Sinology Notes · October Edition · This month we’re weaving a little summer
Saturday 10/10/2026
Spring is in full swing in Perth. The days are longer, the air is warmer, and something about the season makes you want to be outside with your hands doing something.
Last month, we had a full house. Cloisonné-inspired coasters filled with jewel-like colour, mooncakes on the table, and a room full of people marking Mid-Autumn Festival together. It was exactly the kind of afternoon Sinology Studio was made for and we love knowing those coasters have found their way into daily life.
October brings something new. Inspired by the traditional Chinese craft of bamboo weaving, we're spending an afternoon making a fan one weave at a time, just in time for Perth's warmer days.
This October: Weave a Little Summer
For thousands of years, Chinese artisans have turned simple strips of bamboo into beautiful, everyday objects - baskets, furniture, fans.This October, we’re trying the technique ourselves.
We’ll spend an afternoon learning to weave, one strip at a time, before finishing our fans with fabric edging, a tassel, and an embroidered patch or pearls. Something handmade, useful, and made exactly for this season. Beginners are welcome. Early bird pricing is live.
📅 Sunday, 25 Oct · 2-4pm
@ Victoria Park Community Centre
🎟 Bookings are open now.
Did you know?
Archaeological evidence traces woven bamboo objects in China back over 7,000 years. It began as pure necessity: bamboo was abundant, flexible, and strong.
Over centuries, what began as everyday utility became art. In China, bamboo weaving became a refined art form during the Tang Dynasty, producing baskets, hats, and mats crafted in intricate patterns. In Japan, the city of Beppu became one of the most renowned bamboo craft centres, known for its eight foundational weaving methods and over 200 possible patterns.
Today, the craft has travelled far beyond Asia - appearing in modern furniture, pendant lights, and interior design around the world. Several regional styles are now listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Try this at home
Fans have been carried by Chinese scholars and poets for centuries. They're painted with calligraphy, landscapes, and small wishes, folded and tucked away, then opened to reveal the full picture at once.
This month, make your own paper folded fan at home.
Take a piece of paper. Fold it accordion-style into equal strips, pinch one end together, and secure it with a rubber band or a piece of string.
You can choose to write a wish across the folds, paint a simple design - a flower, a wave, a single character or sketch something small on each panel. When the fan opens, the full picture reveals itself all at once.
It is one of the oldest gestures in Chinese culture. Useful, personal, and a little bit of a magic trick every time you open it.
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