Drawing of Design / 下 絵 

A preliminary pattern is drawn on white fabric which will later become the kimono. The ink for the preliminary drawing can be washed away with water.

Itome, Starching of Areas That Will Not Be Dyed  /  糸 目

The lines of the preliminary pattern are traced with itome-nori (acts as a boundary).

Yuzen sashi, Inserting colours by hand / 友禅さし

Colors are inserted in the preliminary pattern by using many kinds of brushes. At the same time, delicate differences of colors between on the palette and the cloth are fixed.

Fusenorioki, Starch Resistant to Dye / 伏せ糊置

Starching of dyed areas to prevent the colors from blending in with the background color.

Hikizome, Dyeing of Background (By Paintbrush) / 引染

In other words, it is called jizome. The whole kimono is dyed except the pattern area.

Mushi-Mizumoto, Steaming and Rinsing of the Cloth / 蒸し・水元

In order to settle the base coloring, the kimono is steamed at 100℃ for 40-50 mins, then remaining starch and some excess ink are washed away. This process was used to be done at the Kanda River in the middle of the capital.

Finishing, Steaming and fixing the cloth / 仕上げ

As the final process, the kimono is steamed again to smooth out. If required, gold is inserted and embroidered.