Anesama Ningyoo
Anesama ningyoo means "elder sister doll" in Japanese. There is a deep history to these paper dolls. In the Japanese feudal society, the common people were stuck within the social class in which they were born. These dolls were a way for young girls of the lower social classes to be a part of those other classes even if only through child's play. Most times, these anesama ningyoo were made by the elder sisters or women of the families. That is where the name originates. These dolls originally were made of various materials ranging from wood to rags. Eventually paper was used and chiyogami (Japanese paper covered with colorful patterns) allowed girls to have a wider array of kimonos for their dolls. I have never seen faces put onto these dolls and personallt think that it would detract from the elegant simplicity of these dolls. However, that is just my opinion.
Here are some step-by-step instructions with pictures to help you make the kimono pictured below. Click on the thumbnail to see an enlarged image.
Body - 1.25 cm x 10 cm
Support for body - .75 cm x 8 cm
Face - 1.75 cm im diameter
Hair (Bangs) - 1.5 cm x 1.75 cm
Hair (Back) - 2.75 x 5.5 cm
Hair (Front) - .5 cm x 6 cm
Kimono - 5 cm x 13 cm
Kimono Sleeves - 6 cm x 14 cm
Inner Collar - 3cm x 5.5 cm
Obi (aka sash) - 3 cm x 5 cm
Obi bow (back) - 3.5 cm x 7.5 cm
You are now ready to assemble your anesama
ningyoo.
1. Glue bangs to face.
2. Glue face to body.
3. Glue body support to back of body.
This gives the doll's head extra support to prevent bending.
4. Fold inner collar almost in half.
5. Fold collar around neck of paper
doll. NOTE: Make sure the doll's right-hand collar
(it will be on your left when looking at it) is folded/tucked in first. I was taught
that the right side gets tucked in first only for people who are deceased.
6. Fold in sides of collar around body
and glue down.
7. Take kimono sheet (5 cm x 13 cm) and
fold 2.5 cm down.
8. Turn kimono paper over and fold the
folded edge .25 down.
9. Fold kimono around doll's neck.
Make sure your left side is tucked in first (see step five note).
10. Fold in the left side of the kimono
then the right side. (First fold shown)
11. Glue sleeves to back of kimono.
12. Wrap obi (sash) around midsection
and glue.
13. Fold obi in half lengthwise.
Now fold in half at an angle.
14. Attach obi to back of obi as shown.
15. Attach hair to back of doll's head.
Leave a lot of room above the head (about 1 - 1.5 cm).
16. Add the long strands of hair to the
front of the doll as shown.
17. Fold edges of hair in the back to
the front.
17. Twist hair at the top and tie with
ribbon, thread, wire, etc. (I also fold the left sleeve over and glue it down.)
You are finished! (^o^)