I vote for repairing and using it, so it can live on as a whole as long as it's needed. It just feels like a beautiful thing to do, being part of its story.

Repair and reuse! Would be lovely to see it everyday on your bed. I’d love to watch the repair process. Thanks for sharing.

Speaking as one who has lived in Japan, many years ago before I was doing much crafting and no one knew about Boro or Sashiko in my world, I never got any - which I so regret, as it was everywhere. You have treasure there - and wanting to share it is generous, but my thought is to use it for your self - a bed cover, a throw, and robe/kimono. Thank you for sharing them with us.

Hi Sarah. I'm japanese and I come from town that is most famous for KASURI. I thought to write a quick comment regarding how to pronounce this marerial. It goes Ka - Su - Ri. There is no "g" I live now in Australia, and use a lot of kimono n kasuri that have been worn by my ancestors to make patchwork quilt, dresses, and bags. Since a few years ago, my sister started to teach me Sashiko when I return to Japan. I told her about your vlog. She does kimono sewing, Sashiko and Japanese silk embroidery so she is very interested in your work . Thank you !

Don’t cut that beautiful peace up. The thought of sharing is very nice of you but the history is so important! I like to think of who the people were who used it.

Hello Sarah. What wonderful pieces of fabric - thank you for showing them to us and including some of the repair methods used. My initial thought was that it would be a shame to break these up. But then, as you said, repairing, repurposing and reusing fabric is all part of the ongoing story of Japanese Boro. Making something with these fabrics that will have a new history seems to be a way of honouring the work that has already been done as well as acknowledging the people who made these repairs - something a “new” piece could embrace. But, however you want to take these beautiful fabrics forward will, I am sure, meet with the approval of your viewers.

I would love to see how you would conserve/repair a piece that at one time was so important to a family.

Thank you for featuring these beautiful textiles. I say save the large one- repair it and use it on your bed. In the spirit of boro , give it new life !

It would be lovely to see the repairs done and give the fabric piece a new lease of life. Please show us any progress.

Lovely video, so interesting, thank you! If i were you, I'd remove the really broken bits on the edges, use pieces of that to repair any other small holes, and make it into a bed cover. It's so beautiful - what a find!

Repair it, I think. The idea of making a usable bedspread from it is a great idea. It would be lovely.

Oh keep it. It's so beautiful. It would make a lovely bed cover, as you said.

I think a class sounds absolutely fabulous. But I think I’m being selfish because I’d love to take part!!

I would love to see a video of how you repair the last boro piece. Personally, I wouldn't want it to meet its end by being cut up, even though you would share it with your students. Thank you for letting us give you our opinions. ❤

The heavier piece could have been a lap robe as is used to cover one's legs when seated at a kotatsu, or table with a heater underneath. Many times, I'm told, old kimono fabrics were used to make repairs. Fascinating stuff. Thank you for sharing.

I love your videos and I would love to see it repaired and put on a bed .

You just inspired me to do something and I had to share! I had made a quilt which I absolutely love. I got a ink spot on it and was looking for a way to take the spot out and did not look forward to putting a chemical on it. After seeing this video I thought how about putting a beautiful piece of fabric over the spot! In the boro method. It added so much interest to the quilt. Thank You!,,,

I would like to see you repair this amazing creation.

Thank you for showing those.You could cut those worn, holey edges off and somehow frame them. Then use the whole piece on a bed or sofa. The mended plaid one might make a sturdy bag. They should be used like those old damaged quilts are now being used. Give them a new life!

I think it would be great to repair it, allowing it to continue it's usefulness. I feel it still has a lot to give as a whole. It would be a terrific bed cover. I loved this video!

Interesting fabrics, a lot of work has gone into them. For your dilemma I think it's repairs, those pieces you have seem to have a long history already by the looks of it, I think they're worth saving. It would be also be useful to see how it's done so the methods perhaps can be transferable to more modern fabrics/clothing that would otherwise be scrapped.

Beautiful fabric. I would repair and use it. Would make a lovely bed cover but may need a backing to make it sturdier.

Hi Sarah, a fantastic video, it is wonderful to see the fabrics in their currect state, they are beautiful. I would go with mending the larger piece and using it - if it becomes obvious that it is too fragile to use as a bedspread, then there is always an option to unpick it at a later date for a class. I would love to see your progress and what you decide.

I would love to see you repair these pieces; continuing the legacy!

Thanks for that. Now I know what to do on the back of the wool quilt my mom made of the wool squares from sample books. The flannel on back has holes but I love the quilt. I can make patches that tell a story of her, and include some embroidery, she loved embroidery. You bed cover may need to sit a bit longer while you think it over...like my quilt has, hope it doesn't take you 20 years!

Go with your heart. Mend it and use it. This could be your evening project. What a lovely reminder of your trip

Hi Sarah. Love the fabrics. TY for the info. If you want to make something for your bed, I say go for it! Another similar idea is to make decorative pillow covers. I have made envelope pillow covers with seasonal fabric for my living room. Same concept. You can even use that fabric for the front and use another for the back ( to conserve fabric). That way you would have fabric for something else. Just my thoughts. 👋

I love Boro. Thank you for this video !!! I strongly vote to repair and reuse - as a bed cover, a coat, a wall hanging. Please preserve them..... and use them even if as a wall hanging.......

This was so interesting…just fascinating…..thank you for sharing your knowledge on this topic 😊….knowing the fabrics have such a story…a history, I would add to its evolution and repair them and add my bit of your magic to their lives….they are way too special ….they will be marvelous 🥰

Fascinating video Sarah, I would carry on the Japanese custom and ‘repair’ it using a similar fabric if you can source some suitable fabric.

Repairing this piece seems quite a task and then to think if you really want to use it on your bed? Using the unpicked pieces would make lots of different things and you could share with your family and friends. Or maybe cut in half and give a go at repairing and projects. Decisions ….decisions! Have fun deciding!

Hi Sarah really interesting fabric, I love the idea of repairing and reusing this as a bed throw/quilt but wonder how it would fair to being cleaned so I'd love to see you offering a class so I can join you 😊

to share it with others would be wonderful. Having the group help dismantle it might be worth considering too.

The absolutely tattered-to-pieces part could be sandwiched between two transparent or translucent pieces of cloth and framed, to be used as a window screen, where not the whole window needs to be covered or you want to show some specic view while hiding othe rest.

I think finishing it up as a personal project would be wonderful. Using the concept as a basis for a class is a great idea. It could be sort of a contemporary boro. Whatever you do I'm sure it will be wonderful.

I would repair it and use as bed cover. If it's big enough I would use only fabrics from the original piece for the repair. The padded one could be hung on a wall. These fabrics are so beautiful. If I had these fabrics and were forced to cut them up I would make lots of scarfs from them. I'm sure you will make something beautiful with it and have fun doing it.

Please repair it. It is so lovely.

the fabric must be good if Ginger Cat approves of it

I would suggest to repair it. This piece is too special to be cut to pieces. I would love to see the video how you do it. You could use the invisible method or a very visible repair with embroidery or Sashiko stitching, etc. A lot of possibilities to repair this beautiful piece!

This is such an interesting video❣️ BTW….LOVE your cat!!

I love the life of fabric

I love the idea of paying homage to people of yore. I prefer the idea of a bed covering

Use it! It’s just fading away if you don’t. Perhaps some large bed cushions using parts of itself to repair. That should leave you some for classes too.

Please please repair it. It is far too beautiful and precious to cut up

Please repair it.

Fabulous workmanship...please do not cut up into pieces. Why not demonstration of Borro on this piece..actually patch this wonderful piece.

Gorgeous fabrics. I think that piece is too far gone to repair unless you're planning to live for another 100 years. Could you get enough sound stuff to make a happi? Then you could maybe use the offcuts for slow stitching and make a cat bed for that poor deprived ginger cat drama queen - I wish I had his life!

So much time and attention given to the patching over so don't cut it up. The hole in the 'mat ' is crying out for a patch too!

Repair it

Hi Sarah, These textiles are so beautiful and inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing them!

Please don’t cut it up. Repair it, you have the skill to restore history. Keep a written history of it and maybe sometime it the (distant) future donate it to a society/gallery where it can be enjoyed for a very long time. Sheila x. PS I had some extremely old books belonging to my family, which were huge. A University library were very happy to take and conserve them. ❤

I wonder if it is big enough for you to create a throw/lap blanket from the best part and use the rest to make other thing, This way you can have both. Thanks for all the valuable info.

I agree with the "repair" team, but with your embroidery flair as an added twist. I suggest removing the edges that are so damaged and using that fabric to repair some of the other holes. Would you use fabric from the larger piece (that doesn't have a backing) to patch the smaller piece that has layers? Do you have a large Japaness fabric you can use for backing for the single layer piece? Would it be sacrilege to then embroider/crazy quilt the two together? Or is the larger piece big enough to fold in half to use as its own backing? Whatever you do, it will be lovely and I'm sure you'll infuse respect and honor in every stitch. Thank you for showing this!!!

I'm in favor of backing it with a cotton support fabric for conservation (thus preserving the holes while strengthening the textile itself) and hanging it on display as a sort of boro "tapestry". It has definite value as a teaching aid.

Repair and use

Hi Sarah, Thank you for yet another interesting video always inspiring to share and learn from different cultures. I vote for you to keep it and make video using the traditional way of mending it.

It's such a beautiful piece that I would vote for repairing it.

Yes, I would encourage you to do the repairs and record so we can see how you do that! I think you love the fabric, so you should use it in your home so you can always admire it. 💗

What an inspiring video. Please keep that bedcover whole. It is so gorgeous. What you have there is a wonderful piece of authentic Japanese history. You have a large piece of vintage Do- it-Yourself Boro, already begun by the actual people who did make Boro. The frame and shape of it is in place. You can see how it should go. - yes, it is tattered (Boro)and threadbare. Perfect! Looks to me that you are now an Apprentice Boro-maker with the opportunity to make a journeyman-piece, and that the Boro itself is your Sensei instructor. You yourself can, in turn be our teacher by documenting some of your process, Thank you for the inspiration.

I would restore it traditionally and make a bedcovering.

Thanks!

I love the material! Beautiful! Although Kwandi are from India/Africian using that technique might be nice as you could use plenty of the original materials and maybe add some of your own. Using this Kwandi method traditionally - by hand would also “honor” the fabric and the origins. This method might also help keep the original fabric protected. I also think it would be nice for you to keep it because I think it will make you happy to see it all the time and be happy with whatever you choose to do with it! 😊

I’m with the majority repair and enjoy your treasure

I would love to see it repaired and used. What an amazing find! LOVED hearing your thoughts and knowledge on how they reuse and repair!

Could you make an apron Sarah?

Gorgeous fabrics. I think I would repair and reuse.

I vote for smaller pieces. The different thinness of the fabric in places would make the whole thing age at different rates. Whereas a series of cushion covers, antimacassars, runners would allow you to group thinner pieces together, and thicker pieces. I remember that sheets thinning in the middle were given a new lease of life by sewing the sides together as the middle, and hemming the new edges. I remember it being talked about. Can’t remember it happening though

I'm selfish, I would like to see you repair this. Especially since I'm in Iowa and don't have a chance of attending your classes. If wishes were horses I attend in a heart beat.

I would cut it up and make lots of different pieces with it pouches, bags,cushions x

I think this is beautiful if it were me I would make a coat even a short coat out of the best pieces and use the rest including the patches for a throw so the fabric can go on living one being used and one showing history ,best of luck

Repair and use. The bed one is s wonderful idea.

I too think it would be so rewarding to repair it and use as a bedspread or lay over a sofa/armchir. As long as Ginger Cat does not lay on it !😢An amazing piece of history which could tell wonderful stories…… Good luck Sarah I’m sure whatever you do it will be beautiful!

My thoughts are about how degraded the piece is and how much work and expense (if you need to buy new fabric patches) it would take to repair. Looking at it I fear it may just be too much of a job and so I’m going to go with your original thought of cutting it up and passing round the pieces. I don’t live close enough to attend your forest classes but think for many like me just owning a small part of that wonderful historical and ethical piece would be a treasure. I wonder what the person who made the repairs would think about a western woman framing a small square of their trusty fabric and hanging it on the wall??😮

Thank you for the video very interesting . I vote to repair in the boro spirit and keep the history and quilt alive. Showing all of us the process ❤🇦🇺🦘Margaret

Thank you for the info on kasuri. I have the printed fabrics but never knew the origin. No wonder it’s so valuable!

I vote repair it. This was interesting, thank you for sharing.

Sarah, I would possibly do both. Trim it down to a usable size (lap size?) to repair and cut up the rest. Good luck deciding

I would repair it and use it as the top of a bedcover.

Mend if possible.

Lovely pieces, thank you for sharing! I can see doing either with it, but I lean more towards repairing it and enjoying it yourselves. Either way, I look forward to seeing what you do with them :)

I adore it. Repair and use it. Perhaps as a bedcover, on a table, wall hanging. It is stunning. I love old, used fabric. And the indigo dye is wonderful. It is anti-bacterial, and used by the Samurai undercloth in fighting battles, as the wounds wouldn't get infected. So much history behind it.

Hi Sarah, I vote on you making a video to share with us on repairing it as a bedspread using the boro technique. It would make a nice patchwork quilt also?

Please repair this beautiful piece of history. Your skill will add to the story and make it even more special

Repair and reuse! Definitely. Can't wait to see what you can do with it

I had a quilt top my great grandmother made by hand. Then my grandmother (her daughter-in-law) had repaired it by machine using awful polyester fabrics. I took those repairs out and removed a strip of the quilt (it was simple squares) to harvest enough of the old fabrics to replace the polyester ones. I backed it with muslin and hand tied it (which I’m pretty sure was the original method). It is such a wonderful feeling whenever I use it. It’s the “Grandmother’s Quilt” and I’ve documented its journey on the back.

Oh what gorgeous fabrics! It is inspiring to see these in our current “throw it away” culture. I agree with many other viewers, create something beautiful with the piece. It would be a shame to disconnect it and lose the history and story it tells. Would it be possible to gather some expert friends to assist you? Have an old fashioned “ Quilting Bee,”, combining friendship and fabric restoration!

DEFINITELY repair it and use it yourself. I would love to see a video (or series of videos) on that. Just keep Ginger Cat off your bed when it’s on it. 😉😊

I love these pieces. Thank you for sharing them. I think it would be good to take the damaged one apart and share the pieces in a class. I think that you would learn more about the pieces and the construction techniques, which could be passed on to us, as well as the sheer joy of making new heirlooms from old. I had the great pleasure of making a boro bag as a birthday gift for a granddaughter, a couple of years ago, from regular fabric.

I really enjoyed this video, fascinating! I feel your dilemma. To repair the original piece will be so rewarding and honour its history, hopefully you will share the progress…however the original piece would then stay on your bed, only seen by a few. (Other than being shared by millions on the internet 😂) BUT if you are willing to dismantle it and share the pieces for a class to learn the techniques in repairing, you would be continuing the teaching of this amazing history and then each of the pupils will hopefully share their work with friends and family - spreading the history even further. As you will gather I am no help in making the decision 😅 whatever you decide is the right thing to do. Xx

Why on earth do you want an old dirty tattered rag ?

I will repair it and use it as bedspread

If you like it enough -repair it for your bedcover/quilt . as others have said -it may need a newer backing to help support the whole -well of course in additon to restoring the top. Go for it Sarah:)) My twenty and forty yr old winter quilts have as many as 4 new squares on top of each other. sometimes I left the old one in but other times it was so ragged -I tore the old out before adding a new sq. But - I can still sew the originals in the seams - remnants of the original and they are not faded in there. I can remember my husband reading to me as I stitched in new squares as we traveled all over the US and Canada in our van many years ago. Now after another winter I will repair another time - launder it and have it ready for next winter.

Repair it if you can get suitable fabric to use. It would continue the tradition. I would love to see that video 😊

I’m inclined for you to repair it and use it. I’d love to see what you could do with it❤️

I’m working on my own Boro style piece and buying remnants and indigo fabrics from Japan and China. I would love to find something like that, They are beautiful! I would use the large piece of cloth with multiple patterns on it. Some parts are shredded. I would vote for keeping the rug/ blanket and keeping a large piece of the other cloth intact but cut off a portion including the tattered pieces to make new things and using the off-cuts in other garments or projects. That is the spirit of Boro. They continued to combine fabrics and reuse old garments and make them into new things. You can have a large piece to remember and enjoy and utilize the other portion to make new beautiful things. You can get the best of both that way. 😊

With all the history behind those pieces, I would be hesitant to take it apart. I vote for repairing and repurposing it.

I think that you should endeavour to repair this beautiful piece Sarah, it would be a crime to dismantle it. ☺️

so interesting! What about taking apart the big one by removing the worst pieces first and see what's left. Maybe what's left could be repaired with what's been removed and used as a bed covering. Since historically they eventually also took pieces apart when they were beyond repair and used the fabric for other repairs or objects, you would still be honouring their technique. I look forward to seeing what you decide to do!