From Grass to Yarn—Hand-Joining Ramie Fibers

Want to try hand-joining ramie fibers into yarn?

I’m starting a new yarn-making workshop.

One of the reasons I became deeply involved with ramie (karamushi, からむし/苧麻) was that I was captivated by the act of umu (績む)—hand-joining fibers into yarn. It’s a word almost never used in modern daily life, and yet, not so long ago, it was a familiar part of everyday living in Japan.

Before cotton spread widely in Japan in the 17th to 18th centuries, ordinary people’s clothing was often made from fibers taken from grasses or tree bark. These bast fibers were stiff and not suitable for spinning like cotton. The only way was to split them fine and connect them strand by strand. This process is called umu.

In mountain and island regions unsuited to cotton cultivation, the culture of umu survived until quite recently and has barely carried on into the present day. Isn’t it fascinating that such a practice still remains in the age of AI and instant everything?

Compared with spinning, umu takes an extraordinary amount of time and effort. In today’s world, where machines can make yarn instantly and shopping is just a click away, continuing to make yarn by hand in this way feels strangely out of step—like being a snail in a world racing ahead. Yet that slower pace was once the natural rhythm of human life: growing and harvesting materials, and spending long hours just to obtain yarn. At that pace, production and consumption stayed in harmony with the earth’s own rhythms.

Among everything I learned about ramie, from cultivation to weaving, umu became my favorite practice. In a modern world overflowing with things, umu offers a quiet stillness of the heart—like the surface of a calm sea.

Come and experience the wonder of turning grass into yarn, and connect with a practice passed down through countless generations. About ramie:https://www.umitomk.com/material/ramie

About umu (hand-joining fibers):https://www.umitomk.com/umukoto

SNS:Instagram @umitomkFacebook @umitomk

Workshop Details

From Grass to Yarn — Hand-Joining Ramie Fibers

• Schedule: Please suggest 5 possible dates (contact at least 10 days in advance for space reservation).

• Time: 13:00–17:00 (incl. break)

• Content: Hand-joining ramie fibers into yarn (umu).You will process about 1.4 g of fiber into a slightly thick yarn, experiencing the full sequence of splitting, joining, and twisting with a takuri spindle.The yarn you make can be taken home.Fibers cultivated in Showa Village, Fukushima, will be used.Tea & sweets included.

• Fee: ¥15,000 per person (Payment on the day)

• Capacity: Up to 3 participants

• Venue: Rental space in Kamakura City (details provided after booking)

• What to bring: Reading glasses (if needed)

• Cancellation policy: 2–1 days before = 50%, Same day = 100%

Important Notes

• This workshop uses an original method based on what I learned in Showa Village, combined with elements from different regions and times.

• Photos of the workshop may be taken for documentation and future announcements. Please let me know in advance if you prefer not to be photographed.

  
  

Instructor: Umito I first became interested in bast fibers through an anthropology paper. This curiosity led me to Showa Village in Fukushima, where I spent five and a half years learning the entire process—from cultivation to weaving.

Now, in my 10th year with ramie, I focus my work on hand-joining yarns, creating with ramie fibers, and hosting workshops.