Needle-less Traditional Craft: Tsumami-Zaiku
Hello. It’s me, Kuwahara, a staff member here at Kinsha.
In the city of Kyoto alive with tradition, there are many different workshops. In the previous blog post I talked about traditional Japanese sweets. This time, as the second installment of the Kyoto Experience series, I will introduce you to tsumami-zaiku.
Tsumami-zaiku. You may not be familiar with the word. It’s a type of handcraft that gained popularity in Japan during the Edo period that does not use needles or thread. It was commonplace for women to use these crafts as ornamental hairpins. Nowadays, you can find not only hairpins but also broaches and interior goods made with the same technique.
In Kyoto, there are numerous places where you can experience tsumami zaiku, but I went to the “Deko Boko An” classroom and enjoyed myself in the machiya-style atmosphere! Since I like complicated tasks very much, I chose the “double petal flower” corsage, which is a little bit on the difficult side.
This is how you make it:
① Choose your fabric
Once you chose which flower you’re going to make, you choose your favorite color and pattern fabric among the various options. There are many textures from chirimen to old fabric, and there are plain fabrics and patterned fabrics. This is the step that takes the most time. Since I decided to make a present for my mother, I chose a base of her favorite color purple.
② Pinch
選Depending on the flower you chose, the process of production is different. There are pointed flower petals called “dart pinches”, and there are rounded flower petals called “round pinches”. Both are made by folding the fabric into a triangle. You use tweezers as it is detailed work. Your sense is tested when you use pattered fabric because depending on where you fold the fabric, the look of the flower petals changes.
③ Apply glue
Spread glue on a wooden board, and place the flower petals that you’ve folded into triangles in the glue. If you don’t properly glue the parts together, then your flower will turn out misshapen, so be careful.
④ Place on the base
Once the glue has dried thoroughly, we will start placing the petals in order, starting from the large outer petals. The point is to apply them uniformly while matching the number of petals on all sides. It’s starting to look more and more like a flower♪
Add the inner flower petals, make dangling parts out of more small triangles, and complete your work by adding beads or pearls to the center to your liking!
Even though I didn’t use needle or thread, I was able to make a beautiful flower decoration! The wisdom of people from long ago is so amazing. Even if you’re not good with your hands, it’s okay! Since you don’t use needles, you can’t hurt yourself, and there’s no problem as long as you’re able to fold the fabric into neat triangles.
Since it’s something that takes time to make, you have a sense of accomplishment and joy once you finish that adds to the experience.