Japanese Fabrics

Spring Fabrics 2013

April 11, 2013


One of the good things about sewing magazines is that you get to see lots of new Spring fabrics! I’ve compiled a list of my favourites below. Some were discovered through magazines, the others through online “window shopping”. Links to the sources are found below the photos. I do most of my fabric browsing on Rakuten (which is like Japan’s own Amazon) because there are lots of shops to compare prices and stock availability. Some of the Rakuten shops may be able to ship overseas, for those that only ship domestic, you can use a forwarding service like Tenso. I have been writing up a shopping guide that will teach you how to buy fabrics from Rakuten. I hope to finish it up soon!


As seen in Female Spring 2013. Too sweet for words.
from Yuzawaya on Rakuten

What’s spring without flowers? I’m reminded of Liberty fabrics but this is by a Japanese designer Atsuko Matsuyama.
from nukumori koubou on Rakuten

From far it looks like a houndstooth pattern, but it’s actually a cat. What’s funnier is that it looks like one of those cartoon cats getting an electric shock!
from hideki on Rakuten

This has a marimekko feel to it but it’s actually a Japanese fabric. The actual name of the fabric is unknown to me because although it is 100% cotton, the fabric is called 綿バニラン. The first character is kanji for cotton, followed by “ba-ni-ra-n”. The characters are in katakana which means that they are derived based on the sound of a foreign word. Any guesses to what this particular fabric might be from the closeup picture of the weave on the bottom right? You will see this fabric used in the latest Cucito. 
from hideki on Rakuten 

 

The top left cardigan is from Cucito and the top right is from Female. Make them both and you get matching Mum+kid cardigans. I love polka dots. I also love how the reverse side of the knit looks like a solid color, making the insides look pretty as well.
from hideki on Rakuten 

Found this Linen Single Gauze by Nu: handworks while browsing. I’m not sure if it’s a new release but it’s on their Spring sale list. It’s perfect for a light scarf in springtime and I just love the colors. Especially the light blue.
from Craft Dream on Rakuten

Now for some cute designer prints.

New from Cotorienne – a new collection called “Togetherness” There are other prints in same series but these two are my favourites. Sheeeeep fabric for pajamas?
From nukumori koubou on Rakuten


This will be perfect for a kids messenger bag. Bright bold colors, quirky print!
From nukumori koubou on Rakuten


And this is just too cute for words! Space travel by Kikorakko 2013 Collection for Yuwa.
from nukumori koubou on Rakuten


 

Stay tuned for more Spring fabrics next week!

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13 Comments

  • Reply Anna April 11, 2013 at 11:05 pm

    I fell for the cat print istantly! The polka dot knit is lovely, too. I’ll definitely be checking out your Rakuten fabric shopping guide when it’s ready!

  • Reply Cindy April 12, 2013 at 12:13 am

    I love the Linen Single Gauze 🙂 What pretty prints!

  • Reply janet lee April 12, 2013 at 12:29 am

    thank you for sharing such charming prints! I hope you finish your guide soon, I really want to buy the marimekko-esque one from hideki.

  • Reply Tuia April 12, 2013 at 1:28 am

    Wow, lovely fabrics! The Marimekko-style fabric is actually a very close copy of another Finnish company’s (Kauniste) Sokeri fabric. Here’s a link to the current color. The webshop haa alao products made from the fabric in different colours as well. Love it!
    http://www.kauniste.com/product.php?lng=en&id=26

    • Reply janet lee April 15, 2013 at 10:36 pm

      this company makes really charming prints too! I love their use of color.

  • Reply Teresa April 12, 2013 at 5:14 am

    Oh I am in LOVE with these fabrics!!
    Thank you so much for sharing them with us.
    Love the linen single gauze by Nu, and the so-so-charming florals by Yuzawaya and Matsuyama.

    • Reply Teresa April 12, 2013 at 5:15 am

      oops – typo!
      I meant “oh-so-charming”!!!

  • Reply Toni April 12, 2013 at 7:35 am

    I love that polka dot knit, and the sheep are so adorable! Who doesn’t love fluffy little sheep?

  • Reply Maider April 12, 2013 at 2:57 pm

    Can´t wait to read your shopping guide!!! I love the polka dot knits, they are soooo cute! I go to the website, but I can´t understand anything.

  • Reply lauren April 14, 2013 at 3:01 am

    Hi,

    I’d love to buy from that site and I’m trying to figure it out. Are they selling the fabrics in units of 10cm?

    Thanks!

    • Reply Japanese Sewing Books April 15, 2013 at 8:50 am

      Hi Lauren, it depends. Sometimes it’s in 10cm units, other times it’s 50cm. Depending on the fabric, and print (sometimes they have to consider the pattern repeat for certain designer prints). But in Japan it quite common to see the fabrics being sold in 10cm units. Especially the fabrics for craft, designer and expensive fabrics.

  • Reply Dressmaking Fabrics October 19, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    I really like Japanese fabrics since most of the fabrics they make are colorful and made from good materials making the fabric more comfy if used for dressmaking.

  • Reply Cucito Spring 2013 » Japanese Sewing, Pattern, Craft Books and Fabrics April 16, 2015 at 8:56 am

    […] this fabric from the fabric post two weeks ago? Here’s the picture of the skirt on the little model. […]

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