Bunka is a method of creating embroidered patterns with a punch needle and specially manufactured synthetic thread. It is one of the forms of traditional Japanese embroidery. Bunka is sometimes referred to as “thread painting” because of the depth and detail that this method of embroidery produces.
The flexibility of the thread used to make bunka designs is one of its characteristics. Bunka thread is prone to stretching. This property allows the weaver to work without having to worry about tangles and knots in the fiber, as well as weaving the pattern tightly. The bunka thread’s nature contributes to the finished piece’s texture, which distinguishes it from other embroidery techniques. Bunka thread is typically available in a variety of colors, ranging from vibrant to subdued. The skilled bunka artist can embroider a design that has visual impact on many levels simply using a combination of colors.
Bunka has grown in popularity to the point where two different types of kits are regularly available in craft stores. The numbered bunka kit works similarly to many other paint-by-number watercolor kits. The thread color for each section of the design is specified in the kit. There’s also a picture of the finished product, which makes it easier to follow along.
Bunka kits with no numbers are more freeform. Typically, these kits will include all of the necessary materials, as well as an image of how the finished piece should look. Hobbyists who have worked with bunka for a while prefer the unnumbered kits because they like to take a mass-produced kit and customize the finished product to their own specifications.
The sport of bunka has grown in popularity to the point where there is now a national association of bunka fans in the United States. The American Bunka Embroidery Association is a national organization that links a number of state-level chapters that bring bunka fans together. Members of the Association can share techniques and designs with one another, as well as promote the art form in general.