Kimono Fabric

By **Riven_**. 10/09/08, 11:37 am

So, I have this desire to make a kimono for cosplay.... and I'm pretty sorted with the how to make it, and I was wondering what would be the best kind of fabric to use to make it?

I'm new to the sewing and fabric worlds, and on none of the kimono tutorials that I can find does it say "USE X FABRIC TO MAKE YOUR KIMONO, YO!"
So I turn to you all for help!!! ^_^

I would like to paint a design onto it once it's been made, and I can't afford to buy the most expensive 13th century silk/whatever real Kimono fabric would be the best for authenticity...

(I'm attempting Kaoru Kamiya, from Kenshin, for those who are interested. THIS! is what I'm going to try and create.)

By **Duckeh**. 10/09/08, 11:44 am

I'm pretty sure they use cotton for kimonos aswell? P=
Though I'm not too sure~

I don't doubt someone on here will know~ n.n

By Static. 10/09/08, 11:50 am

Use a cotton-based fabric that doesn't stretch, is reasonably stiff and heavy enough to fall that way it should. For example weight, I used duchess satin for my Yuko costume and it wasn't heavy enough. Are you making an obi too?

...I was about to link you to a photo of mine for reference, but I have no photos of it. x___x

By Grassangel. 10/09/08, 12:23 pm

You need to really search for a decent mid-weight cottom though. Poplin is useless and drill's a bit too heavy. *has been looking for cotton decent for a kimono on and off recently*
Usually it means going to somewhere other than Spotlight though. Or being slightly unorthodox and using a double layer/lining it.

By Static. 10/09/08, 12:34 pm

Do you have any places in Chch that sel yukatas/kimonos? Go have a sneaky look at what the fabric's like if you can Very Happy

By **JVCA**. 11/09/08, 06:45 am

Traditionally, yes, made of silk, but holy crap that's expensive. I'd go with what everyone else has said - a medium weight cotton will work fine. :)

By **Duckeh**. 11/09/08, 07:21 am

n.n
My Shinku cosplay was made of silk~
HUHRHUHR~

Butbutbut~
It's not too expensive when they have sales~ Becky & I scored some cheap-ish. :3

By Pseudonym. 11/09/08, 07:36 am

Kaaaaaaoooooooru! <3
I get special permission to glomp you ok?

I bought some Kimono fabric from fabric vision (the "Chinese brocade") stuff, except it isn't plain, so you can't paint over it. It's 90cm wide (wider than I was expecting it to be) and it's only $8 a metre right now (I think I worked out that I would only have needed 5m but I bought 6, maybe it was 4.5..)

Like everyone else here has said, get a medium weight cotton, you can get some nice stuff for $7-10 a metre from fabric vision (and probably something cheaper from spotlight but I hate that place) and it's probably 120cm-150cm wide, so you won't need as much of it as the narrower Kimono fabric.

I keep seeing fabrics that I want to turn into a Kimono... It's evil >_<

By **JVCA**. 11/09/08, 07:41 am

You and me both. I made a kimono out of Chinese Brocade and I'd strongly advise against it. Ignoring the fact that brocade is hell to sew with, the surface of the fabric doesn't like to co-operate with an obi - it's too slippery.

By wOOt_. 23/09/08, 09:45 am

My prefered source for kimono fabric is here: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=495111

Thought, she doesn't have anything right at the minute. Also, not everything she says is silk, is silk. But, a 90% sucess rate, and a good price - if you're willing to unpick a kimono for the right fabric.

(For example, the trimming on this hat was from there; http://flickr.com/photos/kotek/2466259939/

By wOOt_. 23/09/08, 09:46 am

Oh, and failing that, a good lightweight cotton that drapes right should be fine. Or a fine wool. (Note, wool. Not fake stuff, otherwise it will likely not drape happily and you'll melt)

By Pura. 23/09/08, 02:12 pm

If it's made of cotton it's officially a Yukata, and if it's made of silk it's officially a Kimono ;D (I can rant on a little longer, but I'm sure you don't care *has a Japanese friend who decided to tell me all this xDD*).

But that doesn't matter at all when it comes to cosplay xDDD.

When I made a Kimono-like-thing for cosplay, I made it out of cotton. It was thick cotton too, so it was actually pretty heavy xD.

By PinkGoggles. 07/11/08, 01:41 pm

I'm making my Wa-Loli (Kimono Lolita) with quilting cotton...
I don't know if it's too stiff for you but it holds nice shape.
Yukatas are made of cotton... and they have kimono shape.

**Guest** Guest

There's a place in Kilbirnie (Wellington) that sells second hand-from-Japan Kimono's at about $20-$40 a pop. And obi's for $5 - bloody cheap way of getting gorgous fabric!

By Leeni. 10/11/08, 08:33 am

http://kurokami-kanzashi.deviantart.com/art/Kimono-Tutorial-Part-2-75617734

I found that last night while surfing dA, and though I only skimmed through it, it might be helpful? I hope?
Either way, I gave link, yay~

By Dozy. 11/11/08, 05:42 am

If you are wanting to paint a design onto your outfit and you are going to have a lining or the pattern is very detailed and large I advise painting it before you sew the panels together.

This was you can work on each piece seperatley and also if you ruin one panel you don't ruin the whole thing.

I used a heavy cotton drill for a yukata I made, but I would not advise this unless you want it for winter. I needed a white fabric thick enough to hide a bright red lining.

Here is a photo of some of the panels I painted before I began sewing.

http://www.cosplay.com/photo/1398775/

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