More Progress

First of all, a few years ago, Samantha and I did a geisha makeover at Metrocon.  Here is one of my favorite pictures from it.  I am wearing the blue kimono, as the big sister, and Samantha is wearing the pink kimono.

Next - this weekend will be jam packed.

I was working on my stretcher frame, trying to get the pins bend so that they would create the hooks, and I realized that the pins I had bought specifically for this were way to small.  Luckily, I had some other pins that I could use, but then I couldn't find needle nose pliers.  That was solved when I found a pair of bent tweezers that I used to bend the pins, and I managed to bend about half of them.  So tonight I plan to finish bending all the pins and then, tomorrow, I am going to paint the kimono shell and sew the obi, as I finally bought my obi stiffener.

Also, I bought the fabric for the tatoushi, so I will try and get that done tonight as well.

On Sunday, I will be washing out my fabric, and then, during the week, I will be locking myself in my sewing room trying to get the kimono sewn.  I also need to sew the han-juban, but that will be very easy.

I have decided to not paint on the obi, as, if it is folded in half, I do not want the paint to rub off on the kimono.

My goal is to have the kimono done by mid-afternoon on next Saturday, the 26th, so that Samantha can come over and try it on.  It needs to be by mid-afternoon because I am having a chili cook-off with my mom and my sister's family in the evening.

I will have to work very hard, but I believe that I can get everything done.

Wish me luck!

Kristin

First Dyeing Attempt

Just finished dyeing the lining and han-juban fabric for the kimono. This is my first attempt at dyeing fabric using fiber reactive dyes.

I wwas nervous because the dye has more turquoise in it so you have to dye it on higher temperatures,  and was floored with the color I got. 

First dyeing attempt - successful!