Geometric patterns that express elements of nature and daily life have been central to the Japanese aesthetic for centuries. This pattern is called Fundo Tsunagi (or sometimes fundoutsunagi) and is a design that dates at least to the Nara period (645-794). It has been used in woven textiles such as twills and brocades, along with dyed textiles and sashiko.
The design and the name come from the shape of one of the traditional counterweights used on scales in Japan. Fundo literally means “weight” and tsunagi means “link”.
I bordered the embroidered panel with a japanese cotton printed with traditional Japanese patterns that I picked up somewhere some time ago. I'm happy to find something in my stash that works so perfectly. The more things I stitch up the fewer things I'll need to move into my new studio.
