Ito wrapping for beginners?

Take it from someone who 4 years ago just started myself, it ain't easy. It looks easy, it may sound easy, some people do it and post pics satisfied with their own work when it looks like the ito is falling off on its own, but trust me, it's not that easy. Like painting, sculpting, drawing, etc. it's just not that easy to grab a long strand of silk and get a perfectly symmetrical and tight tsukamaki. When I look at my old stuff I laugh at how poor the ura and omote knots are. I forgot to do crossovers on my really early wraps, and some were downright horrible in the beginning on every level.

Don't get discouraged though. If you're not willing to devote an entire afternoon to a good wrap, then likely this won't be your thing. I did a tsukamaki just three days ago that took me about 4 and a half hours NOT counting all the tsuka prep work I had to do before hand. Some of the people who do one in less than an hour without hishigame think they've done a decent maki, maybe for display it is, but they would fall apart under rigorous cutting.

Don't worry, it is quite easy...ummm... ...ok maybe not so easy, but it sounds better to say that. Honestly it is not that hard, but it does take patience and practice is often a very good idea. It would be smart to get a practice piece of wood, and ito. Wrap and rewrap them. Get used to how it works. Get used to pulling and keeping pressure. Take your time. Get used to inserting those pesky little paper wedges. Take time and make a bunch of the wedges. Pop in your favorite sword fighting movie and fold wedges while you watch. Yes it is boring and tedious. But if you want a good ito wrap they are needed. Don't stress on perfection but practice making the end knots, that is where it really gets tricky.

There are some great posts here, a lot of good videos on youtube, and many websites that can help you in the process. But what is most important is to try it out a few times on something you can practice on. Even some shoelace and a dowel will help, though closer to the material and shape you will finally work on better the practice is.

It is a good idea if you are not used to doing work with your hands and fingers to use clamps to hold your wrapping. The reason is your fingers and hands will get sore, cramped, and tired. It is better to clamp and set the project aside than to try and do a 4-6 hour job on the wrapping. Especially when it is time to do the final end knots. You want to be fresh and rested to work on those. Not sore, tired, inpatient to be done, and frustrated.

OK so that said hopefully your not scared away from trying it. It is not so super difficult, but it is tedious, and it is not just simple. Don't be afraid to start and decide it isn't going right and unwrap and start over. Take your time with it, use the clamps and you will be able to get a good looking wrap. Be sure though you don't pull your wrap too tight and crack your tsuka. You want it nice and tight, but remember it is hollow wood, so wrap accordingly.

My main suggestion though since you seem unsure and new to this, is practice. Get used to doing it when it is not the fate of your sword in your hands. Get used to how you have to use your hands and fingers. Practice will help you so very much in getting a wrap you will be proud of.

Oh and don't forget to have some fun while your at it

You don't need a stand and it actually might be easier without, so you can move the tsuka around to work. Though you could do something like this if you feel more comfortable with a stable platform.



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Difficult? No. And yes. Tedious. Very tedious.

I have done a few wraps and I still don't think I do a good enough job. But I think they are better than any of the wraps the swords arrived with, which says less about my work than the work of the guy that did the original.

Practice and experience. Take your time on this first one. And have fun. It may not be the best wrap on the planet but you will have the satisfaction of doing it yourself. And doing it a bit better the next time.

Go for it.

Thanks loads for the info and the encouragement, fellas !

It may be a little while before I work up the courage to get started - this may possibly be one of those "long winter evening" projects, for when it's too goldurned cold up here in the "Great White North" to go outside and have fun (I like to spend my summer days metal detecting when my kids are at their mothers' place). I may, however, paint my saya while the weather is nice enough to do it outside...