new kendogi/hakama

[jjcruiser]

So I just received my new (and first!) kendogi and hakama from E-bogu. This was supposedly the "light" summer months versions. They seem awful thick and heavy to me. I tried to set the dye by soaking them in cold water with salt. Not a single lick of dye came out, which I suppose means they are not shoaizome. Look nice though. $61 for the set - can't beat it.

As to AOI...still no bogu nor indication of when it's coming.

[1stdan]

I prefer the heavier feel to my hakama. I think it makes it "lay" better, maybe its just me. As for the heavier Kendogi, Makes it warmer, so you can sweat it out. I heard you also ad vinegar to the mix to help set the color. It may also still bleed a little or a lot. Enjoy the blues.

[Zornocology]

I just got my gi for aikido yesterday and had my first practice with it. Never again will I complain that a keikogi is too heavy! lol

[rcheung135]

I prefer the heavier feel to my hakama. I think it makes it "lay" better, maybe its just me. As for the heavier Kendogi, Makes it warmer, so you can sweat it out. I heard you also ad vinegar to the mix to help set the color. It may also still bleed a little or a lot. Enjoy the blues.

Do tournament people wear lighter material? I also read somewhere that adding salt and vinegar with water is good enough to set. Going to do it for my hakama (blue fingers on hands that makes everything in my room blue T_T)

[jjcruiser]

This whole "setting of dye" thing has a bunch of threads. I didn't mean to start another one. The bottom line is my stuff was very cheap and I think is the artificial dye that doesn't bleed. The hakama turns out to be a tiny bit long, though, so I may test this theory by washing it in hot water to get it to shrink a little.

Of course watch, I'll end up with a blue washing machine and an angry wife.

[1speed]

I too just got my first set of dogi last week, and it really is a new set of waza!
The washing, drying, folding (how is it possible to take so much longer than everyone else?)
Iaido takes on a new level of complexity (don't trip over the hem!)
Make sure the footwork is still good, start sweating a lot earlier in practice, but somehow, posture seems better now (and my hands are staining the tsuka a nice shade of blue...)

Good stuff. I hope you're enjoying it as much as I am!

Los

[Halcyon]

The hakama turns out to be a tiny bit long, though, so I may test this theory by washing it in hot water to get it to shrink a little.
You can also fold over the front once before you tie the himo.

[Zornocology]

I actually hemmed mine. It was about an inch too long and I was worried about landing on my face! I've seen it happen before. It's definetely a scary thing though, especially when you get the scissors out. In the end, my stiches were actually tighter and better quality than the original ones :smiley:

[jjcruiser]

You personally hemmed it? Whoa. I don't think I could do that. Aside from the fact I stitch like crap, how did you make sure not to flatten out the seams at the bottom edge? I am afraid to even take it to a tailor for that reason.

[Zornocology]

i did it with a machine... i ran the iron over it when i was all done with the pleats folded. medium heat with lots of steam

[jjcruiser]

Washing in hot water did not shrink the hakama, but it did a great job destroying the pleat folds, and I just spent an hour trying to recreate them without much success. Arg.

[1stdan]

I ironed hemmed mine as well, Actually my wife did it in her machine. I also have another Hakama that is a little cheaper, and your right the cheaper one did not bleed at all. Funny. I stuck my good one in a machine at the local laundramat for a spin cycle to help get the water out. it turned the entire machine blue. I then left the establishment post haste.

[rcheung135]

I actually hemmed mine. It was about an inch too long and I was worried about landing on my face! I've seen it happen before. It's definetely a scary thing though, especially when you get the scissors out. In the end, my stiches were actually tighter and better quality than the original ones :smiley:

Pictures would be helpful. I'm totally illiterate when it comes to sewing :\

Arigato gozaimasu!

[Zornocology]

hmmm... pictures of what? the finished hakama??? it looks like any other hakama (except with better stiching in the hem ;) )
as far as the process, turn the hakama inside out. roll the hakama up to where you want it to be (as you would roll up a sleeve) and secure it there with dress pins. iron the line where you want the bottom to be. cut off any material that is more than 3 cms from the line you have just ironed. now fold the top of the material which is above the bottom line down so that you have two folds (so that the edge of the material is hidden) fold it as you would roll up a sleeve. you can iron again at this point to hold the two fold lines. using a sewing machine, sew as close the the top fold as you can. turn you rhakama right side out, fold the pleats in properly and once all pleats are folded in, iron the bottom

hope this helps
next time i get a hakama if i have to hem it i will take photos of the whole thing

[jjcruiser]

That's a pretty useful description, Adam, thanks, and if I had a lick of sewing expertise I'd probably give it a try, but as it is, I think I'm just going to buy size 26 instead of size 27 from now on. I won't trip on the 27s but I've seen pictures of how far it is supposed to hang down and it's at least an inch too far on me.

[Halcyon]

FYI, the sizing varies slightly between different manufacturers, but in general, I've found that tetron hakama tend to be slightly longer than cotton hakama of the same size -- at least they end up being that way after a few washings since cotton tends to shrink a little bit, even when washed in cold water.

[Zornocology]

That's a pretty useful description, Adam, thanks, and if I had a lick of sewing expertise I'd probably give it a try, but as it is, I think I'm just going to buy size 26 instead of size 27 from now on. I won't trip on the 27s but I've seen pictures of how far it is supposed to hang down and it's at least an inch too far on me.

haha, yeah, that sounds easier... the trickiest part for me was being sure both sides ended up the same length.... for anyone trying this, remember... measure twice, cut once