My Japanese Sewing Books

These are the books I have in my cache...

Yoshiko Tsukiori:  Sweet Dress Book  (Japanese)

Yoshiko Tsukiori: Stylish Dress Book - Wear with Freedom - (Penguin Edition, translated into English)

Yoshiko Tsukiori: Happy Homemade Volume 1 Treasured collection (Penguin Edition, translated into English)

Umami by Ezura Yoshimi (Japanese) Bags

Everyday Needlework by Yumi Ishihara - Japanese Sewing Pattern Book for Zakka Goods

 (Japanese) Bags ISBN 978-4-418-09410-3 Shopping bags, aprons

Author: Eriko Aoki, Reiko Izuka, Naomi Kanno 

Lovely and Natural Room Shoes, Slippers

This has the cutest shoes, slippers and purses  (Japanese)

Carefree Cothes for Girls by Uonca (English translation) cute with an olde worlde twist

Yoshiko Tsukiori:  Les colouers franciases 

Kids Casual Clothes - Ruriko Yamada - Happy Homemade Volume 2

Kids Casual Clothes - Ruriko Yamada - Happy Homemade Volume 5 - excellent value great group of patterns.

Yoshiko Tsukiori - Girls clothes, camisole, blouses (Japanese)

Yuki Araki - Heart Warming Life Series - one of the best

Yuki Arkai - lovely shirts and dresses - excellent value book

Yuki Araki  - classic cross over dress etc blouses - shirts

New overlocker in the post..

I have an old Singer overlocker that never handled well with four threads and constant issues with tension, when one day it turned the tension knobs as far as they would go and then I heard a 'tink' sound when the nuts fell off the back of the knobs into the internals of the machine.. and have been there ever since. Although it did do well for quite a few years for a second hand machine from cash converters for $100.
Today I have just forked out a bit more for a new basic overlocker which I'm so excited about.
It's going to be delivered sometime this week.
The Janome 8002DX which can gather, cord and roll hems.  I can't wait as I'm sick of finishing edges on fabric and it's so muche faster with an overlocker.  So I have to hold out until then.

Shorts - Heart Warming Life Series - Style Q

This is a lovely pattern - not quite shorts, not quite a skort.  Cute little shorts with a slight frill. They are from Heart Warming Life Series  (Tomimi Maeda?) - Style Q.

I whipped a pair of  these up tonight - a little rough - and I think the fabric type might not have enough give.  That's one thing that is annoying me a little about these patterns - I need a translation for the fabric type.

I made them from thin denim, they are cute as - and hopefully they fit the little person they are intended for!

Happy Homemade V5 Style Q frill skirt

I had been hoarding some seersucker for years and decided to make a frilly skirt.  I used pattern Q.  The pattern is quite straightforward, but was time consuming to make up - the ruffles! I couldn't find the ruffle foot for my machine so did those by hand.

Afterwards I decided to decorate with some ric rac - but probably should have done this with the pieces before making up the skirt - would have been much easier.

I used red and black to get a Spanish feel.  The pattern was a little on the small side - may be intended for slight stretch but as I cant read Japanese I'm unsure of the recommendation.  Still turned out OK and my girl gave it the thumbs up.

Why Japanese Sewing books?

The best things about Japanese sewing books are:

1. The clothes are simple and stylish
2. The patterns are generally simple too - at least the beginners books
3. They have a group of patterns in one book with a range of sizes so you can save a lot of money - Cost between $20 and $30 a book with around 10-20 patterns.
4. The patterns are sturdy and can be traced off over and over (unlike the flimsy patterns we normally find).
5. If you can sew already then you don't need these translated the instructional pictures are enough.
6. They make it look easy and the books are great to look at even if you don't get around to doing any sewing - in two words - motivational and inspiring

Happy Homemade Vol 5 Style E Dress

I've finally got around to making some things from my stack of Japanese sewing books - rather than just looking at the pictures. The first book I'm beginning with is Happy Homemade Vol 5. Kids Casual Clothes by Ruriko Yamada.

Happy Homemade V5 Ruriko Yamada

My cutie-pie models her new dress

Style E from the book - 4 pieces

I made the drawstring neck dress first Style E (from a large adults beach top that I cut up), it was pretty easy with only four pieces plus a four small pieces for the neck lining.

I used a piece of braid for the drawstring.
This style could be made into other lengths, or even a top.

There's also a similar option in the book to make it with elastic in the neck.


The only regret I had was that I had run out of interfacing and was too impatient to wait, and the fine Indian cotton fabric was not too forgiving when trying to make the button holes (where the ribbon comes out to tie the bow).


But, nonetheless the dress came out well and was quick to make.

Back view

Style E close up