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Tutorial: Make your own hakama
By taeliac
1K Favourites187 Comments100K Views






OMFG. Okay, I've been working on this on and off for the past week, and really wanted to get it posted before I leave for the weekend. Not to mention, it has been my most requested tutorial, too. And, I have to say, I'm very happy with it.
Just like my kimono pattern tutorial, this is my methodology for creating (fake) hakama for cosplay purposes.

It is long, and you do have to do math. Read through the whole tutorial first, before attempting to make it, so you understand the points.
As with all of my tutorials, they're wordy, because I want you to understand everything that you are doing. I abhor tutorials that are "and then do this, and then do this, and then this, and then you're done," especially for things that are sewing based off of measurements. You need to understand what you are doing.
This also may be more advanced than some peoples sewing skills are at, I would tag this as a "MEDIUM" tutorial, in terms of difficulty. You need to know how to hem something, press something, and what words like "seam allowance" mean.
These are not historically or Kendo accurate hakama, so there is no need to point that out to me in a comment - I know, that's why the word "fake" is on the preview image!
If you do want to make more historically accurate hakama, Folkwear has a hakama pattern available, just do a google search for it. These are meant to be more dramatic and stylized for cosplay purposes, because for many applications, traditional hakama are no where near as full as they should be.
There are two different styles described in this tutorial - ones that have elastic in a waistband for comfort, and where the hakama aren't going to be seen, and ones that have side slits and ties to close them, so they look more accurate to traditional hakama (they do not, however, have a backboard - you're going to have to figure that one out on your own if you want to add one)
I would ask that you do not sell anything you make with this tutorial~
I know that there isn't any way to enforce this, but if I do see this happening, it's going to keep me from writing or making other one's, or even deleting what I have done already, okay?
I'm appealing to your conscience.
© 2009 Samantha Lemieux/Taeliac Studio
Do not edit in any way, repost or redistribute without permission. DO NOT STEAL!
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© 2009 - 2021 taeliac
Comments187
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Heya! Just wanted to let you know that I used your tutorial to roll me through making my own set of hakama. I loved the combination of demonstrative photos and thorough explanations for everything, so thank you for posting it! I made some changes since I'm a bit more interested in utility than accuracy, but here is a link to the one I made based on your instructions! :3
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Hi! I have a couple of questions which I hope you won't mind answering
So, I need to make a hakama which has a back board, ties and side slits (where the slits are, there is white underneath showing through)
For a backboard I would need to make an elastic type and I'm happy to sew fake ties on, but then I'm not sure about the side slits. I was wondering if you could give me some advice on this situation. Do you think it would work if I sewed the white bits on the side?
If it helps, these are the hakama I wish to make: images4.fanpop.com/image/user_…
Thank you so much for this tutorial!
So, I need to make a hakama which has a back board, ties and side slits (where the slits are, there is white underneath showing through)
For a backboard I would need to make an elastic type and I'm happy to sew fake ties on, but then I'm not sure about the side slits. I was wondering if you could give me some advice on this situation. Do you think it would work if I sewed the white bits on the side?
If it helps, these are the hakama I wish to make: images4.fanpop.com/image/user_…
Thank you so much for this tutorial!

This is really detailed. Thanks. I also like how you tell how to figure out the measurements for the pleats instead of complete guess work. U_U I always end up guessing. Thank you for showing how to pin your pleats. On my last pleated skirt I dont know how many times they came out during the sewing process. Thanks. I'm going to attempt to make Rei Hino's miko outfit for an upcoming con. This helps.

The way you made this hakama is actually really smart! I'll make one for myself once I get the right fabric and stuff but for now, I'm busy re-vamping 3 of my cosplays and adding new things to my cosplay stuff (like a pair of nekomimi's with custom ears that I'm making to match a tail I'm making, demon horns and wings, and a few smaller stuff along the side)

A good number of years ago, I had my mom make me these awesome hakama to cosplay as Kikyo from InuYasha, for Halloween. I haven't looked at the pattern, to see if it's anywhere near similar to what she'd done, but those bad boys are some of the most comfortable pants I've ever worn, and I still rock them today. - And even though I'll never use it, I want to say thank you for the guide! I'm sure it has/will come in handy for others!

I find your tutorial very helpful
but the belt part for split hakama is quite confusing for me. The belt should go arround the waist and be tied in front? How did you do that with sewing the 45inches pieces pinned in the middle to the middle seam, for some reason this is very confusing for me
it looks like the hakama you're making should be tied on sides? Am I right?
it seems like I need a bit of help here ^_^




I made a pair of these for my daughter. She's going to dress as Yachiru from Bleach. This was my first time making anything and it was so much easier with your directions. I love your tutorials and I always look to your page first before I make anything to see if you have it. You're very talented. Thank you
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