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Kurokami-Kanzashi — Hanayome Uchikake

Published: 2007-12-07 17:53:51 +0000 UTC; Views: 7398; Favourites: 105; Downloads: 0
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Description Or as I like to call it "Pain in the Butt Uchikake." Seriously, I dunno if it's just that it's a lot harder to make uchikake or if this fabric just really didn't want me to sew it, but it seemed like everything that could go wrong in making this thing did (short of me cutting off something important - I've done that before. That's why my camelia houmongi has one sleeve on backwards.) Anyways, first I forgot that uchikake are not lined the same way as regular kimono, so I didn't buy enough gold fabric to line it entirely, I only had enough to do a hakkake. So mine is lined like a regular furisode. Then the lining I did use on this thing didn't work. I measured everything two times over and still I managed to make the trunk lining pieces a good 14 inches too long! So, I wasted 48 inches of high quality lining fabric like that! Then the patterns didn't want to match across the seams. When I got one thing in place something else moved out of place. I pinned things in the wrong spot. My sewing machine started going all tempermental on me too; breaking the thread, rippling the fabric, sometimes it seemed to forget that I had tension settings on it. Then my hand sewing started frustrating me - the thread kept knotting and tangling, and no matter how hard I tried to keep the seems flat they rippled! AAAAAARGH!

Anyways, so after 31.25 hours of cursing, whining and coughing (I'm sick right now) my uchikake is finally finished! I'm planning to use it for a tayuu cosplay. I know that tayuu have short sleeved uchikake, but I decided to keep the full length sleeves - I'll pin them up inside, when I do the cosplay. The reason why I kept the full length sleeves, is because I realised that I already have a bride's furisode and a bride's wig. So I figured with the long sleeved uchikake I've got a nice collection of bridal attire. Unfortunately the wingspan on the uchikake is a little too long for my bride's furisode, because the uchikake was made to fit my arm length and the bride's furisode is vintage. And most vintage kimono don't fit my arm length, by any stretch of the imagination.

Well, the top two images are meant to show you how an uchikake is worn as part of the bridal ensemble. It's like an over coat. If you're wondering why it looks like I tried to dress a midget in those photos, it's because my dress form decided that the entire ensemble was too heavy for it and the adjustable height mechanism gave out. The last photo is sort of a just in case you wanted to see sort of thing. That's what the bride's furisode underneath the uchikake looks like.
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Comments: 71

Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to ??? [2013-06-10 03:16:13 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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KiusLady [2012-12-07 04:20:30 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful work!!

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to KiusLady [2013-06-10 03:16:17 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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Lyna-LoopS [2010-12-17 12:21:27 +0000 UTC]

My god it's a masterchief !

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to Lyna-LoopS [2010-12-18 02:54:09 +0000 UTC]

????

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wndyeliza [2010-07-27 13:17:31 +0000 UTC]

WOW! I know this is an old post, but OMG! Well worth the cursing, whining, and vows of "I'm NEVER going to do THIS again". And coupled with the fact you can wear it correctly...I'm completely jealous.
Wonderful stuff here!

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to wndyeliza [2010-09-09 02:05:58 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much!

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QueenToast [2009-10-27 17:46:06 +0000 UTC]

When you wear these together, do the sleeves get tucked in to the other? I have taken in interest in kimono, but the how to's of wearing them are a little lost on me.

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to QueenToast [2009-11-05 04:01:20 +0000 UTC]

Yep, you tuck the sleeves into each other. If you're interested in learning to wear kimono, the kitsuke sections on these two forums are very helpfull: [link] and [link]

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QueenToast In reply to Kurokami-Kanzashi [2009-11-05 14:23:43 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful. Thank you!

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siren10101 [2009-10-05 07:33:35 +0000 UTC]

Gah this one is stuck doing her first yukata cause i havn't been able to ask mum to help me!
Are there any tricks you can give me to help me out?

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TatsuFuku [2009-04-25 03:22:38 +0000 UTC]

hmm what kind of fbric did you use? that is soo beautiful! and just out of curiosity isn't it usually a kakeshita that bride's wear for their wedding with the uchikake?

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to TatsuFuku [2009-05-02 22:26:22 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! This kimono was sewn from vintage kimono silk, with silk and cotton lining (the gold part is cotton). Yes kakeshita is one of the names for the "bride's furisode" which is worn under the uchikake. Bride's furisode are also sometimes referred to as honfurisode.

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Kagitsune [2008-02-03 08:27:52 +0000 UTC]

Your comments are so funny...but so sad. T^T I know what it's like to have a "YOU...SHALL NOT...SEWWWW!" outfit...

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to Kagitsune [2008-02-10 05:09:16 +0000 UTC]

LOL! Aren't those outfits the worst!? I kept promising the thing, "Iif you just behave, you'll be really pretty when you're finished." Of course, it didn't listen. XD

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Kagitsune In reply to Kurokami-Kanzashi [2008-02-10 16:34:28 +0000 UTC]

Like a disobedient child who you're getting ready for church or something, eh? xD

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LittleMewKitty [2008-01-15 03:51:28 +0000 UTC]

looks beautiful ^-^

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to LittleMewKitty [2008-01-22 01:31:19 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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utqtbry [2007-12-16 05:22:16 +0000 UTC]

Absolutly beautiful! For all the problems you had with it, it looks like it came out perfect to me! I'm sure you looked great in it! I am so jealous, I would kill for an ensemble like that!

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to utqtbry [2007-12-17 03:58:39 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much!

...

DON'T KILL ME!!!

*hides*

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Tenshi-blues [2007-12-09 21:47:21 +0000 UTC]

Stunning fabric! You seem to be very lucky when it comes to finding just the right fabrics for your kimonos ^__^

Beautifully made! Did you sew it all on the machine? I've not been sure whether I should sew a large one by hand or on the machine!!

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to Tenshi-blues [2007-12-17 04:15:01 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! I have good sources for fabric. *is a silkaholic*

Have you seen Ichiroya's website? They're one of the best sources of Japanese fabric I've found. [link]

This kimono was done mostly by machine, but there are certain parts that pretty much have to be done by hand (the collar and closing the front panels mostly - but I also attached the sleeves by hand too). They say, that a truly good kimono will be sewn entirely by hand. Every kimono I've seen from Japan has been hand sewn. I use the sewing machine mostly because I loath the fabric puckering that occurs when I hand sew.

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Tenshi-blues In reply to Kurokami-Kanzashi [2007-12-17 09:01:49 +0000 UTC]

I only have 1 original Japanese kimono and that's sewn by hand as well and I can understand why, because apparantly to wash one it's unpicked, each panel is washed and then sewn back together - wouldn't want to have to do that too often

I'll probably go with part machine, part hand sewing when I finally get around to trying to make one for myself. I know what you mean about puckering and I keep thinking "steam iron" but of course I don't think silk would like that ^__^

Thanks for the link, but I'm stuck with buying what I can find in shops in the UK and my local stores have nothing I like, so I'm going further afield this week in the hopes of finding something - doesn't have to be silk, just nice!!

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to Tenshi-blues [2007-12-31 01:57:54 +0000 UTC]

Well, good luck with finding stuffs!

Hee hee, one of my Japanese friends says that in her Grandmother's time it was an essential skill for a woman to be able to unpick a kimono, wash it, dry it and sew it all back together in a single day...

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Tenshi-blues In reply to Kurokami-Kanzashi [2007-12-31 11:24:45 +0000 UTC]

Thankyou! I have found some rather nice fabric that will make a nice kimono, but it's far from silk Still it's nice and I could afford it on my budget (I actually got 6 metres of fabric for the equivalent of $30!).

Woah! Now that certainly would be a skill!!

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to Tenshi-blues [2008-01-22 01:57:33 +0000 UTC]

Well, there are many fabrics that can work for kimono. I hope this one works well for you! 6 metres for $30? NICE!

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Tenshi-blues In reply to Kurokami-Kanzashi [2008-01-22 07:44:58 +0000 UTC]

Thankyou ^__^

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BlackTowerOfTime [2007-12-09 18:36:11 +0000 UTC]

great uchikake. the pattern are also mice. very good work

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to BlackTowerOfTime [2007-12-17 04:16:00 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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LiebestodBlut [2007-12-09 15:50:20 +0000 UTC]

OMG! stunning uchi! 0.o

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to LiebestodBlut [2007-12-17 04:16:17 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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LiebestodBlut In reply to Kurokami-Kanzashi [2007-12-28 17:33:00 +0000 UTC]

welcome!

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mytien [2007-12-09 08:13:04 +0000 UTC]

You're sick? D: Hope you feel better soon.

Anyway, that's absolutely amazing! I love the colors and patterns. So bold and prettyful.

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to mytien [2007-12-17 04:17:21 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! *is getting better* YAY! I LIKE BEING HEALTHY!

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terverius [2007-12-08 04:45:19 +0000 UTC]

This is absolutely beautiful! That fabric is gorgeous!

I'm fairly good at sewing, but I don't think I'd have the guts to try something like this. Light silky fabric has never worked well for me.

That 31 hours was worth it! You have to be proud of this!

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to terverius [2007-12-08 05:01:01 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so very much! I just can't wait until I'll get the chance to wear it out somewhere and do a really awesome cosplay.

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Patoriisu [2007-12-08 03:09:57 +0000 UTC]

amazing! i wish i could do something like that

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to Patoriisu [2007-12-08 04:10:38 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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Cushi-Wu [2007-12-08 01:25:17 +0000 UTC]

I know your pain...

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to Cushi-Wu [2007-12-08 04:10:57 +0000 UTC]

*cries*

Why doesn't the uchikake like me!

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Phoria [2007-12-07 21:16:04 +0000 UTC]

It's still a very lovely piece. I love the pattern (the light blue one!)

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to Phoria [2007-12-08 04:11:27 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much!

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shadowgeisha [2007-12-07 20:32:29 +0000 UTC]

Amazing and beautiful

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to shadowgeisha [2007-12-08 04:14:21 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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myloko [2007-12-07 20:04:02 +0000 UTC]

You still did an amazing job! Get better soon

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to myloko [2007-12-08 04:16:23 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! *shakes fist at ineffective antibiotics... and antibiotic resistant strain of bronchitis*

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myloko In reply to Kurokami-Kanzashi [2007-12-09 02:35:22 +0000 UTC]

Eww sounds like those drug-resistant strains have been running around lately >.> OJ, rest and plenty of sleep? Oh... and if you get bored... craft in bed? XD

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to myloko [2007-12-17 04:21:37 +0000 UTC]

*sewed half the uchikake in bed*

What else could I do!?

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myloko In reply to Kurokami-Kanzashi [2007-12-17 20:06:13 +0000 UTC]

Oh poor Christina! At least you got something done while you were sick! I tend to just lay around and be a miserable blob. Oh how I envy your drive to work and create

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Kurokami-Kanzashi In reply to myloko [2007-12-31 01:55:52 +0000 UTC]

Well, I had two choices. Sit at home and be bored out of my mind, or sit at home and sew an uchikake... So I sewed an uchikake. XD

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