Basic kogin patterns
Here I'll introduce traditional patterns and the meanings which I embroidered.
HANAKAGO
HANAKAGO means flower basket.I devised this pattern combining two traditional patterns ;HANA-TUNAGI and UME-NO-HANA.The flower basket motif is often used on kimonos.
HANA-tunagi
HANA-TUNAGI means connected flowers.This diamond shape pattern is called "Musubi-hana" ,and it connected each other on this pattern.
kikkou
KIKKOU means turtle shell.
In Japan,we think turtles lives long time, so turtle shell is said the symbol of longevity.
UROKO
Uroko means scales of fish,dragon,snakes.It is said that scales defeat evil.
And also it is good luck for money.
SAYA pattern
It comes from the pattern of silk fabric.It is a pattern that spreads continuously.So It means the prosperity and longevity of the house.
Deformed SAYA pattern
This is deformed pattern of Saya pattern on the left picture.It comes from the pattern of silk fabric.
It also looks like rose flowers.
kurumi-no-kara
KURUMI-NO-KARA means Walnut shell.It represents the shape of the cross section of walnut.The walnut was an important food as dessert in ancient times.
kikurako
"Kikurako" is shaped the form of bending legs.
In Tsugaru dialect,"Kikura" means "bending something,especially to bend legs".
kumo-zashi
The name "KUMO" thought as a spider.Generally spider is one of the ugly creature,but it is good luck charm for getting good encounter.
Because spiders make thin threads and the thread collects happiness.
neko-no-ashi
“NEKO-NO-ASHI ”means Footprints of cat. This pattern is named “Cats Footprints connecting by stitch line”.
Each patterns looks be surrounded by line.Such line is called “Ito-Nagare(stitch line)”.
KOMAKURA
This name came from the shape of old pillow. In old days, when people did Japanese hair style(NIHON-GAMI), they used such pillow not to break the hair set.
Meanwhile it is said that this pattern is shaped tree stump.
TANOKURO-ZASHI
This pattern represents roads through the rice field. Tsugaru area where kogin was started is famous for rice crops. So such countryside sight seemed to be familiar with people at that time.
BEKO-ZAshi
Beko means cow in Tsugaru dialect.
The cow was a familiar animal in rural areas.It is said that the center of the pattern is looks the shape of footprint of cow.
DEFORMED HAnA-TUNAGI
HANA-TUNAGI means connected flowers.The picture of original pattern is at the top of this page.
The diamond shape pattern is deformed square.
Hitta pattern
This pattern is named “Hitta pattern”.It is said that it came from Kanoko pattern which is a kind of pattern of kimono.
Kanoko means child deers.The pattern resembles spots pattern on the back of a child of a deer.
(UNNAMED Pattern)
This pattern has no name yet.
I find Kacharazu and Musubi-hana,so I will name this as " Musubi-hana surrounded Kacharazu".
Variation of whole embroidery.
The combination of single pattern and Connecting pattern(Nagare)makes various patterns.
This pattern is named “TOMARAZU connected with SHIMADA-ZASHI”.
I think this pattern is good forcelebrate happy wedding.
TOMARAZU means everlasting. “SHIMADA-ZASHI” came from the shape of Japanese hairstyle for bride.
Combineded these patterns means happy married life lasts long.
Scale pattern inside connected flowers.
A single pattern of Scale(UROKO) is surrounded by connected flower.
I think that this pattern means to defeat evils and happy encounter is expanding.
Traditional kogin embroidery.
These kogin are embroideried on old Kimonos.
Many single pattern were connected to expand.It looks like a picture.
I drew these patterns from picture of old Kimonos on graph papers to embroidery.
Old kogin were embroideried on dark navy color linen cloth with white cotton thread.Now due to colorful thread and cloth make kogin embroidery more beautiful.
The center of this pattern is KURUMI-NO-KARA(Walnuts shell).
Actually,this pattern is the photo of box of sweets sold in Aomori.I bought this sweets to draw this pattern.Kogin is loved so much in Aomori.
This pattern is named "YONMAI-BISHI".It means four diamond shape.You see four diamond shape on the center.It is consisted from the various patterns.
The center of this pattern is named "NEKO-NO-ASHI(footprint of cat)".Do you think it looks like footprint of cat?There is also Cat's eye pattern,and I introduced on HOME.
The name of this pattern is "Cobblestones surrounding binded flowers".
I drew this pattern from picture of old Kimonos and downsize it for making teddybears.
Most of kogin on this site were made for my teddy bear with kogin embroidery.
This pattern is also on old kimonos.I'm not sure the name of this pattern,it might be called YASUKO-ZASHI or something.
Some patterns are combined,and it is beautiful geometric pattern.
The center of this pattern is named "KIKURAKO".