My first order-made juban / 襦袢初誂え

My first tailor-made juban is finally delivered.  One of my kitsuke teachers once told me that polyester juban ('silook') is very convenient, and it really looks like real silk.  It can be machine washed and dried easily.  Hope that this new juban makes my kimono life easier. 
初めてシルックの襦袢を作ってみた。以前着付けの先生の一人が、シルックの襦袢は見た目も正絹とほとんど同じでお手入れが楽、家で洗濯もできてしまうし虫も食わないと言っていた。これからの着物ライフを少し楽にしてくれるかもしれない。

Finally... new kimono & haori / ついに、小紋と羽織、初めてのお仕立て

My husband graciously decided to buy a new kimono for my birthday present.  To be in time for my birthday in February, we placed the order today at Kasoyo.  I also ordered a new haori jacket, too. 
I was born in a year of dragon, which also turns around in year 2012, I want to keep up momentum in enjoying kimono. 
主人が2月の誕生日にと、花想容さんで小紋を誂えてくれることになった。夫殿、感謝でございます。
自前で羽織も注文。来年は年女、着物も勢いを増したい。

Remaking kimono into haori jacket / 小紋を羽織へ

My favorite red plum-pattern kimono has long been sleeping in the closet, without being worn for years.  The reason was because the color was too bright for my current age, although I do love the color and pattern.  It is generally understood that bright red kimonos are usually for ladies in twenties or even younger.  It is sad that I can no longer wear my farorite red color, but there is always a dress code to follow when wearing kimono. 
This problem has long been botheing me, but I was advised by my kimono-sewing teacher that I should ask kimono shop to dye it into different color.  So I finally decided to consult with Kasoyo-san, my favorite shop. 
However, Kasoyo-san suggested me to re-make this kimono into haori jacket, rather than changing the color.  I was surprised to know that the pattern of the kimono is so well-done and the textile itself is of a very good quality (although I bought it very cheap at a second-hand shop many years ago), because of which it is a better idea to change its shape into a jacket, rather than changing the color and spoiling the current beautiful contrast of bright red and many plum branches.  Also, jackets can be of a fancier color for ladies above 30 years old, as the shop owner advised.  As a result, it was decided that my fancy color kimono transform into a nice red haori jacket.  It will be delivered in mid-February.  I'm really looking forward to it. 

Yukata completed! / ついに浴衣完成！

Finally... finally... my first hand-made yukata is completed this Saturday!  I'm very impressed that I could make it!  It's no longer summer, and I cannot wear it soon.  I will wait and look forward to next summer.  Probably this yukata will look nice with my hakata obi. 

ついに、ついに、初めての次作ゆかたが土曜日の和裁教室で完成した！自分で縫い上げられたことが、本当に感慨深い。もう夏ではないのですぐには着られないが、来年の夏を楽しみに待とうと思う。半襟をつけて、博多帯とかが合いそう。

Completing yukata making soon / 浴衣完成目前

My first hand-made yukata is soon complete.  Finished homework today, and finally completing at next weekend class. 
1つ目の浴衣が完成目前。袖の中をくけて今日宿題が終わったので、次週末のおけいこで最終的に出来上がり。

It was a long way...  now yukata does look like a kimono!  それにしてもよく縫ったものだ。ちゃんときものの形になっている。

After doing the homework, I also prepared for the next roll to sew.  宿題の次は、次に縫う反物の準備。

At both ends, mark the outside and the inside for all the cloth of nearly 10 meters. 
10メートル近い布地全体にわたり糸印で表裏の印をつける。

To have a break after all this, a cup of green tea with Japanese sweets is the best choice.  Rice cake from Kikuya in a very nice blue box, which was sent from mother-in-law in Nara. 
その後、抹茶と菊屋の城の口餅で一休み。またもや素敵な柄の箱。

Kamakura One-Day Trip / 鎌倉一日旅

October kimono gathering @ Kamakura.  Getting together at Shinjuku St. at 8:30am (!), we headed for Kamakura on Odakyu & Enoden. 
At Fujisawa St. changing to Enoden, we were suddenly surrounded by a huge number of foreign tourists trying to take photos of us!  What's happening here...?  Their tour guide told us that they were visiting Japan on JICA's inter-cultural event.  It was just like being a movie star, chased by media cameramen clicking shutter of cameras endlessly.  We were the focus of millions of flashing cameras. 

10月のきもの会は待望の鎌倉一日旅。早朝8：30に新宿駅集合(！)、小田急と江ノ電を乗り継いで鎌倉へ。
藤沢駅で江ノ電に乗り換え時、おもむろに外国人観光客らしき大群に包囲される。いったい何が起きているのか？ガイドさんいわく、ＪＩＣＡの国際交流イベントで訪日中の外国人たちらしい。しばしの間フラッシュの洪水を浴び続け、映画スターのよう。

Nice visit to temples and shopping time in spite of a heavy rain and hot, humid weather.  When we came to the Buddha statue, sunshine started to come back. 

大雨と蒸し暑さの中だったが、いろんなお寺の訪問やお買い物が楽しめた一日。大仏さんのところに来たらお日さまが戻ってきた。

Visiting Former Maeda Residence / 旧前田邸訪問

September kimono gathering was a visit to former Maeda Residence in Hongo, Tokyo.  My first time of wearing linen/cotton mix kimono, which was specially order-made for September.  With a blue autumn flower pattern obi, my favorite item for this season. 

9月のきもの会は東京・本郷の旧前田邸訪問。9月の単衣の時期のためにきものギャラリー妟さんで誂えた綿麻きものに初めて袖を通す。この季節いちばんお気に入りの秋草柄名古屋帯を合わせて。