Regular susoyoke is just plain and doesn't have patterns or any prints on it. However, this is different. I guess it was made in the 20's or the 30's. It's very retro, isn't it?
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Susoyoke
Susoyoke is like a half slip worn under your kimono, and this particular susoyoke is given from my mom's friend. The lady in her 90's won't wear kimonos anymore, so she just gave it to me.
Regular susoyoke is just plain and doesn't have patterns or any prints on it. However, this is different. I guess it was made in the 20's or the 30's. It's very retro, isn't it?
Regular susoyoke is just plain and doesn't have patterns or any prints on it. However, this is different. I guess it was made in the 20's or the 30's. It's very retro, isn't it?
Sunday, February 13, 2011
How to Fix Holes on Your Kimono.
What will you do if you find some holes on your favorite kimonos??? Will you go crazy? dump them?
STOPPPP!!!
Here is a way to wear your kimono again.
These days people never fix your clothes if it's torn or there is a hole on it because clothing isn't that expensive. Long way back, people used to fix holes on socks and wear them again!
Kimono was too expensive to buy for the people in old times, so they fixed and wore them again. (Well, it is still expensive though...)
Here is the way.
This is a wool kimono. Wool is especially in danger of being eaten by bugs!!
1)
Prepare fabric that matches the kimono. It's perfect if you have the excess fabric when you order the kimono. When you buy a new kimono and have it sewn, they will give you the excess fabric if there is.
2)
Cut a piece a little bigger than the hole.
3)
Place your kimono wrong side up.
4)
Cover the hole with the small piece.
5)
Pin it.
(sorry, the direction is strange but I couldn't fix it...)
6)
Thread a needle. Use your silk needle and silk thread. Otherwise, your kimono may be damaged for the thicker needle and thread.
7)
Sew zigs and zags all over the piece with tiny stitches.
Finished.
If the holes are small, people won't notice them.
So, in this way, I think the Japanese people have been able to keep many traditions until today.
However the holes are on the left front, you might want to give up fixing it unless the holes are small. Left front, which is called uwamae is considered the most beautiful part of kimonos, and people for who are wearing and who see people in kimono pay the most attentions on it. If you are wearing, you try to make uwamae looks great, and people who see you judges the value of your kimono by looking at your uwamae.
Kimono designers create beautiful paintings and consider how the uwamae looks beautiful. When the sewists sew, they organize where to bring the most beautiful pattern on the uwamae.
So, if even if the holes are fixed but your uwamae doesn't look good, you don't want to wear it to a party. Just wear it for grocery shopping as a casual kimono!
I hope it makes sense to you!
STOPPPP!!!
Here is a way to wear your kimono again.
These days people never fix your clothes if it's torn or there is a hole on it because clothing isn't that expensive. Long way back, people used to fix holes on socks and wear them again!
Kimono was too expensive to buy for the people in old times, so they fixed and wore them again. (Well, it is still expensive though...)
Here is the way.
This is a wool kimono. Wool is especially in danger of being eaten by bugs!!
1)
Prepare fabric that matches the kimono. It's perfect if you have the excess fabric when you order the kimono. When you buy a new kimono and have it sewn, they will give you the excess fabric if there is.
2)
Cut a piece a little bigger than the hole.
3)
Place your kimono wrong side up.
4)
Cover the hole with the small piece.
5)
Pin it.
6)
Thread a needle. Use your silk needle and silk thread. Otherwise, your kimono may be damaged for the thicker needle and thread.
7)
Sew zigs and zags all over the piece with tiny stitches.
Finished.
If the holes are small, people won't notice them.
So, in this way, I think the Japanese people have been able to keep many traditions until today.
However the holes are on the left front, you might want to give up fixing it unless the holes are small. Left front, which is called uwamae is considered the most beautiful part of kimonos, and people for who are wearing and who see people in kimono pay the most attentions on it. If you are wearing, you try to make uwamae looks great, and people who see you judges the value of your kimono by looking at your uwamae.
Kimono designers create beautiful paintings and consider how the uwamae looks beautiful. When the sewists sew, they organize where to bring the most beautiful pattern on the uwamae.
So, if even if the holes are fixed but your uwamae doesn't look good, you don't want to wear it to a party. Just wear it for grocery shopping as a casual kimono!
I hope it makes sense to you!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Quick Update
It snowed all day long on Friday. It rarely snows in Kawasaki all day but yesterday was different. Snow tended to have more moisture and didn't stay on the ground, but it was freezing cold. My plants in the pots were siting on the veranda and watching the snow falling down on the ground.
Somehow it is really quite when it snows. Does the snow absorb all the noise? I feel like it's holly or pure moments when I see outside. It's just beautiful!
When I was in Iowa, it snowed a lot. Well, the amount wasn't much but I should call it COLD!!! You can't compare Iowa and Kawasaki! I still don't know how I survived two winters that the average temperature was negative 15 or so every day... I couldn't walk without my had, gloves, and the warm jacket. Under the jacket I had to put on my fleece... I can't spend a winter there any more... But it was my good experience and time!
Anyways, here are my plants survived the first snow in this winter.
Wild strawberries in front, rosemary behind.
Wild strawberries and some mint leaves.
Jasmine
Snow!
Somehow it is really quite when it snows. Does the snow absorb all the noise? I feel like it's holly or pure moments when I see outside. It's just beautiful!
When I was in Iowa, it snowed a lot. Well, the amount wasn't much but I should call it COLD!!! You can't compare Iowa and Kawasaki! I still don't know how I survived two winters that the average temperature was negative 15 or so every day... I couldn't walk without my had, gloves, and the warm jacket. Under the jacket I had to put on my fleece... I can't spend a winter there any more... But it was my good experience and time!
Anyways, here are my plants survived the first snow in this winter.
Wild strawberries in front, rosemary behind.
Wild strawberries and some mint leaves.
Jasmine
Snow!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Where do you keep your yarns and fabrics?
Poor my yarns and fabrics... They had been piled up in an ugly box for a while! Since we moved in here in Dec '09, my yarns and fabrics had been in one big paper box. Well, actually I didn't have lots back then, but slowly I learned how to manage my time with one small baby. So, slowly I started knitting and sewing again like before I had her.
You know it's hard to do things with a baby. My daughter was only 3 or 4 months old and she drove me quite crazy then. Now I know how to "control" myself and her.
Anyway, I got this basket to put both my yarns and fabrics last weekend. I thought it was big enough to contain all of them! However, the basket became full only with the yarns!! Ouch! So, I had to call the store and order one more... I should have known that...
But I think having two baskets is better than putting everything in one. I can just choose which one to open depending on my mood. "Do I want to knit today or sew something?" I haven't picked up the other one yet, but I'll get it this coming weekend.
Here is my yarn basket. One thing I wondered is if I will use up all the yarns or not... Am I just satisfied with the situation that I have lots of variations??? haha!
You know it's hard to do things with a baby. My daughter was only 3 or 4 months old and she drove me quite crazy then. Now I know how to "control" myself and her.
Anyway, I got this basket to put both my yarns and fabrics last weekend. I thought it was big enough to contain all of them! However, the basket became full only with the yarns!! Ouch! So, I had to call the store and order one more... I should have known that...
But I think having two baskets is better than putting everything in one. I can just choose which one to open depending on my mood. "Do I want to knit today or sew something?" I haven't picked up the other one yet, but I'll get it this coming weekend.
Here is my yarn basket. One thing I wondered is if I will use up all the yarns or not... Am I just satisfied with the situation that I have lots of variations??? haha!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Knitted Men's Mittens (Free Pattern)
Men's Mittens Free Pattern!
I knitted mittens for my husband. It's getting colder and colder every day, but he didn't have mittens!
It was really easy to make.
PLEASE NOTE; I'm not a professional knitter and also English is my 2nd language. The instruction isn't perfect! But please try it out!
Size Men's Midium (22cm long)
gauge: 28sts X 12 rows
needles: circular needles US8 and US7
hook US8
*Note I use the magic loop method to knit in rounds. If you don't use this method, prepare double pointed needles.
a thread needle
yarn:brown 1 skein
beige a little
waste yarn a little
Hand
Prepare US8 hook. Use provisional cast on, CO34 with waste yarn. (You'll remove the yarn later.)
Row1-3: Knit 3 rounds with brown yarn.
Row 4: with beige color, K31, M1P, place a marker, K3.
Row 5: K35.
Row 6: Repeat Row 4.
Row 7: Knit 1 with brown yarn, Knit 1 with beige yarn. Repeat.
Row 8-10: Repeat Row4 and 5.
You have 40 sts.
Row 11:Rest 12 sts and knit 28 sts in round with brown yarn.
Knit 22 rounds or knit until piece measures 13cm.
K2tog repeat. You have 14 sts.
K2tog repeat. You have 7 sts.
Break yarn and thread through remaining sts.
Thumb
Take brown yarn.
Knit 8 rnds or 4cm.
K2tog You have 6sts
Break yarn and thread through remaining sts.
Cuff
Carefully remove the waste yarn and pick up 34 sts with circular needles.
With brown yarn, (1X1 Ribbing) Knit 1 Purl 1 repeat until piece measures 4cm.
Cut yarn and BO with tubular bind off.
Just make one more!!!
I'd like to thank Stitch Diva Studios, Savannachik, and Knitting Daily. They show us great instructions.
I knitted mittens for my husband. It's getting colder and colder every day, but he didn't have mittens!
It was really easy to make.
PLEASE NOTE; I'm not a professional knitter and also English is my 2nd language. The instruction isn't perfect! But please try it out!
Size Men's Midium (22cm long)
gauge: 28sts X 12 rows
needles: circular needles US8 and US7
hook US8
*Note I use the magic loop method to knit in rounds. If you don't use this method, prepare double pointed needles.
a thread needle
yarn:brown 1 skein
beige a little
waste yarn a little
Hand
Prepare US8 hook. Use provisional cast on, CO34 with waste yarn. (You'll remove the yarn later.)
Row1-3: Knit 3 rounds with brown yarn.
Row 4: with beige color, K31, M1P, place a marker, K3.
Row 5: K35.
Row 6: Repeat Row 4.
Row 7: Knit 1 with brown yarn, Knit 1 with beige yarn. Repeat.
Row 8-10: Repeat Row4 and 5.
You have 40 sts.
Row 11:Rest 12 sts and knit 28 sts in round with brown yarn.
Knit 22 rounds or knit until piece measures 13cm.
K2tog repeat. You have 14 sts.
K2tog repeat. You have 7 sts.
Break yarn and thread through remaining sts.
Thumb
Take brown yarn.
Knit 8 rnds or 4cm.
K2tog You have 6sts
Break yarn and thread through remaining sts.
Cuff
Carefully remove the waste yarn and pick up 34 sts with circular needles.
With brown yarn, (1X1 Ribbing) Knit 1 Purl 1 repeat until piece measures 4cm.
Cut yarn and BO with tubular bind off.
Just make one more!!!
I'd like to thank Stitch Diva Studios, Savannachik, and Knitting Daily. They show us great instructions.