A stitch in time

After writing about feeling stressed, I got a message from my mom. She suggested that I do a sewing project to occupy myself. I considered her advice and settled on doing a traditional Japanese hand-sewing project, called sashiko.

Sashiko, a traditional Japanese embroidery style, dates back to the Edo period. It was originally used to make stronger workwear, weaving several layers of cloth together, but has evolved into decorative stitching used on clothes, quilts, and crafts. The most popular patterns are fish scales, diamonds, mountains, bamboo, persimmon leaves, arrows, pampas grass, shippo-tsunagi (geometric design that encompasses four eclipsis and a single circle) and interlocking geometric shapes.

I was surprised to learn that there typically aren't knots in sashiko. When starting a new thread, you sew a few stitches backwards and then go in the opposite direction. It is amazing how well it holds without tying off the threads.

I bought several sashiko kits at a fabric store to make handkerchiefs. Most Japanese people carry handkerchiefs since paper towels are rarely offered in public restrooms. So, these would be handy to have.

I quickly got busy stitching away.

Left: goldfish
Right: fundo

Left: dragonflies
Right: rabbits

shippo-tsunagi or seven treasures

It was a nice distraction from the chaos of Covid. I'd turn on an audiobook and stitch away, losing myself in the rhythm of moving the needle.

It was the perfect suggestion.

Time to find a project

As the State of Emergency in Tokyo continues (it was extended this week until March 7), I remain at home. Since the beginning of January, I have spent my days reading and cooking delicious meals for my family and doing little else. While I have loved this quiet time, I know I need more to stimulate my mind and hands. So, I pulled out my fabric box and decided I had ample fabric to make a quilt.

Instead of a regular quilt with a top, batting, and backing, I decided I would make a comforter cover using a pieced together quilt top. This would appease my aesthetics as well as my husband’s desire to sleep under a comforter.

The most common bed covering in Japan is the comforter. Many people (40% of people in Japan according to one study I saw) still sleep on a futon mattress, placed out on the floor at night, but tucked away into a closet during the day. These mattresses are thick and dense. But on top is a fluffy comforter that really traps the heat into the cocoon of bedding. We typically sleep on futons when we stay at small hotels.

Regardless if they sleep with a futon or a western style bed underneath them, the comforter is typically on top. Even in the hot summer months, there are “cool” comforters that help people not overheat during the night.

Over the past 16.5 years of marriage, my husband and I have had more than a few debates over bedding. While I prefer quilts, he prefers comforters. At some point I gave up trying to lure him to my side and relinquished myself to sleeping under a comforter - with my feet sticking out to not overheat.

Similar to most people who sew, I have collected fabrics from all over the place. I have a special fondness for fabrics with Japanese themes or traditional patterns. Over the past three and a half years, I have acquired a pretty nice collection.

After looking at everything in my fabric box, I went online and found a pattern that would show off the various fabrics. I had to alter the pattern just a bit to fit the queen sized comforter, but it wasn't too much hassle.

The next few days were spent cutting and sewing pieces together. It was a nice change of pace, as my hands found the rhythm of piecing together the pattern of squares and rectangles. I found myself smiling often as I was able to use several fabrics that I squirreled away a long time ago, knowing someday I would find the perfect project to use it in.

Since I wasn’t actually quilting this project, I decided to secure the top with some interfacing.

I still need to attach the backing. It should be a quick step since I am only attaching the two pieces of fabric along the edges in order to make a pocket for the comforter to slide into. I will also secure snaps on short tabs in the corners to hold the comforter securely in place, just like the store bought ones have.

For me, the hardest part about making a quilt is when I am all done. I find myself wanting to make more and more quilts, as I love the process as well as the joy the finished project brings. I wonder if any of my friends are in need of a quilt...

All dressed up

Summers in Japan are very hot and humid. Without proper attire, people overheat.  There are lots of outfits that are moisture wicking and very lightweight in shops to help battle the heat.  Another popular choice is a traditional summer outfit called a jinbei.  Jinbei is often worn at festivals throughout the hot months.  While it is more commonly worn by children, adults often wear the outfit to keep cool during the festivities.

When my son was first born, my mother made his very first jinbei.  He wore it to a Japanese festival in Seattle's International District when he was super little.  Since then, he has always had hand-me-down or store-bought jinbeis to wear each summer.

For some reason, I decided that I could and wanted to make him a jinbei for this summer.  Through a series of visits to various fabric stores, I was able to get all the supplies I needed - including seersucker fabric, known as "ripple" in Japanese.

It took me some time since I have never sewn clothes before (but I did watch my mother do it all my life) and the pattern was in Japanese.  Through a lot of guessing (some educated, others wild) and a bit of translation by my husband, I was able to complete the project.

As soon as I finished it, my son put it on.  He then refused to take it off for the rest of the evening.  That in itself made all the work worth it.  Plus it was nice to challenge myself with something new.

The sun will come out tomorrow

The weather has been quite crazy lately.  Rain one day, then sunny and beautiful the next.  Back to rainy, and so on and so forth.  It is very trying on already strayed nerves.

Although today was a rainy day, I had shorts on my mind.  My son refuses to stop growing, no matter how much I tell him to stop it.  This means his jeans are now highwaters.  Luckily it is the season (supposedly) to cut loose and let his knees see the sun.

I decided not just to chop them off, but give them a little flair by adding fun cuffs.  It didn't take very much time at all to sew them on and they turned out super cute.

While I spend most of my time keeping my son entertained, it is nice to entertain myself a little bit here and there.

Many many masks

I have been on a mask mission today.  With the stores being sold out of disposable masks for 2 months, plus my desire to waste less, I have been making as many as I can.

I've tried a couple different patterns.  Some sew faster than others and some fit better than others.  But I just keep on sewing!

One night I was trying to sew pleated masks and I broke 3 needles because I was sewing through too many layers!  So, I had to wait over a week for more needles to be shipped to my door.

As I dug through my box of quilting fabrics, I have gotten so excited to use various patterns.  I don't need much fabric for each mask, so I have lots of options.

Need to roll the edges of these and attach the elastic.  

Almost done!

I've made so many, I've been giving them away.  A lot of people don't sew, but would happily use a cloth mask.  I am so happy to share.  My neighbor was so confused when I left a couple on her doorstep!  But she quickly realized it was me.

I know that the masks aren't a guarantee to protect my family and friends from Covid-19, but it still makes me feel better to be making them and wear one.

On a roll

Just like kindergarten, kids are required to have multiple bags for elementary school.  At my son's school, they don't just need a randoseru.  They also need a music bag, art bag, and indoor shoe (known as uwabaki, oo-wah-baa-key) bag.

We bought the fabric on Saturday in Nippori and today, I got busy sewing.

My son, for some random reason, requested a reversible bag for his music bag and art bag.  I never feel like a seamstress, but somehow, I am able to make up patterns and create something out of nothing.  It must be genetic.  My mom can sew anything.

In fact, I think my mother would have been laughing to see me sewing today.  I was featuring crazy hair (it was raining and all my cowlicks were standing at full attention) and rocking out to John Denver.  Well, laughing in a "that's my daughter" kind of way.

I'm amazed every time I hear schools "strongly recommending" mothers to sew these bags, and how few actually do.  Typically the chore is pawned off on grandma, a seamstress, or simply purchased instead.  It isn't that I think all moms should know how to sew or even that they need to make these bags.  It is more that I view it as an honor to sew these things for my son and do everything I can to make it happen.  In the end, it doesn't matter where a kid's bag comes from.  I do think the schools should leave moms to make the decision and not pressure them into making something they really don't want to.

I finished one bag today and have 2 more to do.  I should get the second one done tonight, as I'm almost finished with that one.  I absolutely think my son will love them.  I can't wait to see his face when he sees the finished product!

Ready for the sniffles

At my son's school, all the kids wear little fabric pouches on their hips.  Inside the pouch is a pack of tissues and a tiny hand towel.  I bought one for my son last year.  He picked a light blue one with strawberries on it.  He wore it constantly, except when I was scrubbing it repeatedly.  School is filled with discovery, including getting very dirty some days.

School is also full of runny noses, especially this time of year.  Wearing the pouches makes a lot of sense since their pants have such tiny pockets.

I was getting pretty tired of washing it to keep the light color bright, so before my beloved Craft Park (the local fabric store) closed its doors I bought some darker fabric.  I used my son's current pouch as a pattern and whipped it up in a short time.

When my son saw what I made, his whole face lit up.  It is so nice to make something for someone who is so appreciative.

It's tradition!

As soon as I saw the Nerima City Office Regional Promotion Section's Facebook post about a traditional craft tour, I knew my family would be keen to join the fun.  We have really enjoyed past tours and we are very interested in traditional crafts, so it was a good match for us.

The group met at Nerima Station shortly after lunchtime.  After a short greeting and introduction of our translators (this time we had English and Chinese translators, but if needed several other languages can be supported), we headed into the Nerima Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition.

We walked over to a small area where we were able to watch and enjoy a traditional tea ceremony demonstration.  While everyone wouldn't typically be in chairs during a tea ceremony, this was the best setup for the exhibition.  Watching a woman (I've never seen a man perform a tea ceremony) calmly and precisely walk through the steps of making matcha is beautiful.  First they shared wagashi (beautifully created sweets in the shape of nature to be enjoyed with matcha) with everyone.  Then they told us about the ceremony and different components, like where the person of honor sits and how the participants should admire the cups as much as the tea.

I am always impressed with the ceremony itself, but also with the enthusiasm my son shows toward traditional events like this.  He asked my husband several questions and cheerfully drank the matcha.

When everyone was done with their tea, we walked over to the wasai booth.  Wasai is Japanese dress making, most specifically the sewing of kimono.  It is all done by hand using techniques passed down from generation to generation.  As a person that sews a little bit, it was a beautiful thing to see.  He worked so quickly and used his foot to keep the tension in the fabric.

We then learned about the process of making hand-drawn dying called yuzen.  By drawing directly on the fabric with rubber and rice it prevents parts of the fabric from accepting the dye.  The artist then removes the rice and fills in the areas to create amazing pieces of artwork.  I was floored to learn that when they colorize the drawing, they do it over heat.  How they don't burn the fabric is beyond me.

There were lots of other booths demonstrating a variety of crafts that we enjoyed learning about.  My son really liked trying to weave braids and blow into a shakuhachi (a bamboo woodwind instrument).

After the exhibition, our group walked to a local junior high where we had a lesson in origata (paper folding using washi traditional paper that used to be taught to women in etiquette classes).  We had so much fun folding paper into gift envelopes, chopstick holders, and toothpick pockets.

The day was so interesting and informative.  It is always wonderful to learn more about Japanese culture.  I am so appreciative of the opportunity afforded to us by the city through these outings.

A bit of cloth

As soon as my friends found out that I quilt, they told me about Nippori, a street in Tokyo nicknamed Textile Town.  I have wanted to go ever since, but have been nervous to go since it sounded so overwhelming. 

Since moving to Tokyo, I have not sewn very much.  I made bags for my son and other little things here and there.  I didn't bring my sewing machine or any of my quilting supplies, so making a quilt really was the furthest thing from my mind.  In fact, my husband bought me a new machine just so I could make the bags!

Then a dear friend got pregnant and I yearned to make her baby a quilt.  She and her husband have visited us in Japan and we travelled here together many years ago.  I immediately imagined a Japanese themed quilt.  I wanted this quilt to capture the memories of our friendship along with the joy this baby will bring.

I went to the local Craft Park and found lovely fabrics to make this special quilt.  My son eagerly helped me pick fabrics.  I went home and got busy.  It took me a few days to complete (I can do it that fast when my son is at school).  With each stitch, I knew the intent of the quilt was coming to fruition. 

Since the completion of the baby quilt, I have been itching to sew more.  I wanted to create.  So I grabbed some tenugui that I had laying around and made pillows.  The feeling didn't wane, and I wanted to sew more.  However, I didn't have very much fabric laying around.  My stash is still in the states!

My stepmom is the person who taught me how to quilt.  I had returned from living in Japan 16 years ago and she decided I needed a project to occupy myself while I looked for a job.  So, it was very fitting that she and I would explore Nippori together. 

After dropping my son off at school, we took the train to Nippori Station.  There were several signs pointing us toward Textile Town, which starts only a few blocks from the station. 

We knew we had arrived because the fabric stores spill into the streets.  Carts filled with pieces of fabric and buttons were stationed outside the picture windows, enticing people inside. 

We had a great time wandering down the street.  There were so many specialty shops, but many general shops as well.  I couldn't believe the shear volume of textiles and accessories.  We enjoyed the button shops, leather stores, and more fabric than we've ever seen in a single area before.  I read somewhere that this street holds the largest collection of Japanese made textiles in all of Japan.  There were so many fabrics with Made in Japan printed on the edge, I totally believe this claim. 

We spent a few hours shopping.  I had to restrain myself so I didn't come home with a humungous stack of material.  But I did find some fabric for a new project.  I can't wait to get going once again!

A scrap of fabric

While going through all my belongings (thank you Marie Kondo!  My house is making me so happy and less stressed.), I have found several tenugui, Japanese hand towels.  I have collected these while traveling around Japan.  Each is printed with beautiful designs (at least the ones I buy are beautiful).  I bought them because they made me happy and being in a box was not bringing the joy.  So I needed to do something to put them on display.

Many people use their tenugui as hand towels, scarfs, or put them on display in their houses.  While I could have purchased frames for them and stuck them on the wall, I decided that I would prefer to make pillows with the long pieces of fabric instead.

I folded the first tenugui in thirds to make a square pillow.  I happened to have a pillow form laying around, a guest left it at some point this past year and didn't want it back.  I put this pillow in our guest room on my glider.  Now every time I walk past the open door, I smile, appreciating the pillow.

The second pillow, I used two tenugui and left them as rectangles.  This way I could display the pillow on my couch with whichever design strikes my fancy that particular day.  I purchased several bags of filling at Daiso, the ¥100 shop.  My son is now hauling it all over the place.  I am pretty sure he likes it as much as I do.

Both took me less than a half hour to complete and now I get to see these beautiful Japanese cloths all the time.  My husband suggested I start sewing all my furoshiki into pillows, but I prefer to use those as bags!

Tomorrow it begins...

Tomorrow is a very big day in our household.  Our son will begin his next chapter.  It's his first day of kindergarten! 

He's been begging to go "back" to school since we first moved to Japan.  He attended a Japanese daycare/preschool in Seattle that was very much a part of our lives.  Some of his best friends are from that school.  He loved playing with his friends, participating in music classes, and eating school lunches.  He stopped attending his school a month before we moved because we had so much to take care of before the move.  And he hasn't stopped talking about it since.

A few months ago we started the registration process.  My husband contacted the school to make sure there would be an opening.  We applied, went through the interview process, and completed all the required paperwork.  We then attended meetings that gave us instructions for the start of kindergarten. 

Some of the instructions were expected.  Since most school children in Japan wear uniforms, it was nice to know where to buy the school uniform.  But some of the instructions took me by surprise.  I did not know I would be "strongly encouraged" to hand make all my son's bags for schools.  He would need 5 bags - lunch, cup, indoor shoes, extra set of clothes, and books (for library day).  After asking around, this "recommendation" is very common here.  Most of the park moms sew the bags themselves.  Others ask grandma to make them.  One mom even had a friend make them for her child.  However, no one buys them from the store.  They are all handmade.

Luckily, I know how to sew and my husband purchased a new sewing machine for me (my US one wouldn't have worked due to the differences in electrical systems).  I went to the fabric store and bought kits that included instructions, cords, and straps.  I also picked out some fabric that I thought he would like.  He has recently become really interested in maps.  So, I picked a cute map-like fabric for his bags.

It was an interesting challenge since the directions were in Japanese and I have never made bags before.  I didn't let that deter me.  I got busy making the bags and quickly found myself reminiscing.  When I was pregnant I made several quilts for my unborn baby.  Now as he's getting ready for school, I'm making him bags.  I was close to tears when I suddenly realized my son was belting out Neil Diamond songs along with my iTunes playlist.  Soon we were both singing along to "America" at the top of our lungs.  Saved from having a total tear-fest, I powered through and got the bags done without losing it.

We've picked up his uniform, got all his bags made, and labelled everything.  We're all set.  Now we just have to get ourselves to the welcome ceremony tomorrow.  And I'm not promising no tears tomorrow.  It's a big moment for us.

Tenugui

For the past couple of weeks, I spend almost every weekday at the park with my son.  He runs around, rides his bicycle, and plays with friends.  In the meantime, I go to the store while other moms keep an eye on my son, talk with moms, enjoy any sunshine we are gifted, and do small projects that I can take to the park with me.

Recently, I have been busy writing letters and doing small sewing projects.  Today I worked on making lunch bags with tenugui. 

Tenugui is a Japanese handtowel.  It is one item that ALL Japanese people have.  Tenugui is a long piece of lightweight cotton (typically about 35 by 90 centimeters). It is commonly used for a number of things - washcloth, dish towel, headband, souvenir, decoration, or for wrapping items such as bottles.

To make it into the lunch bag, you simply fold the tenugui into thirds.  Sew two layers along one matching edge (say the bottom edge, along the red line). 

Then refold the fabric so the sewn piece is open and the opposite edges are lined up (the top edge/red line in this example).  Sew these two layers together.

That's it!  This bag can be used to carry any number of things.  Many of the moms I hang out with in the park every day have them and use them constantly - for lunches, toys, extra clothing, and more.  You simply slip your items into the bag and tie the two flaps together as tightly (secure) or loosely (to make a handle) as you want.

As I finished my second one today, some of the moms started teasing me that I was "so Japanese" for making these bags.  It just made me laugh.  This is bag is super useful and I can't wait to use it again and again.