Thimbles offer limitless world of geometric patterns

KANAZAWA, Japan — Kaga yubinuki are ring-shaped thimbles featuring geometric patterns created using silk thread. A specialty of Kanazawa, the charming sewing implement has regained popularity because of its intricate design and vivid colors.

The handicraft, a tradition in this city since the Edo period (1603-1867), involves stitching silk threads to compose patterns.

Because thimbles are designed to protect fingers from sewing needles, they are usually made of metal or leather. However, Kaga yubinuki possess a beauty that makes them comparable to works of art.

The word “Kaga” in their name comes from an old name for the region encompassing Kanazawa.

According to some, these thimbles originated in workshops for Kaga yuzen dyed textiles, another regional specialty. Sewers were said to have crafted Kaga yubinuki using leftover silk thread from their work.

Although the art form appeared to have died out for a time, it has re-emerged thanks to the efforts of a few individuals.

One of them is artist Yukiko Onishi. Born in Kanazawa in 1975, she has been working to keep the tradition of Kaga yubinuki alive by teaching classes and holding solo exhibitions for the past decade.

She currently teaches the craft at Kaga Temari Mariya, a store specializing in Kaga temari embroidered decorative balls in Kanazawa, as well as in Osaka and Sapporo.

“More and more people are attracted to Kaga yubinuki, and they're now sold at souvenir shops,” Onishi said.

Kaga yubinuki are distinctive as they come in diverse patterns and bright colors.

According to Onishi, “uroko” (fish scales) and “seigaiha” (wave crest pattern) are typical examples of traditional designs. Changing the thread colors and pattern sizes can result in a finished product with a quite different appearance.

“The possibilities are limitless,” Onishi said.

Onishi has also created some patterns of her own. Her thimbles depicting tulips are especially cute. The pattern named “tobiishi” (steppingstones) is embellished with tiny squares here and there.

She has developed other motifs based on cherry blossoms and goldfish, among others.

No special tools are required to make your own Kaga yubinuki. Despite their elaborate appearance, these handicrafts are easier to make than you may think. Even a beginner can do it, Onishi said.

1. First, make the base. Using Kent paper, construct a ring in your desired size.

2. Wrap it with bias tape.

3. Wind floss silk around it.

4. On a strip of washi paper, draw marks for stitching with silk thread. Wind it around the base.

5. Stitch many layers of silk threads into the paper strip until there is no section left undecorated.

It takes about four to five hours to finish one. However, Onishi said, “When you concentrate on needlework, you'll feel calm.”

It is essential to select colors carefully.

“If you choose an elegant tone as the dominant shade, be sure to use bright colors, too, to avoid a monotonous image,” Onishi said. If your main colors are bold, combine them with muted hues like white or gray to create a striking contrast, she added.

You can place your Kaga yubinuki in a box to use it as a room decoration, Onishi said.

“Recently, many people have been giving Kaga yubinuki as gifts to people overseas,” Onishi said. “They're well received as craftwork pieces that capture the ingenuity of Japanese artisans.”

With the opening of the new sections of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, which connects Kanazawa with the Tokyo area, the city and its specialties have been attracting much more outside attention.

“Kaga yubinuki offer a personal touch that only handmade goods can have,” Onishi said. “I hope more people will come to appreciate this.”

Kaga yubinuki can be used as accessories. For example, Onishi made a necklace by hanging a relatively small Kaga yubinuki as a pendant on a thin chain. To make a smaller one, simply construct a smaller base. The other parts of the process are basically the same.

In addition, Kaga yubinuki can be used as ornaments for cellphone straps and hairpins.

“If you wear it or carry with you, you can discover the joy of having one of your own,” Onishi said.