I stayed up way too late last night trying to finish this. Girls Day is next Friday and I want to make some kokeshi pins for Buddy's teachers. She's about 2 inches high and I envisioned her driving home last night. In my mind the design seemed simple enough, but the execution was a time killer and I always get bogged down in the details.
First I was only going to have her wear an obi. But then I thought I should add a tomoeri (overcollar). And once I added that I felt like she needed an uraeri (inner collar) too. Do you see where this is going? I studied traditional Japanese dance for several years in high school and I learned a little about wearing kimono and the many layers involved, so it was hard not to keep adding all the different elements.
That being said, for the next one I'm going to make the tomoeri a bit more narrow and add an obi-jime (cord) over the obi and it'll be done. Simple right?
One last thing about kimonos, if you ever wear one make sure that you wrap the right side over your body first and then overlap with the left side. Right over left is only used when dressing a corpse for a funeral. This used to totally freak me out when I was younger and it still unnerves me when I see kimono worn with the right over left. So bachi.
She's GORGEOUS. I really think she was worth all your effort!
Posted by: Gillian Greding | February 24, 2006 at 10:41 AM
very cute, I like her hair.
Posted by: Snowbear | February 24, 2006 at 10:52 AM
Utterly charming!
Posted by: Jan | February 24, 2006 at 11:10 AM
She's so beautiful! I love this! It's so detailed! =O
Posted by: emma | February 24, 2006 at 11:29 AM
Your little kokeshi pin is so adorable!!! I love all the kimono detailing and she looks so demure and sweet. You're so creative and talented! And it freaks me out a little, too, how there are so many things related to dead people in Japanese etiquette... the kimono right over left, pouring water "dead man's style," round musubi, funeral flowers, etc. I'll definitely remember the kimono tip next time I dress Stinky up! ;-) Take care, Myra! :-)
Posted by: chris | February 24, 2006 at 11:42 AM
She's charming! I can't wait to do the whole girls day thing!
When the Kyoto pattern was published on Knitty there was pattern errata to correct for the cross of the front of the sweater.
Posted by: Erin | February 24, 2006 at 11:58 AM
wow! she's amazing! i love her!
Posted by: cynthia | February 24, 2006 at 11:58 AM
I love her. She's too cute! I've worn a kimono before for a play and I think we got it right, with some help from a friend. I love learning about traditional clothing from any culture. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Carly | February 24, 2006 at 12:37 PM
P.S. Forgot to say I *love* the fabric in the background too! Such cuteness!!
Posted by: Carly | February 24, 2006 at 12:38 PM
That's is so great...and the detail looks amazing...
I have the fabric you have in the background but in red!
Posted by: joyce | February 24, 2006 at 01:03 PM
wow, she is absolutely beautiful, such details!
Posted by: michelle | February 24, 2006 at 01:10 PM
so pretty! what a lovely gift. i love all the preparation for girls' day - right now the supermarkets here are full of pretty candies and amezaki (sp?) and there are so many lovely dolls on display in stores.
Posted by: suzy | February 24, 2006 at 02:45 PM
Very cute! I think it's the details that make the kimono so special. I take special kimono wearing lessons, too, so I can appreciate all the layers (and how annoying it is when you forget one!).
Posted by: molly | February 24, 2006 at 03:35 PM
i love your detailed work on your adorable kokeshi pin! so authentic!
Posted by: debbie | February 24, 2006 at 05:31 PM
OMG!! That's got to be the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. The effort was worth it!
Posted by: Frizz | February 24, 2006 at 05:49 PM
Oh, so sweet!
Posted by: Julia / ticky tacky | February 24, 2006 at 06:04 PM
She is a doll, Myra. So sweet! I'll have to remember about wrapping the kimono left over right.
Her face is very cute and I love your details.
Posted by: Barb | February 24, 2006 at 08:37 PM
she is just gorgeous! Buddy's teacher is very lucky!
Posted by: Niina | February 24, 2006 at 11:09 PM
Adorable! Love the little braids in her hair!
Posted by: mina | February 25, 2006 at 03:42 AM
Oh Myra, she is adorable! My older daughter just did a presentation on traditional japanese clothing and the one thing that stuck out for her too was crossing the kimono the right way. She even wore a kimono in class during her presentation. We made chopstick holders for the students and she made sure the paper kimono was crossed the right way. The teachers are so lucky! They are going to love her!
Posted by: stacey | February 25, 2006 at 07:35 AM
Oh she's toooo cute ! I love her ! You're so talented !! Big hugs from Belgium !
Posted by: Sandrine (alias Didine!) | February 25, 2006 at 11:00 AM
She's just terrific! Such a sweet expression and the attention to detail is lovely.
Posted by: abbyjane | February 25, 2006 at 01:24 PM
Myra, you are a genius. You really have a gift. This is excellent!! I love her hair most of all.
Posted by: A.J. | February 25, 2006 at 03:04 PM
Buddy's teachers are 2" tall? That's crazy!
Posted by: justJENN | February 25, 2006 at 08:47 PM
i love her! and the details always get me too - but they make everything better x10!
Posted by: Laurie | February 26, 2006 at 12:05 PM