Monthly Archives

January 2012

Free Japanese Sewing Patterns Links Free Patterns

Free Japanese Sewing Patterns – Yu*yu’s Handmade Diary

January 30, 2012

It’s Monday again! Time for free sewing patterns. Today’s link features a Japanese blog – yu*yu’s Handmade Diary. The blog belongs to a very talented Japanese lady who makes all kinds of stuff, from clothes to bags and even key pouches. She features her products on her blog and sells them at her store (which seems to be closed of at the moment though) but there is still plenty of eye candy on her site.

She has a page on the blog which has a few interesting sewing tutorials/patterns. The first is a nice tote for school going kids. It is more of a tutorial than a pattern because the pattern is a simple rectangle (measurements are given on the tutorial). This seems to be a staple item for Japanese kids to bring to school. The reason this caught my eye was because it was part of a campaign by the Japan Handicraft Instructors’ Association  to request for school bags to be donated to children in the areas affected by the earthquake. This is such an awesome idea!

There is also a key pouch pattern, a face mask, and a small fabric box for holding small items. I think I have that bee fabric on the last picture! The links to the patterns are within the text of the post, I prefer not to link the PDFs directly from here as I think it’s impolite to do so. If you use Chrome or any other browser that can to auto-translation, you will be able to find it. If you need help, just leave a comment and I’ll direct you to the link!

Have a good Monday!

Guides Translations and Help with Patterns

Understanding the instructions – working example

January 27, 2012

It’s been a quiet week on the blog, because we are celebrating Chinese New Year over here in Singapore. Only two days of public holidays but many people have taken leave because there is so much partying to do. 🙂 Will be back in full force next week.

In the meantime, one of my friends needed help translating a pattern. She borrowed a book which doesn’t provide step by step photographs, but do not be afraid of buying these books, especially if you really like the patterns in it. I’m going to show you how to understand the instructions, simply by using key words from the dictionary of sewing terms

The pattern is from this book called Girly style wardrobe.

The instructions included the material list as well as the list of steps on how to make, seems like not quite enough information when you are just given the following.

So I asked her to look for the words 作り方 (How to make) which is always usually under the 材料 (Materials) list.

Note that the instructions usually consist of nouns and verbs. If you can make sense of these, everything is easy peasy 🙂

So the english translation for this pattern is

  1. Sew shoulder seams
  2. Sew side seams
  3. Make frill (for sleeve) and attach
  4. Cover raw edges of armhole with bias fabric
  5. Sew side seams of skirt
  6. Sew bodice and skirt together
  7. Sew the back middle portion, attach the fastener (zip)
  8. Cover collar with bias fabric
  9. Make the frill for the hem and attach.
  10. Attach the loops for the belt cord
  11. Attach hook and eye loop for back of dress
  12. Make cord and pull through loops.

* For instructions on covering armhole, refer to pg. 50 (garment “h”),
For attachment of fastener (zip) pg 80 (garment “s),
For attachment of cord loops, refer to pg 56 (garment “k”)

 

Book Reviews Girls Sewing Patterns Japanese Sewing Books

Book review – Sewing Recipe for Girls

January 18, 2012
Sewing recipe for girls

This was a great find from Kinokuniya in Sapporo. It is a book that covers almost everything you need about sewing. Yes, including how to thread a needle. Included are 8 basic patterns, and each of them comes with at least one applied pattern, which means they will make a variation using the same template and make it look like a whole new garment.

Sewing recipe for girls

The book is by 月居良子 who has written many  lovely sewing books.

Included in this book are 8 basic patterns, some of the projects include detailed step by step photographs.

The projects in this book are meant for girls from 100cm-140cm tall. Please refer to the above chart to gauge the size to make. If your child is a smaller or larger size compared to the sizes on her corresponding height, you can choose it based on the bust/waist/hip size and adjust the length of the skirt/blouse/pants accordingly. I’ve made the mistake before of selecting the size based on the height, but my girl is tall and thin so the dress turned out too wide even though it’s the right length. So now I would use the correct bust size (if making a blouse or a dress) and lengthen the garment to fit her height. Similarly for pants and skirts, select your size based on the waist or hip size and adjust the length accordingly.

Before we start on the projects, she begins by providing a basic lesson on dressmaking, including tools you will need, and step by step pictures of how to trace the patterns and cut out the fabric. Precision is what makes your garment look perfect!

For each of the 8 projects, there will be a basic pattern, as well as an applied pattern. The applied pattern uses the same pattern template but with different details such as length of sleeves/type of sleeves, which makes it look like a different garment altogether. So with one pattern you get 3 designs, which is great for people like me who are lazy in tracing patterns 🙂

For some of the patterns, there are step by step photographs showing you exactly how to make it. For example, the first project has 8 pages worth of photographs and it covers everything from attaching pockets, gathers on sleeves, bias binding, hemming, practically everything you need for the other projects!

And as if that wasn’t enough, she adds on a section on how to do basic hand sewing. Start by threading a needle, then learn how to sew a button. Then basic stitches like blind hems for the invisible hemline look, great for hemming pants! Oh and the list goes on and then look what we have here…..

Learn how to smock! The right way to smock, is to do it with precision. Oh and using a check patterned fabric helps. 🙂

This is an extremely useful book, great for both projects as well as reference. If you were to pick one book to invest in, I would strongly recommend this one. The projects are all quite easy and versatile pieces and the instructions and clear and detailed.

Book title : Sewing recipe for girl’s
Author : 月居良子
ISBN : 978-4-579-11352-1

 

Guides Translations and Help with Patterns

Understanding a typical Japanese sewing pattern

January 17, 2012

After posting the dictionary of sewing terms, I shall now go through an example of a typical pattern you can find in the sewing books. Most pattern books follow a similar structure such as this one.

You will usually find something like the above, with the size information as well as the list of materials and procedure, as well as two diagrams. One for cutting of the fabrics and one for the procedure. Let’s break it down into 4 parts to get a clearer picture.

First, determine the size you need. Then locate then pattern (G in this case) and prepare the materials.

Special notes to take care of when cutting, preparation details, and then order of making. (refer to diagram below)

For most books, unless specified, the seam allowance is usually 1cm. The seam allowances are usually denoted by a number and a line/arrow to the seam.

Hope this will help! I didn’t translate most of the section of “order of making” since it is specific to this garment and will not make much sense to another project, but understanding what the individual sections are about and the diagram conventions, as well as referring to the dictionary of terms, it should help you get started.

Just leave a comment if you have any questions.

Free Japanese Sewing Patterns Links Free Patterns

Free Japanese sewing patterns – Polka Drops

January 16, 2012

Today’s link to free Japanese sewing patterns features the website polkadrops.com

I’ve come across this brand/website a couple of times in sewing magazines and pattern books. Most of their patterns are for sale from their online shop but they also provide some free patterns. These are downloadable as pdfs and in Japanese. The projects include simple skirts, tops, clothes for adult and children, as well as a number of bags! There is even a cloth diaper pattern!

Do note that patterns are for personal use and not for commercial use.

Visit their website here http://www.polkadrops.com/
The link to the free patterns page – http://www.polkadrops.com/fm.php. Click on the four boxes at the bottom of the page for the different categories. Note that the last box is for members only so you may not find any patterns there till you have registered and logged in.