How to Tie a Girl's Obi
The obi is the thick, belt-like sash that keeps a kimono tightly wrapped across your body. The obi hold both men's and women's kimonos together. The reason an unmarried female's obi is so thick is that it masks the shape of the woman's body. Although there are many ways to tie an obi correctly, a young girl can wear a simple, bow-shaped style. The style is moderately simple to tie and allows ample movement for a young girl.
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Instructions
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1
Wrap the obi behind your back. The side of the obi in your left hand should be about one third the length of the side of the obi in your right hand.
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Tuck the left-hand side of the obi upward. Wrap the right-hand side of the material over the left-hand side and completely around your back again. The side that was originally in your left hand should stick upward out of the belt you created against your abdomen.
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3
Tie both ends together. Grab the left-hand side that sticks upward and tie it with the right-hand side of the obi. Do not make a knot.
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4
Fold the longer end of the obi three to four times against itself. This end, originally in your right-hand, should be on your left side after you tied the ends together. To fold the material against itself, bend it backward and forward like a piece of ribbon candy.
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Pinch the middle of your folded longer end. You will turn this end into a bow.
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Pull the shorter end of the obi, now on your right side, tighter and wrap it around the middle of the other end. This end will constitute the "knot" of your bow. Pull it up and over the ribbon end and tuck it down throw the belt-like portion of the obi across your waist. Pull the end tightly underneath.
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Shift the front of the obi to your back. The bow will actually appear at the back of your kimono once you complete the process.
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Tips & Warnings
A girl should wear her obi below the breast.
Girls should not wear very thin obi because unmarried women wear thicker obi.
References
- Photo Credit Dynamic Graphics/Dynamic Graphics Group/Getty Images
