Folded Paper Japanese Kimonos

This was the second project I did with my Grade 7's during our "Art of Japan" unit. They designed their own kimono using a version of a bookmark template found here on the Crayola website.

Kimonos are the beautiful traditional floor length robes worn mostly by Japanese women on special occasions. They are very expensive (often exceeding $10,000!) and beautifully patterned. I showed students examples of kimonos and then had them sketch ideas for a pattern in their sketchbooks.

Image Source

Image Source

Each student got a blank template (which I modified from the one on the Crayoyla site) showing a very basic kimono with the robe, body and Obi (the sash). 

There were lots of Obi-Wan Kenobi jokes during this demo...lol

I drew my own simple template and then photocopied it onto regular paper. When I do this project again, I would copy it onto cardstock, as the regular paper was too thin, really. 

I mean, it worked, but cardstock would be better (more sturdy).

Draw your design/pattern in pencil then colour in with colored pencils or markers or watercolours.

Students could do any type of pattern they wanted- not only traditional.

Here's a camouflage pattern below, for example.

Draw a little face.

Colouring with markers.....

Then cut all the pieces out...

The Crayola sheet shows how to fold it all together- I also walked around and helped the kids individually fold it. It's quite simple. Here they are lined up and chilling out against the whiteboard. If you have a laminator, I would laminate them to make perfect bookmarks (and to make them sturdier).

Ta da!

     

    

On display with their 'Cherry Blossom' paintings.