Preparing for Hari-kuyo

A few weeks ago, my friend Carol Anne from Threads Across the Web posted about the Festival of Broken Needles (Hari-kuyo) on Stitchin Fingers. The Festival is held in Japan every February 8 and she has invited everyone to join her on that day, tomorrow, to do something in celebration of their needles. Tomorrow, we invite all of you to celebrate your needles by uploading pictures that honor the tools that have served you so humbly over the past year, your pins and needles.

Picture from Reuters

This festival has always fascinated me since I saw the Awashimado Hall at the Senso-ji shrine in Asakusa, Japan.

Having lived in Japan for three years in the '90s, I came to appreciate how the Japanese honored not just needles...but many of the tools and implements used in their work such as calligraphy brushes, broken combs and even lab animals.

Here's a picture of me on the steps of the shrine when Jim, Jack and I visited Japan in 2004...

On February 8, the sewers and kimono makers of Japan will come to the shrine, bringing their broken needles and pins that have served them throughout the previous year. Hari means "needle" and kuyo means "memorial service". The needles/pins are placed into tofu or konnyaku (a gray potato-based jelly that I have never liked--as far as I'm concerned it's only good for sticking needles in!!) The soft tofu is to soothe the needles after their many hours sewing through thick fabric.

Sitting on those steps, I couldn't help but feel some connection to all of those sewers who have come to that place...

The Japanese believe that all things have a spiritual energy and have great respect for the objects used in their daily life. It is important to be respectful of a needle's service and not be overly wasteful by thoughtlessly tossing these items away.

The women bring their needles to their final resting place, thank the needles for their service, and pray that the needles power and energy will stay with them and help to improve their sewing skills in the coming year.

There's a lot more to the tradition so I found this beautiful self-published pamphlet that explains the festival better than I ever could.

Open publication - Free publishing - More japan

Since there is no sewing on Hari-kuyo which is tomorrow. I'll be making a special needle case today, to share with all of you tomorrow.

I hope you'll join us for our virtual festival. Check back here and on Stitchin Fingers tomorrow for more on Hari-kuyo.