Japanese Pattern books – Measure Twice Cut Once

Posted on 09/02/202307/02/2023 by Susan Goodwin — Leave a comment

What I made, sew Japanese in January

First up apologies for the sound, seems like a jet lagged me was a bit lax with actually connecting the microphone to the recording device so I’m sorry for that. Also sorry for my ugly feet (why are feet so ugly? Like why???) so just ignore them and focus on the pretty bath mat.

Right with that out of the way, this is Sew Japanese in January a fun challenge set out by @ bloglessanna on Instagram to encourage people to use their beautiful Japanese sewing books.

The book I’m using translates as “Goods made with simple fabrics – bags and miscellaneous” ISBN978-4-594-06361-0 I got it on my last trip to Japan so it’s many years old now but I love the simple and practical ideas.

Everything was sewn on my Brother NV180D

My nail polish is from Hanami “Tides” not an add just a huge fan.

As always thanks for watching if you have questions please leave a comment and please subscribe it’s a really easy way to help support the work I do.

Lastly thanks to Anna of @ bloglessanna for running such a fun challenge each January and July!

Posted on 03/03/201601/03/2016 by Susan Goodwin — 4 Comments

Stylish Remakes – Japanese Sewing book giveaway

Some time ago I was given a copy of Stylish Remakes to review, when I was asked to do it I said sure, I’m not normally an up cycling type of sewer but am always interested to have a look at something.

When the book arrived I was intrigued. It has some really great ideas to take pre existing garments and give them some cool and sometimes quirky twists to create a new garment.

I was all inspired and yet the book has been sitting there and I haven’t created any projects. I sat down the other week to choose a project and then it dawned on me, I’m trying to decrease my stash and I rarely if ever buy any clothes (even 2nd hand clothes).

This is a book that is to be utilised and treasured by upcyclers who love to rummage at a charity shop. Who chop and recreate and do all manner of wondrous things with an existing start point…and I’m not one of those people. I struggle to find anything at charity shops, am hopeless at doing alterations because to me it’s faster and easier to just grab fabric from the stash and create from the very beginning.

Despite all this the book really sparks my imagination, one of the pieces I really like is taking a bunch of bandannas and making outfits from sewing them together. Such a cool idea to use scarves or bandannas or even fat quarters. Now I don’t have any of those things but I do have a collection of lovely swatches from when we did our Shibori workshop.

I started sewing them together using french seams in the fine fabric. it was this very fineness that made me reconsider the dress as the fabric was virtually sheer and a dress made from it would be unwearable. Creating something only for the photos goes against all the good that upcycling promotes so I needed another way of using the sewn together squares.

During all this sewing and thinking it’s been really hot, when I’m working at home I keep the front door open to promote a cross breeze. This is good except for the flaw that everyone who walks past has a look in, it seems like half the apartments in my building are now some kind of AirBnB and the foot traffic / looking in was getting a little ridiculous for my tastes.

Taking my sewn together squares and inspiration from Japanese doorways which often have fabric coverings called Noren, I created one of my own.

As you can see it keeps the airflow going but discourages peeping eyes, added benefit of looking really beautiful.

So while it’s not a project from the book it is a project inspired by the book which has certainly made me look more seriously at upcycling and how I can use what is around me to create new things.

The publishers have generously given me a book to giveaway to any Australian upcyclers (sorry overseas readers maybe next time), so if you genuinely think you want to give upcycling a go or are a current upcycling fan then please leave a comment below telling me why you should get the book or linking to one of your own upcycling projects. I’ll choose a winner within a week and post it out.

Posted on 01/05/201530/04/2015 by Susan Goodwin — 10 Comments

Sewing Adventures: Traffic Cone Top and Tsurah Designs Straight Skirt Purple edition

I made a traffic cone! or at least a top that makes a pretty good impersonation of one.

The top is Sleeveless Flare Blouse (view O) from I Love Tops (Japanese pattern book by Yuko Takada) and made without any modifications with the exception of eliminating the back neck slit (the scuba has a slight stretch so I didn’t need the slit to get it on over my head. Yoke fabric is a laser cut Scuba Knit and lower is a cotton burnout and lined with cotton voile. Only the lower portion is lined, the scuba knit is unlined and features raw cut edges on neck and armhole.

The sizing is great around the neckline and armholes and I’m hoping the fabrics all soften down after a few washes as it’s currently very voluminous feeling and looking.

It’s kind of big and I’m still not sure if it’s in the kind of big this is awesome type way or in the wow this top gets in the way it’s got so much fabric type of way?

So far we’ve decided it would be a good traffic cone, smuggling space to carry the cat on cold days so she could act like a hot water bottle or perfect should I ever want to eat my bodyweight in Mexican food and still be comfy.

Only time will tell if it becomes a favourite or a dud, the skirt however is already a firm favourite and possibly one of my go to TNT or Tried N True patterns.

I’ve made the Tsurah Designs straight skirt a few times all of which are currently not yet blogged, so while this is only the 2nd one I made in terms of timeline it’s the first up in the blogging queue.

When cutting I added the smallest extra bit extra over the hips as I felt my first one was a little too tight over my bottom and had the tendency to work it’s way up my body. I also cut the foldover waistband down in size as in the heat of summer I found the extra height or weight a bit hot.

While I love the colour of this skirt I don’t think I should’ve added the extra over the hips as this is a much softer double knit. Am leaving it as is for the moment but am interested to see how it goes after a few wears. I might take it in a fraction if it does stretch out. Good news is it hasn’t stretched out but I have lost a fraction of weight and now it’s a tad too big. So I may well run it back in over the hip only.

Top Pattern: Sleeveless Flare Blouse (view O) from I Love Tops.

Alterations: eliminated back neck slit

Fabric: Laser cut scuba, burn out cotton both purchased at Pitt Trading.

Skirt Pattern: Tsurah Designs straight skirt, made once before.

Alterations: Shortened skirt, added width over hips, made waistband half the height of the pattern.

Fabric: Purple Double Knit purchased at Pitt Trading.

Posted on 22/04/201519/06/2019 by Susan Goodwin — 34 Comments

Japanese Pattern Book Giveaway

This week I’d planned to take some photos of my recent (and not so recent) makes that haven’t made the blog yet. I figured out my outfits, ironed everything and then this weather happened….for 3 days. I decided the wild, wet and windswept look was not for me, ditched the idea of photos and decided to have a giveaway instead.

My love for Japanese pattern books is well known and I’m a happy enabler anytime a sewer is in the city to take them to Kinokuniya‘s and while away some time looking at the gorgeous books. So I was pretty excited when Tuttle publishing got in contact and offered me a free English Language version of “She Wear the Pants“. My dilemma was, I already own the book in the original Japanese, so would they mind terribly if I gave the book away? They liked the idea so much they’ve sent me more than one copy to give away! yay! and thank you!

So if you’d like your very own English Language version of “She Wear the Pants” please leave a comment on this post telling me your favourite Japanese pattern book, favourite place in Japan or dream destination in Japan. Mostly because I’m planning another trip to Japan and am looking for inspiration on where to go. I will post to anywhere in the world and will pull names out of a hat at random on Sunday the 26th of April 2015.

I’m also going to give a copy away on instagram, so to double your chances of being selected why not head over there and add your name again?

Disclosure: These books were sent to me for free, I am giving them away and paying for the worldwide postage myself. The BookDepository links are affiliate links, if you choose to you them I may be compensated.

Posted on 15/09/201410/09/2014 by Susan Goodwin — 14 Comments

Sewing Adventures: Girls Japanese knit skirt

After the fun of making the City Gym Shorts for my niece I decided to make something else for her.

A few weeks ago I won a copy of Cucito on Instagram. I was so excited as it was so unexpected. It arrived in a lovely parcel and I fell in love with this gorgeous knit skirt (and pretty much every other style in the magazine).

From the stash I grabbed this 2 faced knit. It’s wonderful soft and has spots on one side and stripes on the other, could there be a cooler fabric? The hem and the pocket openings are all bound using cotton bias binding, also from the stash.

I traced out the pattern and didn’t make any adjustments from the instructions apart from attached the elastic in a slightly different manner. No big reason I just like doing elastic in a different way.

It looks adorable, I so want it in my size for the summer! Making kids clothes is fun as it’s so speedy and everything looks cute at tiny sizes.