i love to look at japanese sewing books. the simple lines and pared down aesthetic of these books just speak my language. i have owned a few of these books over the years... in japanese. it is not difficult to figure out the patterns, especially with a bit of sewing knowledge. i find it exciting to see that many of these books are now available in english, however!
it may not be quite fair to the individual pattern designers of japanese sewing books to lump them all together, and i do not mean to do that. i do, however, feel that they share an overall aesthetic. there is a simplicity about these patterns, but also a confidence in their statement making presence. some of the designers veer toward quite modern innovative ideas, while others skew more traditional. there is always room to interpret each style with fabric choice and embellishment, if preferred.
while many of these books focus on women's styles, they were one of my favorite resources for sewing julia's wardrobe when she was younger. (i didn't know about their existence when jo was small.) the books offer sweet silhouettes that can be reimagined in so many different ways. a succession of sizes is also provided in each book, so i was able to make garment styles over and over as she grew.
the dresses and top in the pictures here all come from a single pattern found in a japanese pattern book. each one started out as a dress and turned into a top as the years passed. clothes that grow with kids are like little miracles! :)
the dresses and top in the pictures here all come from a single pattern found in a japanese pattern book. each one started out as a dress and turned into a top as the years passed. clothes that grow with kids are like little miracles! :)
when sewing for children, i prefer simple silhouettes. my ideal style for younger julia was bonpoint, though it was mostly inspirational at their prices. i felt like i could create some looks for julia that were quite similar with these books. (i had this one, this one and this one as well.) this newer book is filled with pieces that look straight out of bonpoint. i love it. there are boys' styles to be found as well.
i decided to see if i could find any of these books at our library and found quite a few. i always enjoy knowing that a resource is available for free! it would be quite possible to assemble an entire wardrobe from these books. i found everything from dresses, skirts, and pants to button down shirts and wool jackets... and all of the ones from the library are completely in english. etsy has a large selection of japanese craft books as well.
parts 01, 02, 03, o4, 05, 06, and 07 of this series.
love,
jane
parts 01, 02, 03, o4, 05, 06, and 07 of this series.
love,
jane
