Ironing a Hakama?

Hi all,

I've trawled through the web for a guide on how to iron a hakama properly, but strangely, I can't find anything useful at all.

I would really benefit from either a video or even a set of step-by-step pictures if anyone has any?

Many thanks,

Marco

Hi Marco, I'd say to iron a hakama you need to know how to iron. Shirts are ironed by following the structure. A hakama is no different. I'd say ironing a hakama is even more simple and straight-forward than ironing a dress shirt. Can you iron a shirt?

If you can fold a hakama, just iron the parts in the same sequence as you fold it. I mean, you probably smooth things out with your hands, and work from the inside to the outside. It's the same thing. Just pretend the iron is your hand.

I hang it up damp, pin the pleats in place, and iron before taking out the pins.

A good girlf friend - In my young days I always had a good girlfriend to iron my Hakama.They learned quick and just followed the exsisting folds.

Henry Ellis
Co-author of `Positive Aikido`
Aikido Controversy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMuDqKOjnls

If the pleats aren't intact, you've got a job of work ahead of you -- but then, if the pleats aren't intact, you're probably not able to fold it, so let's assume that's not the case. My method is similar to Hugh's and Dan's: I generally wash it first, hang it to dry with a skirt hanger and pin the pleats while it's still damp, then iron in the same order I fold it (back first, inside to outside, making sure the outer seam lines up all the while.

Also, as Dan said, first you need to know how to iron. If you don't know how to iron, I'd try something other than a hakama to learn on. Start with a sheet (so you know how to get the proper setting and iron smoothly), then go on to dress shirts (do the sleeves first and the yoke and collar last), and when you're good at dress shirts, go on to a hakama.

If you're a complete babe in the woods, I guess you could try to get someone else to do it for you, but if you hope to be able to take care of your own things some day, I'd think at least you'd watch the process (and learn to iron, as noted above) in the interest of learning how to do it yourself.

i've never ironed my hakama. but i do what everyone else has stated. i hang it and pin the pleats after soaking/washing, then when its dry, i just make sure to fold it to keep the pleats.

BUT, not to hijack this thread, but what do i do about the knees? i used an iron on patch on the inside of the hakama, but the patch was too small, and now i risk more tearing around the patch

Henry, they haven't made girlfriends like that since 1960.

Jerome, get friendly with a sewing machine. Or Henry's girlfriend.

Re: blown-out knees, I'd take it to a tailor. My senseis have had a few repair jobs done by a local tailor, with good results. As long as they understand the importance of the pleats, they'll do a good job.

Jerome Cervantes wrote: i've never ironed my hakama. but i do what everyone else has stated. i hang it and pin the pleats after soaking/washing, then when its dry, i just make sure to fold it to keep the pleats. BUT, not to hijack this thread, but what do i do about the knees? i used an iron on patch on the inside of the hakama, but the patch was too small, and now i risk more tearing around the patch

Patching a hakama knee: As a seamstress I am often called upon to do this and I always do it this way:
Cut a piece of matching color/weight fabric 2" - 3" larger than the weak area (so for a hole 1" long but with surrounding weak area actually 2" x 3", cut a rectangle at least 4" x 6"). Press in a 1/2" seam allowance on the patch. Pin it to the INSIDE of the hakama and neatly stitch right along the folded edge, removing pins as you go.
Turn hakama right side out. Topstitch again, 1/4 to 1/2 inch inside the original stitching. Then use a tight zigzag stitch to secure any holes and weak areas to the patch.

Hugh Beyer wrote: Henry, they haven't made girlfriends like that since 1960. Jerome, get friendly with a sewing machine. Or Henry's girlfriend.

Not wanting to iron pleats is why I buy tetron haks. Hang them to dry as everybody else suggests, with clothespins, and no problem.

I got lost a the part where you wash the hakama.

But let's see if I have this straight:

Step one: Wash hakama.
Step two: Hang and clothespin pleats
Step three: Get girlfriend/wife/beautiful stand in to iron it
Step four: ?
Step five: profit

Hugh Beyer wrote: Henry, they haven't made girlfriends like that since 1960. Jerome, get friendly with a sewing machine. Or Henry's girlfriend.

hahahahahahahah touché! thanx hugh

mary, thanx. looks like a tailor is my next option. and on that note, janet, if you were closer, i'd bring my hakama to you with my blessings!

will check into some of the local ones here...new knees AND an ironed hakama. woohoo

Jerome Cervantes wrote: mary, thanx. looks like a tailor is my next option. and on that note, janet, if you were closer, i'd bring my hakama to you with my blessings!

My advice is: don't let them try to convince you to go with an iron-on patch. Tell them you'd like a proper cloth patch well stitched on.

Hugh Beyer wrote: Henry, they haven't made girlfriends like that since 1960. Jerome, get friendly with a sewing machine. Or Henry's girlfriend.

Hugh

You are almost right :-)
A pretty girl that could iron a Hakama was a treasure and the envy of all the other dan grades.

Henry Ellis
Co-author of `Positive Aikido`
Aikido Controversy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMuDqKOjnls

Well, I am one out of two there. I CAN iron a hakama, but I really dont see why anyone would need to. All the hakama I have had have never needed it. The fabric is heavy enough to not wrinkle much, and hanging takes care of the rest.

Henry Ellis wrote: Hugh You are almost right :-) A pretty girl that could iron a Hakama was a treasure and the envy of all the other dan grades. Henry Ellis Co-author of `Positive Aikido` Aikido Controversy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMuDqKOjnls

Henry Ellis wrote: A pretty girl that could iron a Hakama was a treasure and the envy of all the other dan grades.

Ha! Oh, how times have changed. We seemed to have progressed to:

A pretty girl in a hakama who can kick butt is a treasure and envy of all the other dan grades.

Dan Richards wrote: Ha! Oh, how times have changed. We seemed to have progressed to: A pretty girl in a hakama who can kick butt is a treasure and envy of all the other dan grades.

I NEVER mentioned a girl in a hakama or a student - just a girlfriend.

Henry Ellis
Co-author of `Positive Aikido`
Aikido Controversy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMuDqKOjnls

Krystal Locke wrote: Well, I am one out of two there. I CAN iron a hakama, but I really dont see why anyone would need to. All the hakama I have had have never needed it. The fabric is heavy enough to not wrinkle much, and hanging takes care of the rest.

Krystal

The hakama of the 1950s were not like the fabric of today - we often compared the material to a secondhand army blanket.

Henry Ellis
Co-author of `Positive Aikido`
Aikido Controversy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMuDqKOjnls

Well, what did you do with the girlfriend once you got yourself one of these newfangled hakama?

Henry Ellis wrote: Krystal The hakama of the 1950s were not like the fabric of today - we often compared the material to a secondhand army blanket. Henry Ellis Co-author of `Positive Aikido` Aikido Controversy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMuDqKOjnls

Krystal Locke wrote: Well, what did you do with the girlfriend once you got yourself one of these newfangled hakama?

Progress never made a pretty girl redundant - we not only had the `new hakama ` we also had the amazing new technology of the steam iron - I am all for making a womans life easier.

Henry Ellis
Co-author of `Positive Aikido`
Aikido Controversy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMuDqKOjnls

Henry Ellis wrote: Progress never made a pretty girl redundant - we not only had the `new hakama ` we also had the amazing new technology of the steam iron - I am all for making a womans life easier. Henry Ellis Co-author of `Positive Aikido` Aikido Controversy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMuDqKOjnls

It's moments like this that remind me why I am single.

--Ashley

As stated in "The Ballad of Erica Levine":

Basic needs at your age should be met by you,
I'm your lover, not your mother - let's be careful what we do.

Hey, is that the one that talks about picking an apartment--"yours has rent control, mine's on the subway line."

Ashley Hemsath wrote: It's moments like this that remind me why I am single. --Ashley

Or me, glad that I'm gay.

Hugh Beyer wrote: Hey, is that the one that talks about picking an apartment--"yours has rent control, mine's on the subway line."

Right in one! Great song.

As my mom used to say, "If you're not old enough to take care of it, you're not old enough to have it."