Started: November 3, 2009
Finished: June 14, 2010
# of hours: 76 hours
Materials: Cotton threads on cotton fabric
Finished Size: 50cm x 65cm
A Kabuto symbolizes the strong and healthy boy, which is why it is brought out during Boys´Day, which was celebrated in Japan, every 5th of May. Girls Day, or Hinamatsuri, was celebrated on the 3rd day of March . Boys´Day was also called Tango no Sekku, which is one of the seasonal festivals, this one marking the beginning of the rainy season or the summer. On Boys´Day, a Kabuto helmet is displayed, or a Kintaro doll riding a giant carp. Kintaro is the childhood name of a samurai hero, known for his strength even while still a young boy.
Boys´Day is also known as feast of the banners. On the day before this day, families raise colorful carp-shaped flags called koinobori, each carp representing a boy or a child in the family.
In 1948, the japanese government declared the day Children´s Day, Kodomo no hi.
I am making this design from a japanese embroidery book. My first japanese embroidery teacher Kayo helped me with the translations last 2007 a few days before she went back to Japan. The book suggests Cosmo cotton embroidery threads, but I converted them to DMC or Anchor.
This project will have to wait a while before it is finished. But I am enjoying this project, because of the many stitches featured. Here is another update photo:
Kabuto Dec 15 2009 After 17 hours
Here is the finished embroidery:
Kabuto (japanese samurai helmet)
A closer view:
Kabuto
handarbeit stickerei handstickerei in Berlin
Comments on my Blog