Vintage Mosquito Netting Sampler 1

Kaya, or mosquito netting, was hand-woven from hemp fibers and used for protection from mosquitoes during the summer. The loose weave of the textile allowed for the free flow of air. Hand-spun hemp fibers used to make fabric like this varied in thickness, weight, and pliability, so each piece of netting has its own character. Widely used up through World War II, kaya panels were joined to form a “tent” to surround the family’s sleeping area.

This collection of kaya consists of 5 pieces, each approximately 13″ x 18″. Each piece is a different color, including natural, light green, forest green, blue green, and blue. Natural vegetable dyes were used, and sometimes the fabrics were over-dyed. All of the colors fade over time, resulting in variegated hues. The forest-green piece has warp-wise stripes made by setting the warp threads closer in the stripe area than over the rest of the fabric. The condition of the pieces varies: they may be stained, sun-faded, mended or darned, or have small holes. These imperfections gained by age add to the beauty of this vintage fabric. The pieces are bound together with a small sample of cotton indigo-and-white fabric with chrysanthemum design.