Published: July 25, 2025
While gathering materials in the forest, I started making a papermaking screen with Lutz.
The frame is made of wood, so it can be relatively easily crafted with wood and nails. The hardest part is cutting the wood straight and to the exact same length, but the process itself isn’t too difficult.
Since we’re not making large washi paper this time, but postcard-sized sheets, I think we can even skip attaching the slats that support the bamboo mat.
Let’s use the small frame we used in home economics class as a reference.
“Alright, I want you to make it like this…”
I drew the finished shape on a stone slab for Lutz to see, then listed the necessary parts.
Lutz cut the wood while checking the drawing.
“You have to cut it straight so everything fits perfectly. You could also shave and adjust it afterward, but…”
“That sounds more troublesome than I thought. Straight cuts, huh…”
We cut the wood into rectangles about the size of a postcard, making two frames.
Once the upper and lower frames were ready, we attached fixing boards to keep the upper frame from moving when scooping the paper. We also added a handle to the upper frame so it could be held by hand.
“All done! Lutz, this looks great!”
“Is this really okay?”
“Yes! You sandwich the bamboo mat between the top and bottom frames, hold the handle like this, and shake it to evenly spread the fibers, so the shape will be fine.”
“The shape?”
I showed the puzzled Lutz the overlapped frames from the side, pointing out the slight gaps and wobbling.
“It’d be best if you could file or shave the edges bit by bit so the two frames fit tightly without any gaps—that’s when it’s complete.”
“Tightly fitting!? I’d have to ask my dad or brothers for tools… we don’t have any…”
“…Think you can borrow some?”
“I don’t know…”
Though Lutz gave up on the traveling merchant job, he rejected his parents’ wishes for construction or woodworking work and decided to apprentice himself as a merchant. Because of that, his family is pretty harsh on him right now. He can’t just ask them to lend him tools or help him out.
Lutz’s father said merchants only care about money and are cold-hearted, so he can’t allow his son to become one.
Aunt Carla, Lutz’s mother, gave up on the traveling merchant career and is looking for work in town, which is somewhat better. But she’s pushing him to give up as well.
No matter how harsh the treatment is, since Lutz himself says he doesn’t want to quit after finally carving his own path, there’s little I can do.
I can subtly convey Lutz’s efforts to his family when I meet them, or win them over with my cooking recipes.
Since the frame shape is done, if it doesn’t work, we can shave it down and adjust later. The real issue is the bamboo mat.
We have to make the papermaking screen ourselves, rolling up bamboo slats like the brushes for calligraphy.
We’ll need bamboo slats of uniform size and threads — and durable threads at that. We don’t have any threads at our disposal, and making bamboo slats from bamboo looks difficult.
Even though it’s postcard-sized, I can easily foresee how much work this will be.
“Since we finished the frame today, starting tomorrow we’ll shave bamboo and begin making the strips. But can we make rounded bamboo strips easily? If they have roughly the same thickness and size, would square ones do? What do you think?”
“You won’t know unless you make and try it…”
I’m not very skilled with the knife yet, so I’m not much help, but since we need many pieces, we have to make them patiently.
Fortunately, today’s goal, making the frame, went well.
“Mine-chan, and Lutz, could you come here for a moment?”
On the way back, Otto called us at the gate and beckoned Lutz and me over. If it had been just me, it wouldn’t be unusual since I help at the gate, but Lutz has never been called like this before.
“Me too?”
“Yes. Here’s something for both of you.”
He handed us wooden boards similar to the invitation we once received from Corinna. I immediately checked the sender and recipient. It was an invitation from Benno addressed to Lutz and me.