Japanese needlework technique - kanzashi. Daisies from satin ribbons

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:47

Kanzashi is an original needlework technique that came to us from the East. Namely from Japan. This technique is based on origami, only in this type of needlework, not paper, but silk ribbons and squares are folded. The result is very beautiful flowers, which are traditionally decorated with hair. No wonder this ancient Japanese art is being mastered by more and more female fans around the world.

The history of kanzashi

This type of handicraft originated thanks to Japanese geisha, who complemented their kimonos with original make-up and flowers using the kanzashi technique. Daisies, roses, asters, chrysanthemums - this is not a complete list of types of flowers that the craftswomen of that time made from silk. In Japan of those years, necklaces and bracelets were forbidden for women, so they decorated themselves using the kanzashi technique. Flowers (chamomile) turned out bright and unusually beautiful.

A camomile or an aster made of silk, woven into an intricate hairstyle, immediately attracted attention and singled out the girl from the crowd. At first, kanzashi ribbon daisies in Japanese society were just a fashionable attribute. Over time, such decorations began to reflect social status, belonging to a stratum of society, the presence of children and a husband. In translationKanzashi is Japanese for hairpin. This refers to a wooden, bone or metal hairpin on which a silk flower is attached.

Even today, when putting on a kimono, Japanese girls and women certainly adorn their hair with kanzashi. Origami silk jewelry is also worn by schoolchildren, and Japanese brides adorn their hair at weddings.

Choosing colors for kanzashi depending on the season

In Japan, each month of the year has its own hair ornaments. Each month is associated with certain flowers and plants, which are usually reflected in the hairstyle.

• January is the month of bamboo, plum blossoms and pine.
• February is the season for butterflies, daffodils and tulips.
• March - peonies, butterflies and peach blossoms.
• April is cherry blossom month.
• May - blue plants, usually wisteria and irises.
• June - carnation, hydrangea and weeping willow.
• July - a variety of flowers and plants, decorated with raindrops and dragonflies.
• August is the time of white and pink flowers.
• September - chrysanthemums, clover, deep pink bluebells and carnations.
• October is the time of red and white chrysanthemums.
• November is the month of falling leaves, maple is especially popular.
• December - white mochibana flowers, pine needles, bamboo.

General principles for creating kanzashi

You can fold into flower petals square blanks, or rectangular ones. As a result, products of various shapes are obtained: sharp, oblongor rounded. By combining different colors, the number and shape of the petals, you can get a huge variety of different types of flowers. Classic jewelry is created from silk and joined with rice glue. Modern needlewomen prefer more affordable materials - satin ribbons and a glue gun. So that the satin ribbon does not crumble during the manufacture of flowers, its edges are singeed with a candle or a lighter.

Kanzashi tools

To make products from satin ribbons you will need:

• Satin ribbons of different colors and widths.
• Sharp scissors.
• Candle or lighter.
• Thread and needle.
• Fabric glue.
• Tweezers.
• Finished hairpins, hairpins, hoops or elastic bands on which you will attach finished products.

This type of needlework does not require special material costs, the main thing you need for work: perseverance, accuracy and a desire to make a beautiful thing with your own hands.

Kanzashi technique. Chamomile: a master class for beginners

Chamomile is a flower that since ancient times symbolizes fidelity, love, tenderness, simplicity. According to Japanese rules, jewelry with such flowers is best worn in the summer, at the time of their flowering. In this master class, we will look at how to make daisies from kanzashi ribbons. So, let's look at all the steps in order.

What does the kanzashi technique require of us? Daisies will turn out unusually beautiful with the following materials:

• White satin or silk ribbon 40 mm wide.
• 13mm green satin or silk ribbon.
• Yellow rhinestones for the centers.
• Crocodile hair clip or elastic band.
• Lighter.
• Tweezers.
• Scissors.
• Ruler.
• Glue gun.
• White thread and needle.

Working order:

• To make chamomile from kanzashi ribbons, cut white satin into squares.
• The use of fire implies a kanzashi technique. Daisies should not "bloom", so the side edges of the squares need to be burned with a lighter. Our flower will have 11 petals, so we need 11 squares.
• We continue to create a masterpiece in the kanzashi technique. Daisies, as already mentioned, consist of squares, each of which must be folded diagonally.
• Collapse the corners of the resulting triangle to the center.
• Bend the rhombus in half vertically with the corners inward so that we again get a triangle.
• Using tweezers, take the workpiece parallel to the long side of the triangle. We cut off a right angle from it and burn it with a lighter.
• Spread the workpiece and get a petal.
• In the same way we make the rest of the elements of our flower.
• Now take a needle and thread and collect the petals into a chamomile.
• Cut out a circle with a diameter of 25 mm from a white ribbon. We burn its edges with a lighter. In order for our circle to turn out to be even and beautiful, you can first make a blank out of cardboard, and then circle it on a ribbon. as a templateyou can also use a large button.
• We take a needle and thread and make stitches along the edge of the circle, pulling it into a ball. This will be the backing for the petals.
• Start making green leaves. We take the appropriate ribbon and cut into pieces of 50 mm. For one chamomile, two pieces will be enough.
• Cut out the leaf. To do this, simply cut off a corner on one side or circle a cardboard leaf template.
• We burn the edges of the parts so that they do not crumble.
• Collecting the flower. Glue the petals to the substrate with a glue gun.
• Glue green leaves to the back of the substrate.
• We attach the back side of the flower to an elastic band for hair or a hairpin. To make the fastening more reliable, we glue a thin ribbon over the elastic to the substrate.
• It remains to attach the core of the flower - a yellow rhinestone.

The figure above shows the process of creating a chamomile flower step by step. A rather fascinating activity is the kanzashi technique. Chamomile, the master class of which is quite simple, turned out to be tender and lush. We hope you enjoyed our lesson.