Looking to test your sewing skills by making your own Japanese kimono? Get the right guidelines that can make your job a piece of cake.
The traditional Japanese Kimono consists of many different parts such as the obi, haori, dasho and a number of other things. If you are thinking about making your own Japanese kimono, then don’t let these details demoralize you because making a Japanese kimono is easier than it appears to be.
Making a kimono is quite similar to making a cloak or a vest because you will basically be working with straight lines and boxes. You can actually model your kimono around a simple bathrobe. Obviously a kimono is not just like a bathrobe so you will be making some adjustments such as the alteration of the sleeves etc.
As a prerequisite you need to have a certain amount of sewing skills in order to stitch up the kimono and a dash of creativity. You can read all about how to make your own kimono but the real test begins when you get going in real terms. It is always a good idea to start off with an inexpensive dummy kimono to test your skills and get the basic idea right.
Getting on with it
Once you have gotten your hand settled in and have figured out how to get the measurements right then you can move on to the actual kimono. Traditionally a kimono is worn with an obi which is the belt. The obi will cause you the least of the problems because it is just a simple self-tying build made out of accentual fabric and is usually of a contrasting colour to the kimono.
All you need to do for the obi is sew a big rectangular shape long enough for it to go around your waist twice and tie up in a knot in the back. The width of the obi is relative to the individual’s stomach because they should be the same size. You can experiment with the colour contrasting as according to your taste.
With regards to the fabric that you should use when trying to make your own kimono you ought to exercise caution. It is common knowledge that the best of the kimonos are made from silk. If you are trying making one for the first time then you wouldn’t want to risk wasting such an expensive material. Rather you can go with linen, cotton, polyester and other synthetic fabrics that are fairly inexpensive.
If you want to get something fancy then you might be able to get your hands on bridal satins and rayon blends that feature screen printing similar to ancient Japanese kimonos.
If you are making a man’s kimono then you should go with something more sober such as black or brown in contrast to the womanly bright tones and soft pastels. Kimonos for the young often feature colorful and complicated patterns.
With all these things underway you will start off by measuring your body and then translating that data onto the fabric. The next step is cutting and then stitching. Putting on a kimono is as much a challenge as is making it.
