Odoshi ito

[davet]

Dear members of Tousando.

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dave Thatcher and I am the owner of Katchu UK and the Samurai Armour forum. I'm posting here because I am a professional armour restorer. This year I embarked on a risky venture to produce authentic odoshi ito for the first time outside of Japan. My forum is attracting members from the SCA and DIY community, which has opened my eyes to this world and its needs.

My machinery can produce odoshi in a number of formats, including silk, cotton and rayon. Authentic silk odoshi is very thin and expensive, whereas rayon (much cheaper) is an ideal substitution and cotton provides a thicker more weighty weave. My weaves are very tight compared to boot lacing and I can also produce mimi-to.

So I guess my post is simply that I'm here at your disposal, I would like to produce a special grade odoshi-ito for reproduction armours.

Your questions and feedback will be very useful in helping me make the best braid.  

Kind regards

Dave

www.katchu.co.uk (antiques, restoration papers)
www.facebook/nihonnokatchu (restoration guides, armour making techniques)

[kirishitan]

Dave, can you post a link to a video of that machine at work? :-)

[davet]

It's here.

www.flickr.com/photos/31033235@N02/17265981062/in/dateposted-public/

[safetyturtle]

Looks very interesting.
I do have a question: do you have the ability to make round lacing and not just the flat?