DIY FashionJapanese Sewing Patterns

Online Contest – WIN Japanese Sewing Pattern Book (closed)

I made this top from the very popular Japanese sewing pattern book, Stylish Dress Book.  It is the very first pattern in the book, and is true to the flowy, relaxed styles found throughout.  I used a pink semi-transparent rayon type fabric.  The only difficult part were the pleats at the front, as I didn’t want to melt the fabric by using a very hot iron.  Lots and lots of basting stitches were used to keep the pleats in place before and stitched them.  I think that the ruffles on the sleeves are awesome, and now that I have mastered the art of creating ruffles with the sewing machine, they were easy to achieve.

I”ll be wearing this top with shorts (like seen here), denim cut offs, skinny leg jeans, and I might also try to see what it looks like tucked into skirts.  Might look nice with the white Burdastyle pleated skirt I made recently, worn with a waist belt.  Hmmm any suggestions?

There really are very nice patterns in this book.  You can read a bit more about this book and other Japanese sewing pattern books in this post, Top 10 Japanese Sewing Pattern Books.  Next one on my ever expanding to do list is the dress on the front cover (as below), which Novita from Very Purple Person has made into a cute top.

And yes, as the title for this post suggests, I have a brand new copy of Stylish Dress Book to giveaway. Entry is open worldwide.

TO ENTER:

1) Simply leave a comment on any of my blog posts.

2) For an additional chance to win, follow Sew in Love on Twitter or subscribe to my Sew in Love RSS feed.

Entries close on SUNDAY 7 November.  Good luck!

DIY FashionJapanese Sewing Patterns

Top 10 Japanese Sewing Pattern Books

Until I started blogging, and reading other sewing blogs, I had no idea about the popularity of Japanese sewing pattern books.  Being half Japanese, I’d grown up in a house with shelves filled with Japanese craft books.  My mum is a an avid crafter (very Japanese!) and ever since I could read, I have been flipping through her many books on sewing, embroidery, leather carving, clay art, and the list goes on.  I am on Amazon Japan a lot, eyeing off the newest launches from very talented people.  It made me wonder which sewing pattern books Japanese people liked the best.  Here is the Top 10 Amazon Japan bestsellers for sewing books, as at end September 2010 (it took me a while to put the list together with translations).  I have also included a mini review, if it’s a book I have purchased.

Clicking on the links which say “BUY this book now” takes you to Amazon Japan, where for many books, the website allows you to take a peek inside.   If you would like to purchase the book from Amazon, clicking through from this list will help me to support and grow Sew in Love.  Thank you.

Please feel free to ask me any questions about buying from Amazon Japan and I will do my best to try to help.

1. Kirei ni nuu tame no kiso no kiso (Basic of basics of beautiful sewing) by Keiko Mizuno


Covers basic techniques for at home sewing, including ironing, stitching, basting, using bias tape and zippers.
BUY this book now

2. Pattern kara saidan made no kiso no kiso (Basic of the basics from pattern to cutting) by Keiko Mizuno

Everything you need to know about choosing your pattern to tracing, resizing and cutting as well as dealing with different types of fabrics.

BUY this book now

3. Akachan no tame ni tsukurumono (Handmade for babies) by Chiharu Okuyama


Adorable basics (bonnets, bibs, booties etc) as well as “going out” clothes for Summer and Winter
BUY this book now

4. Dress Up Dress Down – Simple Chic by Machiko Kayaki

I have this book!  It is full of simple classics you could make and wear forever, like a little black dress (on the cover) or a skirt suit.  Every item is illustrated with styling tips to “dress up” or “dress down” your outfit.  I am yet to make something from this pattern book, but I definitely think it will become a reference for me no matter how old I am.

BUY this book now

5. One-piece kara tunic, blouse mo (happy homemade)

From one-pieces, tunics and blouses.

by Noriko Sasahara

Versatile book with A-Line, smock, and shirt dress patterns, with ways to turn them into tunics and blouse tops.

BUY this book now

6. Sukina　nunoji de suki na fuku. Sewing hajime masho.

Clothes you like from fabrics you like.  Let’s start sewing.

by Aoi Kada

Natural and relaxed dresses, skirts, tops and pants

BUY this book now

7. Kikonashi jiyuuna one-piece x tunic blouse (Otona no couture)


BUY this book now

by Akiko Tsukiori

Dresses and tops to be worn alone or layered, for all seasons.

8. Onnanoko no oshare fuku

Smart dress up clothes for little girls.

by Yuki Araki

This book looks adorable!  It has everything for a little girl, with tops and dresses for summer and coats and hats for winter.  I’m tempted to buy this one, even though I don’t have any children.

BUY this book now

9. Coordinate jisai no one-piece + (Stylish Dress Book)

Easy to coordinate one-piece + more

by Akiko Tsukiori

I recently made a blouse from this popular book.  It is a very simple, smock style top, with a touch of sweetness added by frilled sleeves.  All the patterns in this book (dresses and tops) follow the same simple yet girly sweet style.  There are 26 projects in total, many of which can be shortened to make a smock blouse.  Word of warning, if you are after tailored or fitted clothes, this book is not for you!  Stylish Dress Book is filled with loose, smock style clothes for a relaxed style. I’m looking forward to making a dress next, with buttons and pleats down the front <3

BUY this book now

P.S. I am giving away a copy of Stylish Dress Book by Akiko Tsukiori this month so make sure you enter here.

10. Sarigenaku amai fuku

Subtlely sweet clothes.

I just got this book.  It has grown up clothes, like fitted skirts, pants, dresses and jackets with a little feminine touch.  A bow here, a bit of lace, or frills added there and simple clothes are transformed into sweet creations.  The styling in this book is fantastic, and it makes you want to make all the outfits!

BUY this book now

DIY Fashion

White Burdastyle Michelle Skirt – success at last!

I attempted Burdastyle Michelle skirt again.  This time with a much thinner, white fabric (see failed Burdastyle Michelle skirt in wool).  I also trimmed 1 cm from right and left sides of the pattern, as the first skirt I made was far too big even though it was the smallest available size 36.  This version fits perfectly, at my waist, and is fully lined.  I whipped out my overlocker (or serger) and made a very simple lining, even though I am yet to learn how to use an overlocker properly.  I am enrolling in a course this month so I’m looking forward to being taught how to thread the damn thing!    At the moment I can only use the machine to stitch white things, because it came threaded in that colour.  Yes, I did look at the instructions, but it looks very complicated and I am too scared to break the intricate little parts of the machine.  I’m really excited about the overlocker course, where I’ll learn how to do decorative edging, and make things with stretchy fabrics.  Yes I am a total dork.

Oh, and yes, the shoes in the photo are indeed vintage BALLY.  Love love love.

DIY FashionJapanese Sewing Patterns

Easy smock dress from Japanese sewing pattern

This is a smock dress I have made from a Japanese sewing pattern book, “Mainichi Kitai One-Piece”, below, which basically means “One-pieces I want to Wear Everyday”.  I shortened the hem by a good 7 cm, so that it looked less like a moo-moo dress.  I used a thick, cotton jersey fabric, so the gathering around the neckline was difficult to do.  Other than that, the pattern only involves five pieces and it was all done in two days.  The jersey makes it really comfy, and you just slip it on, without any zips or buttons.  Very good for those “fat” days because it balloons out. I’ll be wearing it to dinner as soon as I can chew again (3 weeks to go) so I can pig out in comfort.

This book has 16 very different summer dresses, all with good, detailed instructions.  Compared to other Japanese sewing pattern books I own, this book definitely shows more diagrams, explaining more difficult steps visually.  From simple camisole style dresses to a proper button up shirt dress, I would describe all 16 designs as beginner friendly.  Dave bought me this book from Amazon Japan.  Clicking on the image of the book above left takes you to Amazon Japan, where you can look inside the book by clicking on the book’s cover when a new window pops up. Buying from Amazon Japan was quick and simple. Please just ask if you have any questions, because I do read Japanese so I should (hopefully) be able to help!

LifestyleRin's Life

Spring Fashion Trends 2010

I am so happy spring is here in Sydney.  It has become so much warmer in the last month, there’s lots more people down the road from me at the beach, having picnics, eating fish and chips and going for a swim(!).  I’m not quite brave enough to enter the water yet, but I have started to wear open toe shoes, light spring coats and floaty dresses.  So much fun.

Untitled

The Polyvore set above totally sums up my look for spring.  White, mint and gray.  And how gorgeous are the shoes?  They seem to be sold out, unfortunately, but I am happy to say I found something very similar (and cheaper) at Betts.


These shoes below, are called Karma, and available from the Betts website.

Speaking of platform sandals, at the peak of the Aussie dollar against US, I bought a pair of Loeffler Randall Keira shoes in blush/black.  Total splurge but I just cannot wait for them to arrive from the US.  Hurry up, Mr Postman!

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