Hakama Shrinkage?

[BirdMan]

I just received my new Keikogi and Hakama this week and the Hakama is a bit long. I am wondering how much it will shrink during the setting of the color and first washing? I am planning on hand washing it in the tub and letting it hang dry. Oh I guess should tell you it is an 8000# coton hakama. Thanks again, but I am thinking I am going to have to get it himmed.

[xvikingx]

How long is "a bit long"? Does it touch the floor when you stand up straight? It should shrink quite a bit over time. Not so much that it won't fit anylonger but a fair amount of shrinkage will occure. You can also tie it up a little bit higher on your waist.

[BirdMan]

Well right out of the package if I tie it up around my navel (belly button) it drags on the floor, but isnt that tieing it a big high already?

[xvikingx]

hhhmmmm... That does sound a bit long. I would wait for some other posts but in the mean time don't do anything to your hakama that would make it unacceptable to return.

[Yzakj]

I agree that you shouldn't do anything to it yet, because you'll want to return it maybe. I had the same problem, E-bogu was very very helpful in telling me to wash it in hot water to help it shrink, but it only shrunk a tiny bit. What I did was fold it in and sew it alittle bit so it won't fall back down. Though the fold really does get in the way sometimes, I got used to it, but the best choice now is to return it maybe and get a shorter one. The length is very important, if you tie it to high it feels odd, I prefer it right on the waist. Try talking to the company you got it from, it never hurts.

[slidercrank]

Well right out of the package if I tie it up around my navel (belly button) it drags on the floor, but isnt that tieing it a big high already?

First of all, it's all right to bring the hakama up to the navel height. Just tie the knot below the navel. Go here to see how it's done:

http://www6.vc-net.ne.jp/%7Eisiyosi/tyakusou.htm

The way this guys wears the hakama (with the obi belt underneath) is really the traditional way of wearing the hakama. And see also how low the hakama comes down to his feet. That should give you an idea what the proper length should be on you.

Cotton hakama's shrink. Some top quality ones don't, but these are often specifically advertised as such. Please call your retailer to confirm. Generally, a cotton hakama will shrink during the first couple of washes. It will eventually shrink down one size, ie, from 27 to 26. That's about 3 to 4 cm.

So, if you wear the hakama the traditional way, and go through the labor of soaking and hang-drying it a couple of times, it could come to the proper length for your body. BTW, I don't know about your kendo footwork, but most beginners have big problems with a hakama that long (touching the top of the foot). They usually end up cutting it shorter so they won't trip and fall at every practice.

The bottom line? Keep the hakama. Soak it in luke warm water in the bathtub for half an hour and then hang dry it. Repeat at least twice. And then wear it in the traditional manner (you don't have to do the obi bit). If it doesn't drag on the floor, then you know you have a perfect learning aid for proper footwork. If after a few practices you are getting concussions from all the falls, then take it to any dry cleaner to have it shortened just a bit, then you'll be fine.

[LNGUYEN]

What I did was washing it first to see how much it shrank. then if it is still long, some hemming won't hurt and you know that you can unhem it later if it become short. Don't cut or trim any length at all.

[mystic_kendoka]

i did the sewing that Yzakj mentioned, but mine was only about 5 cm too long

[BirdMan]

Thanks for the info guys, I think I heard what I was looking for. I cannot return this one as it has my name on it. Right now when I tie it at my navel it is about 2" or so to long. So I am going to wash it in warm water 3 or 4 times and see how much it shrinks, and to get the initial shrinkage out of it, then if I need to I will take it in and get it himmed. I just was not sure how much it would shrink by hand washing it.

[jasmine]

hi!
In fact,most of hakama are not shrinked.If you use hot water,just only a little shrinked.So we have to order a suitable hakama.That's mean if u r 180cm,u should order a 175cm hakama.That's nice.Now if ur hakama has a liitle long ,u'd better shortened by tailor or it will affect ur moving[COLOR=DarkOrange]

[Yzakj]

Hemming it by yourself is probably the best if it is still way too long. But if it is two inches too long, and you are pretty much grown up to your maximum height, go get it cut or something at a tailor. It is alot more comfortable to have it done that way, instead of having the fold in your way sometimes. If I get up from seiza, it sometimes gets in my way, but its not too bad. Just go with what you think is best, everyone on this forum is very helpful indeed.