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-Miho

The Saturday started out as a nice sunny day, and got cloudy later on. We sat down a cozy sunny classroom at The Quilted Crow in Boxborough, MA to make Kinchaku Drawstring bag.
When it comes to a bag, the most traditional one in Japan definitely is Kinchaku, which  is a drawstring bag we used to carry our personal belongings and lunches. This style of bag has been around in my country for centuries.

This was a one-day class to make a reversible drawstring bag. The way you construct the bag is unique so you will have fun! We did Sashiko on a few blocks. The pattern for Sashiko (family crests in Japan) were nice, compact designs to stitch on this project.  Students made their bags in their own unique colors and all of them came out really great! Thank you for working with me!

Kinchaku with bamboo basket bottom flickr.com/photos/10692323@N05/957472354 Kinchaku bag is still commonly used with kimono and yukata (summer cotton kimono).

Kinchaku is a traditional Japanese purses or handbags. It is a small bag, typically with a drawstring.

Kin means fabric and Chaku means to put on. This small drawstring bag was invented to carry personal things such as money, one’s seal impression, a lucky charm, medicine, cigarette and cosmetics close to your skin. It also was used to carry Bento (lunch box) and utensils around.

Kinchaku made from Japanse Chirimen fabric.

In Edo Era, Kinchaku became a fashion icon in rich people and high-end Kinchaku were made by professional crafters by using leather, imported woolen cloth and silk. It was a primary accessory to carry around. When Meiji Period arrived, the life style gradually became westernized as Sakoku (locked country) policy has ended and foreigners were free to come into Japan and Japanese finally got permission from government to travel to oversea.  People were rapidly fascinated with western cultures and the Kinchaku was replaced with other types of bags.
We still use Kinchaku to go with Kimono, carry small items and lunch box.

Kinchaku bag AP- 22, designed by Miho

Japanese cording RC-M015 Studio Aika offers Kinchaku bag pattern and Japanese style cording Kinchaku Bag Pattern AP-22 Japanese Cording RC-M015

There are variety of design and materials of kinchaku available. The most common types are made by fabrics, sometimes the same fabric as your kimono. Picture shown has a bamboo basket attached for more formal use. Chiriman (colorful crape fabrics) is popular for making Kinchaku. I have been sending my daughter to a public school in Japan over summer vacation and she brings her belongings such as gym clothes, tooth brush, lunch and etc in separate Kinchaku bags.

My Sashiko Art Show had the opening reception yesterday at Lawrence Library in Pepperell, MA. 20 pieces from my collection of sashiko work has been exhibited. Despite the way too beautiful weather outside, many people came to the reception.

It was so fun to talk to people who are different ages, different background, in different stage of life and different ethnics including a man who is a World War veteran and he has been a quilter for decades.

A World War veteran in blue sweather who is a quilter

I believe I inspired some of visitors that they want to try sashiko by purchasing some kit and threads. Japanese fabrics were popular to sell as well.

Sashiko Samplers, threads, fabrics and patterns!

It was really a nice 2 hours I had at the reception. I really appreciate the Lawrence Library for giving me this opportunity to exhibit my work.