In your country, do you use decorations for New Year?
In Japan, we decorate “Shimenawa”.
Now I’m making handmade Shimenawa every day!
Please take a look!!
I got some Shimenawa ropes for New Year
These are “Shimenawa rope”.
I don’t have the material and I decided to buy this.
Genarally the material of Shimenawa is “Inawara”.
Inawara is rice sheath
I already have Shimenawa ropes and I just need to put some decorations on them.
I decided to sew flowers of “Ume” to decorate.
Tsumami zaiku for Shimenawa
I’m sewing a lot of flowers using the way called “Tsumami zaiku”.
Tsumami zaiku is a “Pinching craft”.
Japan has had this tradition since 200 years ago.
Recently, people don’t sew, and they use glue.
But I usually sew a lot of petals, and I only use glue when I make flowers with the petals.
This is how I make flowers.
Choosing the color…
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Measure the size of the fabric and cut it into squares.
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Sew five petals and put them together.
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Make flower core with some accessories and done!
Decorating Shimenawa with Tsumami zaiku flowers and other items
When I bought Shimenawa ropes, I got some decoration items, too.
Nanten (pants with red fruits), Urajiro (leaves), Mizuhiki (strings)…
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I usually put some items and check the balance before I tie them.
If you decide on the design, you can tie them firmly.
Now I already finished making 3 Shimenawa.
So please take a look!!
Handmade Shimenawa (Japanese New Year decoration)
Shimenawa with Urajiro, Nanten and 5 Tsumamizaiku flowers of Ume.
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Different shapes of Shimenawa with Urajiro, Mizuhiki, boll, 3 Tsumamizaiku Ume flowers.
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Shimenawa with Nanten, Mizuhiki, 3 Tsumamizaiku Ume flowers.
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I’m still working on another Shimenawa.
Sewing the Ume flower takes a lot of time!!
But I’d love to keep making many handmade Shimanawa for 2022.
When I have more, I will share the pictures here again!
Add:Now I’m trying to make Shimenawa wreath, too!
