Japanese Kimono

Posts Tagged ‘sew’

Question: Why do people try so hard to impersonate Native Americans, when in fact they just look ridiculous? See pic?

Like this for example ----------> http://www.flickr.com/photos/67601976@N07/6154795406/

They all look full white to me, not one Native. And not only that. I'm Japanese, and last year my neighbor dressed up as an Asian for Halloween, in a Kimono and everything as if it was something out of the ordinary, or funny to do. And last year I also seen a lot of people, and kids going around dressed up as Natives, or "Cherokee Princesses" as they'd say, just like these people.
I don't know, I just find things like this offensive. :-/ Last year some of my friends even went as far as putting tape on their eye lids to make "Asian eyes" to look like me while they just looked silly in Kimono's.
I don't get why people do this. Is it to be funny, or to mock? I personally think it's just rude, and offensive.

Answer: LOL. That picture is too funny.

I think the reason people do it, is a sense of entitlement. Spend a few minutes looking at all the Native American 'inspired' photos on deviantart.........a ridiculous collection of whites and even a couple Asian models, dressed in skanky costumes, covered in war paint. Find a particularly ridiculous picture, then read the comments underneath, telling us we should be honoured, that it is "just art" and that we have no right to be offended. People love to use comparisons like "Asians don't get mad when people dress in kimonos" or "Scots don't get mad when you wear a kilt"........but I am sure none of these people have ever asked either group what they think......because they think they are entitled to appropriate bits and pieces of rich cultures, as they haven't one of their own.

Free Batik Art Lessons for Indonesian Children

Question: What needle should I use to sew polyester and silk together?

I'm trying to make these really cool asian-like leggings. I bought a kimono (well, a japanese dress, but not really the original kimono...) which is 60% silk and 40% rayon. I want to sew this to another dress which is 100% polyester. (In other words, walmart doesn't offer enough variety of material and there are no other local places to buy it, so I'm compromising.) So, any suggestions on what size needle or any certain thread I should use?

Answer: If you can find a decent lightweight thread, use that. Otherwise, general purpose polyester thread should do nicely. Make some trial seams on scraps, paying special attention to stitch length, as closely woven (I'm assuming that's what you've got) fabrics tend to pucker from "thread jamming" fairly easily.

http://www.schmetzneedles.com/sizingguide.html

Again, assuming you're sewing wovens, I'd try a fairly small sized sharp needle. Needle size is related to fabric thickness -- I'm going to guess size 9/65 to 12/80 from what you've said. Use the smallest needle size that sews without skipping stitches. If you're buying Schmetz needles, the first point style I'd try would be Microtex, followed by Jeans. In other brands, choose a sharp.

But if you're in an area with a dearth of sewing supplies, chances are that a size 12/80 Schmetz universal needle will do fine. The others will do better, but the 12/80 universal point will sew virtually any garment weight fabric, knit or woven.

If your fabrics are knits, however, you want ballpoint needles -- universal, jersey or stretch points in Schmetz's terminology.

Handy needle/fabric matching guide:

Puckering and pulling threads are probably going to be your worst problems with these fabrics. Thread pulling usually stops with the right needle point and size. And here's an excellent tutorial on puckering here:

http://www.amefird.com/seam_puckering_bulletin.htm

Cosplay 2008 slideshow