A traditional Japanese craft, Tsumami-zaiku

Tsumami-zaiku, it’s a traditional Japanese craft using small squared pieces of cloth that is pinched and folded with tweezers. No needles or thread!! It originated about 200 years ago during the Edo period:)
It’s used by Geisha and Maiko as hair accessories and Obi-dome(for kimono).
Now, it’s getting popular for regular uses:)

What you can experience at Tsumami-zaiku class?
You make a beautiful flower of either magnet, corsage or hair tie. Hair tie can be a bag charm:)
   
1, Choose your fabric (a special type of fabric called Chirimen). There are various colours so you can pick your favorite colour;)
2, Practice how to fold and glue then give it a try!! It may be a bit tricky at first, but you’ll soon get used to it:)
3, Glue* them together to make a flower and place on the base (magnet, corsage or hair tie).
4, Choose pearls or beads and put it in the middle of flower.
Done!! It takes about 1-1,5 hours.

*There is a traditional way spreading glue on a wooden board and place the clothes that you fold in the glue. At Wakalture, you use different type of glue as it’s easier and quicker:)

 
I got to know about Tsumami-zaiku when I was planing for my wedding!!
As I wore 白無垢(Shiromuku), a kind of Kimono for wedding, I looked for Japanese style hair accessories.
Everything related “wedding” costs a lot  even for a rental lol Then thought about making them by myself!!
Since I like craft, making small things, I really enjoyed making Tsumami-zaiku and started learning more about it.  It’s one of my big hobbies now:) Tsumami-zaiku is very simple but amazing!! All are used squared fabric but different ways to fold so that can be various of flowers such as cherry blossoms, rose, sunflower, crane or golden fish!!
So I set up this new class to share this FUN activity and people get to know about Tsumami-zaiku more as it’s not well-known unfortunately…!!