chabako crazy: Goshokago For Lesson

Last month I was fortunate to have a special lesson in Shikishidate Temae, the procedure for using a lidded basket called goshokago. The set has many more parts than the other Chabako Temae, and it has taken me a year to research the techniques, find the materials to alter or substitute, and put the set together. I would still like to make a rectangular basket and braid the sanadahimo ribbon for it.

First I transformed a purse into a goshokago, by replacing the original handle with a ribbon tie, and removing the zipper. (see Aug 31, 2012 entry "Gosho-bako Progress"

Here is the set. (back to front, left to right)

Goshokago (basket), 2 chawan, natsume on its kobukusa (cloth), chasen in its tsu-tsu (tube), chakin-bako in a shifuku with button closure, chashaku in shifuku, 3 folded kobukusa, furidashi in its ami-bukuro (see my Sept 6, 2012 "Macrame Furidashi Bag") The bukuro for the chawan is in next picture.

It took me an especially long time to create a pattern for the bukuro (bag) for the nested tea bowls since I did not have a book or directions. My internet research yielded photos of 2 different designs. The more typical one has an inset bottom (on the right below).

The other style bukuro is the type usually made for natsume (tea caddy). It intrigued me because it looks so simple, but it was very hard to create the pattern. After hours of internet surfing I finally found a clue - a pattern for a simple Japanese tote bag that was based on the same general idea. But it had a square bottom and I wanted a curved bottom that would fit the teabowl snuggly. It took 6 attempts to figure out the proportions and curves that would create the right form when sewn together with long enough "ears" to tie it closed.

I lined the final version (below left) with a contrasting fabric even though that is not traditional, to conserve the small amount of plain-colored chirimen silk I purchased online. It was a pleasant surprise when my home-made bukuro looked so similar in shape and size when placed next to the "real" Japanese one that was so kindly given to me later. The hedate (triangular shaped pad) in the picture goes between the two chawan before they are tied up in the bag.