This is a quiz on kimono sewing tools. There are 5 questions in total. Please feel free to answer them. The quiz uses Google Forms. When you submit your answer, your answer and score will be displayed immediately. I hope you enjoy it! Kimono quiz 2 By the way, I asked my elementary school sons to try and answer the questions and they scored 5 and 5. When a family member with no experience sewing kimonos was asked to answer the question, she scored a 25. If you have experience in kimono sewing, you may be able to get a perfect score ..read more

This is a quiz on kimono names and terms unique to wasai. There are 5 questions in total. Please feel free to answer them. The quiz uses Google Forms. When you submit your answer, your answer and score will be displayed immediately. I hope you enjoy it! Kimono quiz 1 By the way, I asked my elementary school sons to try and answer the questions and they scored 75 and 5. I am sure this is a super easy quiz that adults can get 100 points ..read more

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In the world of kimono sewing, there are still many people who use kujira-shaku, and I am one of them. In this article, I would like to explain how to writ Kujira-shaku without using the kanji characters for “尺(shaku),” “寸(sun),” and “分(bu).” 目次 Basics of Kujira-shaku Scale Kujira-shaku Units and Readings 厘：ri 分：bu 寸：sun [sún] 尺：shaku 丈：jou *The Hepburn system is used for Japanese romanization. Relationship of Each Unit In the Kujira-saku scale, “分 (bu)” is the standard. 1/2 bu ＝ 5 ri 1 bu : Standard 10 bu ＝ 1 sun 100 bu ＝ 10 sun ＝ 1 shaku 1000 bu ＝ 100 sun ＝ 10 shaku ＝ 1 jou It is easy to un ..read more

The words used for sewing a kimono and the words used for wearing a kimono are similar but definitely refer to different parts of the kimono. In this article, we will introduce the difference between “senui” and “sechushin.” 目次 What is “Senui (背縫い) ?” The term “Senui” means backstitching. When sewing a kimono, it is used like this: In Japanese, “Senui 3-bu(1cm)”. In other words, it means “Please sew backstitch with a seam allowance of 3-bu(1cm).” What is “Sechushin (背中心) ?” The term “sechushin” refers to the center of the back in its finished state. In other words, it refers to the state afte ..read more

In kimono sewing, we use a unit called ” Kujira-shaku “. Here is the formula for converting cm to Kujira-shaku. 目次 Conversion formula between cm and shaku Shaku(尺)＝cm×2.64 cm=Shaku(尺)×0.3788 For example, when converting a height of 165 cm to a scale 165 x 2.64 = 435 (rounding down this time to the nearest whole number) This is read as “4-shaku 3-sun 5-bu.” The one place is bu(分) The ten place is sun(寸) The hundred place is shaku(尺) [Related Articles] Kujira-syaku  : Kimono sewing tools Kujira syaku monosashiWhy are the numbers that multiply the conversion formula different? “尺 = cm x 2.6 ..read more

There are rules on how to turn the seam allowance for backstitching, side stitching, and okumi stitching. The rule applies to women’s kimonos, men’s kimonos and children’s kimonos. The same rule applies to all types of kimono (yukata, Hitoe-kimono and awase-kimono), nagajuban, haori (Japanese traditional coat), and kimono coats. The difference is whether or not a “kise” is attached to the seam allowance. Here, I would like to explain the case of kimono. 目次 Direction of turn seam allowance edge in. Backstitching : Turn in the left rear body. Side stitch : Turn in the front body. Okumi stitch ..read more

Next to the Unshin, the basics of hand sewing that you should learn are the “Kaeshibari at the first and the last seam” and “Itoshigoki”. Here, I would like to explain the series of steps. *Kaeshibari = Backstitch 目次 Video Basic Steps for Hand Sewing First kaeshibari Stitch the area where the line is drawn with a pencil.Stick the needle in the mark at the beginning of the stitch and scoop a stitch. And then…Pull the thread.Scoop one more stitch on the same point, and…Pull the thread.Now the first “kaeshibari” stitch has been made. Sew up the mark Once the “kaeshibari” was made, scoop two ..read more

Closed seams and open seams are the two most common types of seams used in sewing, not only for kimonos, and are given different names depending on how the seam allowance is handled. In kimono sewing, closed seams with “kise” are the basic type of seams. Here I would like to explain what a “kise” is. 目次 What is “ Kise ” Cloth sewn together with Unshin is finished by turning down the seam allowance outside the seam and iron. The area between the seam and the finish line is called the “kise.” (The area circled in red in the figure below) Depth of Kise The depth of the crease is usually calculate ..read more