Bunka is a form of Japanese embroidery done with a punch needle and a flexible chain stitched thread. The special rayon thread or cord used is known as Kayo, although outside of Japan it is most often sold as 'bunka thread'. When worked as bunka embroidery, it is worked with a punch needle to secure the stitches, working on top of the design with the special rayon bunka cords on the top surface of the embroidery. The threads are unraveled to various thicknesses by pulling on a loose thread on the end of the cord. Directional stitches of stretched or loop effect unravelled threads are secured with a special loop needle, used to produce a surface with a 'brushstroke' effect. For miniatures, colorful bunka threads are often unravelled and used as fine, "loop effect" trims for doll clothing or stitched into small floral trims. You can pull bunka threads to a number of different patterns. The 'first' pull or unravelling usually produces the stretchy loop trim most often used for doll clothing or miniature embroidery. A second pull of the individual threads will separate them further, into very fine waved strands. Bunka can also be used in the traditional embroidery fashion, to make miniature rugs for dollhouses, or wall hangings. Rugs can be worked by using a traditional bunka needle on a pattern, or by gluing unravelled bunka thread to a pattern drawn on a fabric backing.This is a method often used to mimic hooked rugs in miniature. A toothpick can be used to manipulate the unravelled bunka thread into the pattern section to which glue has been applied, beginning with the most detailed areas first. Bunka rugs in miniature look similar to hand hooked rugs in full scale.
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