun and dedicated workspace, knotting asks only for a small loom, yarn, and patience. The technique is simple to learn, yet endlessly expressive—each maker's choice of color and pattern gives the work its own personality.

This workshop is ideal for those new to knotting, as well as for anyone looking to master the technique before attempting a larger piece. The wooden frame loom used in the workshop is available for purchase, so you can continue knotting at home.

The workshop is led by Toyomi Harada, founder of Arts & Crafts Village, who has been instrumental in bringing knotting to a wider audience in Japan.

AS PART OF

Japanese Craftswomen Knotting Life and Art

September 9 – October 1, 2026

MEET THE ARTIST

Toyomi Harada

We are deeply honored to welcome two incredible artisans from Arts & Crafts Village in Okayama, Japan. Founded in 1992 in a beautiful abandoned mountaintop schoolhouse, the A&C Village was inspired by the British Arts & Crafts movement and the philosophy of William Morris—reclaiming the joy of handwork and living in harmony with nature.

Co-founder of the A&C Village, Toyomi is a celebrated textile artist with over 30 years of experience. Heavily inspired by her time in Dartington, UK, she has dedicated her life to sustainable hand-weaving and botanical dyeing. She co-founded the A&C Village to create a sanctuary where craft and nature intertwine, bringing the soft, rich colors of seasonal Japanese flora into every skein of yarn.

Together, Toyomi and Noriko embody the true spirit of Mingei (Japanese folk art)—where beauty resides in functional, everyday objects. Learning directly from these two artists is a rare, unforgettable opportunity to connect with the soul of Japanese craftswomenship.

Winter at Arts & Crafts Village

@acv.okayama