Indigo-dyeing Handkerchief (AIZOME NO HANKACHI)

 

 

Do you think this handkerchief is beautiful?(KIREI NA HANKACHI DATO OMOIMASENNKA)
It is indigo-dyeing handkerchief that was dyed deep blue by the plant of indigo.
My daughter dyed it by herself when she took part in the learning through practical experience(TAIKENGAKUSHU) at a museum near our house.(I helped (TETSUDATTA)her a little bit!)

 

Indigo-dyeing is the dyed goods(SOMEMONO) transmitted in Japan from old,
and people used to dye clothes and thread to make  KIMONO and daily necessaries.
In EDO period(EDO JIDAI),  craftsmen of indigo-dyeing lived near a castle in HAMAMATSU,
and today there around still have been called 「紺屋町KO-YAMACHI」.
(Navy blue is the color dyed with the indigo dye.)

Well, how was this handkerchief dyed?
Let's explain(SETSUMEI SHIMASHOU) in order with the photograph.

 

 

First of all, you make preparation with such a worktable to draw a pattern.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the marble.(BI-DAMA)
It is a ball of glass.
Bind to the pure-white cotton handkerchief by the rubber band.(WAGOMU)

 

 

 

 

 

You may hold it with the clip, or you may bind the handkerchief by only rubber band.
A shade of color changes, whether you bind tight or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The way to put the pattern is free.
So, it is possible to make beautiful pattern by children.

 

 

 

 

Next, you finally dye it.
Everyone wears the apron, because dyestuff doesn't fall when it scatter to clothes.
And, they wear the gloves(TEBUKURO) to prevent their hand to be blackish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You dye outside while the stuff of the museum teaches you.
Dyeing uses a large volume of water.

 

 

This is the dyestuff(SENRYOU) of indigo-dyeing.
It made of the element of indigo.
Mix it with water.

 

 

When you soak the cloth(NUNO WO HITASU) ahead, it become green(MIDORIIRO NI NARIMASU) at first.
It changes into deep blue by touch the air.

 

 

 

 

 

It is the end that you soak it a few times.
Unbind the rubber band and the marble you bind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I opened the handkerchief in clean water,
it dyed beautifully!!(KIREI NI SOMATTE IMASHITA)
It completes it by flushing extra dyestuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soccer player of the Japanese team lineup wears such a blue uniform.
It is called JAPAN BLUE.

I imagine that the color of Japan is this blue, too.

It's clean and stylish color.(SEIKETSU DE IKI NA IRO DESU)
Especially, it is good in summer.

 

 

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