How to Display Your Kimono

Japanese kimonos, often made of hand-woven fabrics with hand-painted or embroidered designs, are beautiful pieces of art. Displayed in Western homes, Japanese kimonos add an exotic touch to the interior design. In order to maintain the integrity of the kimono, it is important to display it on a large, plain wall with materials strong enough to hold it securely in place. It is helpful to work on a large flat surface such as a large table or on the floor.

Kimono
Bamboo or dowel rod at least 6 feet long
Pencil
Wire or hemp rope
Scissors or wire cutter
Hammer
1 strong nail
Small nails (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Push the bamboo or dowel through the sleeves of the kimono beginning at the end of one sleeve, moving on across the neckline, and out the second sleeve.
- 2
  Spread the top of the kimono evenly out over the rod so there are no kinks or folds in the kimono fabric. Center the kimono on the pole so the same length of pole sticks out on either end.
- 3
  Mark the ends of the pole where the hem of the sleeves hit the pole with a small pencil line.
- 4
  Wrap the wire or rope two times around your pencil mark on the pole. Wrap it tightly, and then twist the wire or tie the rope in a knot. Cut the wire/rope close to the pole. Repeat this at the other end of the pole on your pencil mark. Make sure your knots are facing the same side of the pole, which will be the back of the pole, or the side that will be next to the wall. These wrapped ends will serve to hold the rope or wire used to hang the kimono in place so the ends of the hanging rope/wire don't slip along the pole and bunch up the top of the kimono. This knot at each end is referred to as the securing piece.
- 5
  Wrap one end of the rope/wire at one end of the pole outside the wrapped end. Tie or twist it closed with the knot exactly next to the knot of the securing piece. Stretch the rope/wire out over the top of the bamboo pole, arching it so at the center of the kimono top the rope/wire is 1 to 2 inches above the kimono neckline. Wrap the rope/wire around the other end of the pole, just outside the securing piece at that end. Tie or twist it closed and cut it close to the pole.
- 6
  Hold the top of the rope/wire arch up to the wall where you want to display your kimono to see exactly where it should hang. The kimono might be slightly heavy, so you may need to use both hands to keep your balance. Mark the place on the wall where the nail should go with a small pencil dot.
- 7
  Lay the kimono and rod back down and hammer the large nail into the wall at the point where you marked with your pencil.
- 8
  Hang the center of the rope/wire arch over your nail. Stand back to see if it is straight and even, and if it is not, gently move one side or the other to make it hang straight.

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