Making four-color ichimatsu yosegi
Today is Monday, and it seems that some companies are starting work for the new year from today. However, the roads during the morning commute were much quieter than usual, so it feels like many people are still on holiday. This morning was also very cold, and it was hard for me to get into work mode 🤣 Because of that, I spent the morning working on the ichimatsu yosegi (sheet) that I had prepared earlier.
I prepared the materials last year and had already cut them into small parts, so the next step is to glue them together one by one (photo). First, I glue fourteen small pieces together to make one block. Then, when seven of these blocks are joined, the size becomes about 34 cm in length and 6 cm in width. This is the size needed for 4-sun and square puzzle boxes. Today, I finished making seven blocks. Next, I will glue them as two groups, one with three blocks and one with four blocks, and finally join those two groups together to make seven again. I will continue this gluing work little by little in between making boxes over the next few days. The actual gluing only takes a few minutes, but after that, the pieces need to rest for several hours. That is why I always do this work in between other box-making tasks.For the time being, I am thinking of continuing to make both the two-color ichimatsu yosegi that I added last year and this four-color type.
In addition, I also did a little preparation for the next work today. This month, besides the 4-sun puzzle boxes I am currently making, I plan to make Mame puzzle boxes for the Hakone market and a 5-sun puzzle box for myself. So, to be able to start the yosegi pasting work tomorrow morning, I first prepared the yosegi board for the 5-sun box. This time, I am planning to make a new type of box. Since last year, I have been thinking about adding another type to the 5-sun puzzle boxes of traditional yosegi, and this is my attempt to bring that idea to life.
I prepared the materials last year and had already cut them into small parts, so the next step is to glue them together one by one (photo). First, I glue fourteen small pieces together to make one block. Then, when seven of these blocks are joined, the size becomes about 34 cm in length and 6 cm in width. This is the size needed for 4-sun and square puzzle boxes. Today, I finished making seven blocks. Next, I will glue them as two groups, one with three blocks and one with four blocks, and finally join those two groups together to make seven again. I will continue this gluing work little by little in between making boxes over the next few days. The actual gluing only takes a few minutes, but after that, the pieces need to rest for several hours. That is why I always do this work in between other box-making tasks.For the time being, I am thinking of continuing to make both the two-color ichimatsu yosegi that I added last year and this four-color type.
In addition, I also did a little preparation for the next work today. This month, besides the 4-sun puzzle boxes I am currently making, I plan to make Mame puzzle boxes for the Hakone market and a 5-sun puzzle box for myself. So, to be able to start the yosegi pasting work tomorrow morning, I first prepared the yosegi board for the 5-sun box. This time, I am planning to make a new type of box. Since last year, I have been thinking about adding another type to the 5-sun puzzle boxes of traditional yosegi, and this is my attempt to bring that idea to life.