How to sew a Rakusu

How to sew a Rakusu

Rakusu instructions

How to sew a Rakusu

1.
Your Rakusu is an intricate and individual piece of work and should be made without
rushing. Please allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy making it, particularly if you are not
accustomed to sewing. It is very helpful to have a finished Rakusu in front of you while your
work.
2.
Read all instructions carefully before you begin.
3.
You will need: 1¼ yards black cloth
½ yard white cloth
½ yard white
non
-
wo
ven,
non
-fusible interfacing
1 wooden or plastic ring
26”
length of green embroidery floss
Black thread
Sharp scissors
Pins
Sharp needle
White marker (available in fabric stores; looks like a pencil)
Ruler
Iron and ironing board
4.
With the wrong side of the black fabric up (the right side has a diagonal twill pattern), iron
the fabric flat. When you need to iron on the right side, use a pressing cloth (a piece of cloth
between the iron and the cloth).
5.
In the back of this book are pattern pieces and a cutting layout. Make enough copies of
pattern pieces A, B, C, and D that you don’t have to cut this book. You will need two pieces
each of A and C, four pieces of B, and one piece of D. These patterns give you the exact
measurements for cutting and folds for the center of your Rakusu. Be aware that A1 and A2
mirror each other, because of outside seams.
Black fabric: 1 piece A1
9”
x
2”
1 piece A2
9”
x
2”
4 pieces B
7”
x 1-1/2
”
2 pieces C
8”
x
1”
1 piece D
8”
x 2-3/4”
1 piece E
36”
x 4-1/2”
1 piece F
14
-1/2” x 4-1/2”
1 piece G
9”
x
2”
1 piece H
45”
x 4-1/2”
1 piece J
45”
x
4-1/2”
1 piece K
10”
x 4-1/2”
1 piece L
9”
x 4-1/2”
Interfacing: 1 piece M
15
-1/2” x
11
-1/2”
1 piece N
10”
x 4-1/2”
White cloth: 1 piece O
10”
x 3-1/2”
1 piece P
12
-1/2” x
9”
2

3
6.
Refer to the cutting layout,
and
mark and check cutting lines for all pattern pieces
accurately on the wrong side of the cloth using a sharp white or lead pencil, before cutting
an
ything. You may mark lines using tracing paper with wheel (available in fabric stores) or
straight edge and a ruler. Start with piece J, includ
in
g the selvege (finished edge) as part of the
piece. There are 16 pieces of black cloth, 2 pieces of white cloth, and 2 pieces of white non-
woven interfacing.
You may also make your own paper patterns f
or
pieces E through L and arrange them on the
fabric with pieces A through D, so you get a sense of control before cutting.
Now cut all these pieces with sharp scissors, making square corners and very clean lines. You
will be using the seam allowances as your guide, so please be very precise.
7.

All seams should be sewn by hand. 

Directions on how to make various stitches are
on
page 11
.
Mark the seam allowances and folding lines of pieces A through D on the wrong side
of the fabric.
Now you will start sewing the rice field. Start by sewing the tucks on pieces C and D. To make a
tuck, bring right sides together, matching tuck lines. Pin in place, then stitch on line. Press the
tucks in the direction shown by the arrows on the pattern.
When you sew tucks in the A pieces, make sure that the first and third lines match the lines of
D, and the fourth line matches with the lower line of C.
8.
Join pieces A, B, C, and D following stitching lines on the B pieces exactly.
Start with:
B
–
D
–
B
Then: A1 –
B
– C (make sure horizontal lines match)
C
–
B
– A2 (make sure horizontal lines match)
Then: Sew the three pieces together, lining up horizontal lines with a ruler first.
Then: Press the seam allowances toward the B pieces, and press your whole center
piece. You don’t need to cut off the uneven edges yet.
9.

Lay sewn piece before you. 

Measure and mark with a pencil lightly, centered, on the right
side, a rectangle 10” x 6
¼”