KCWC with my best friend - Japanese Pattern Books

06/10/2012

4 Comments

 
It seems like everyone has signed up for Elsie Marley's KCWC and I'm no exception.  I definitely need some motivation, the weather is warming up and Lizzy and Martin have both grown so much over the winter that they need some new clothes. (desperately!)

My challenge is to take all of my patterns  and inspiration out of my sizeable stash of Japanese pattern books.  I'm passionate about them but definitely don't use them enough.  I am forever buying patterns when in reality I have enough to keep me going in my Japanese pattern books till my kids move out.
While at times the patterns can be  little confusing (hello hiragana!), there are lots of amazing resources out there to help you out.  Last year I blogged about them here.

Why do I love these books so much?
  • Their aesthetic is beautifully simple  ( I don't think I've ever seen a diamonte in a Japanese pattern book...)
  • They sew up  beautifully ( as long as you don't forget to add seam allowances!)
  • There as many gorgeous patterns for boys as there are for girls
  • The patterns are timeless - they aren't caught up in the latest trend or fashion and they are just as suitable for a ten year old as a three year old
  • The books contain lots of basic shapes - They make a perfect blank slate for your own designs and inspirations
  • While the books seem expensive, they all contain at least 8 patterns in multiple sizes.  When you look at it like that, they're a bargain!

So - the sewing challenge has been set.  Seven days of sewing, all Japanese patterns and no fabric buying.  Easy....

Are you sewing along with KCWC?  What are you plans?  Do you use Japanese patterns? I'd love to hear all about it!

Caroline

 


Comments

Carmel Morris link
06/10/2012 03:06

I'm going through my patterns now. I love the Japanese books too, but I need more. I have a beautiful one for little girl dresses, but my little girl isn't big enough yet.

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Caroline link
08/10/2012 08:48

They are gorgeous, aren't they? if you don't add the seam allowance you can shrink them down a little...maybe you can start sewing for your little girl sooner!

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Karen link
08/10/2012 16:43

OK here's s confession Caroline, I love Japanese patterns but have only one pattern book as I can't justify buying more until I have worked up the courage to use the one I have.
It's in Japanese, but I should be able to figure things out with the diagrams, just need tomjumpmoff that cliff...

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Caroline link
09/10/2012 02:11

Jump off the cliff! They really are simpler than they look and I also just discovered that Tessuti have Happy Homemade Volume 2 (my favourite) in English!

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