New Kimono

I got some new summer (unlined) kimono. They are the machine washable variety, and that makes it very convenient to deal with them and wash them, but the big drawback is that those suckers are hot! Washing kimono is a huge ordeal. Traditionally the kimono are cut apart along the seams and washed in strips of fabric stretched on bamboo sticks. The fabric is very delicate and is easily stained. The advent of the machine washable kimono makes wearing a kimono much more accessible and inexpensive.

Here are the new kimono. These are fresh out of the washer, pardon, they are a bit wrinkled.

The first one features a pine needle and leaf pattern, in a blue color on white.

The second one has a stylized weeping willow, black on white.

I wanted to determine my obi options since I will be wearing these very soon. We have a 3 day event coming up and I will be helping and announcing for the dance group for all 3 days.

Blue obi from Sensei, with printed obi age, and striped obi jime.

Blue obi from Sensei, with pink shibori obi age, and patterned woven obi jime.

Close up of the shibori and detail of the obi jime.

Blue obi from Sensei, with chartreuse shibori obi age, and summer obi jime.

Close up of the shibori and detail of the obi jime.

Blue obi from Sensei, with chartreuse shibori obi age, and chartreuse and white obi jime. A little too matching for my taste.

Blue obi from Sensei, with pink shibori obi age, and striped obi jime.

I usually bring a few options with me, and then sometimes everything changes anyhow. Color contrast and unexpected color combinations and not totally matched add sophistication to kimono. For your knitters out there, that's why Noro adds in what are considered some weird colors to their skeins.

If I remember I'll get photos of me when I am dressed in the kimono.