last update – 31 March 2013
This list is constantly growing as I will be updating it when I come across new terms. I have accumulated this list by painstakingly going through the dictionary so please do not reproduce this on your own personal blog. You are welcome to link to my blog but please credit it to my site. Thank you!
| Category | Japanese Term | English Translation |
| General Terms | 作り方 | how to make |
| 作り方 順序 | how to make (in order of steps) | |
| 実物大型紙 | actual size pattern paper | |
| 材料 | materials | |
| 男 | man | |
| 男の子 | boy | |
| 女 | woman | |
| 女の子 | girl | |
| 大人 | adult | |
| ミシン | sewing machine | |
| できあがりサイズ | completed size | |
| 生地／布 | cloth | |
| Sewing Terms | 縫 | sew |
| ミシン | sew using machine | |
| ギャザ | gather | |
| 折 | fold | |
| 押 | press (as in iron) | |
| アイロン | iron | |
| つける | put on/attach | |
| 合わせ | together | |
| タック | tack | |
| しつけ | basting/temporary hand stitching to keep in place before machine sewing | |
| 縫い代 | seam allowance | |
| 用尺 | measure of cloth required when sewing | |
| 合印 | match marks (matching marks on pattern) | |
| わ | fold-line | |
| 中表 | right sides of fabric facing each other | |
| 外表 | wrong sides of fabric facing each other | |
| 縫い代を割る | Press seam allowances open | |
| 縫い代を倒す | means to press seam allowance to one side | |
| 返し口 | opening for turning out | |
| 粗目のミシン | sew with longest stitch length | |
| まつる | to sew together | |
| Orientation | 側 | side |
| 表 (おもて） | surface (right side of fabric) | |
| 前 | front | |
| 後 | back | |
| 裏 (うら) | inside (wrong side of fabric)/underside/lining | |
| 上 | up | |
| 下 | down | |
| 右 | right | |
| 左 | left | |
| 底 | base | |
| 端 | edge | |
| Garment Parts | 肩 | shoulder |
| 見返し | facing | |
| ポケット | ||
| 袖 | sleeve | |
| ヨーク | yoke | |
| 襟 | lapel | |
| 身頃 | bodice | |
| ネックポイント | neck point (point on shoulder seam nearest to neck) used during measurements of garment completed size. For example, the completed length (着丈) of a dress is from the neck point to the end of the skirt | |
| 脇 | side | |
| 脇の下 | armpit | |
| 袖ぐり | armhole | |
| 衿 | collar | |
| 衿ぐり | neckline | |
| 裾 | hem | |
| フリル | frills (ruffles) | |
| Measurement | 幅 | wide/width of cloth |
| サイズ | size | |
| 身長 | height | |
| 着丈 | length | |
| 胸囲 | chest measurement | |
| バスト | bust | |
| ワエスト | waist | |
| ヒープ | hip | |
| 頭回り | head circumference | |
| 直径 | diameter | |
| 半径 | radius | |
| 厚み | thickness | |
| 縦 | length/height/lengthwise/vertical | |
| 横 | the side/the width | |
| Garment Names | プルオーバー | pullover |
| 帽子 | hat | |
| スカート | skirt | |
| ブラウス | blouse | |
| ワンピース | one piece/dress | |
| パンツ | pants | |
| キャミソール | camisole | |
| Tシャツ | T shirt | |
| Materials | プリント | print (as in printed fabrics) |
| リボん | ribbon | |
| バイアス | bias | |
| テプ | tape (e.g. acrylic tape) | |
| 接著芯 | interfacing | |
| パイピング | piping | |
| ゴム | elastic (e.g. for waistband) | |
| ボタン | button | |
| ボタンホール | button hole | |
| 持ち手 | handles | |
| かぎホック | hook and eye | |
| ひも | cord | |
| わた（綿) | The words mean cotton, used in craft books to indicate the cotton stuffing | |
| ボンド | Bond (Handicraft glue) | |
| ビニール | Vinyl | |
| マジックテープ | Velcro | |
| Colors | 白 | White |
| 黒 | Black | |
| グレー | Grey | |
| 緑 | Green | |
| 青 / ブルー | Blue | |
| 黄土色 | Yellow Ochre | |
| こげ茶 | Dark Brown | |
| ベージュ | Beige | |
| 山吹 | Bright Yellow | |
| 赤 | Red | |
| ネイビー | Navy | |
| グラファイト | Graphite | |
| 茶色 / ブラウン | Brown | |
| ピンク | Pink | |
| Fabrics | 木綿 | cotton |
| ローン | lawn | |
| リネン | linen | |
| ガーゼ | gauze | |
| ダブルガーゼ | double gauze | |
| シャンブレー | chambray | |
| ボイル | voile | |
| クレープ | crepe | |
| シルク | silk | |
| シャンタン | shantung | |
| サテン | satin | |
| タフタ | tafetta | |
| ブロード | broadcloth | |
| ギンガム | gingham | |
| ギンガムチェック | gingham check | |
| ソフトデニム | soft denim | |
| シーティング | sheeting | |
| チノクロス | chino cloth | |
| コーデュロイ | corduroy | |
| フラノ | flannel | |
| 厚手デニム | thick denim | |
| 帆布 | canvas | |
| 持ち手テープ | tape for bag handles (Usually Acrylic tape) | |
| カツラギ | katsuragi (something like twill which is thick cotton but lighter than denim) | |
| ワッフル | waffle | |
| スウェッド | suede | |
| ジャカード | jacquard | |
| スレキ | sleek (smooth fabric for pocket lining of jeans and Men’s pants), also known as Silesia | |
| ニット | knits | |
| Patterns | プリント | print (any prints in general) |
| リバテイプリント | Liberty print (from UK fabric brand Liberty which appears frequently in many Japanese sewing books) | |
| 水玉 | polka dots | |
| ボーダー | Border / Mainly used to refer to horizontal stripes | |
| ストライプ - | Stripes in general (of any direction, vertical,diagonal etc) | |
| ピンドット | Pin Dots | |
| ドット | Dots | |
| 花柄 | Floral pattern | |
| 小花柄 | Small floral pattern | |
| 無地 | plain color fabric (no prints) |
Download Print-Friendly PDF for reference while you are sewing - JapaneseSewingTerms.PDF
Points to note when reading Japanese patterns
- Some books come with more than one pattern piece. They are usually named/numbered on each side, with the projects listed in a box in the corner. Sometimes this may be confusing, so you can refer to the “how to make” page in the book, and look for the words (実物大型紙 actual size pattern paper) Usually this would be followed by a number or alphabet which is corresponding pattern side you would be looking for.
- When tracing the patterns, note that seam allowances are usually not included. The seam allowance is usually 1cm for general seams and 1.5 for gathers. When the seam allowance deviates from the standard, the number will be specified next to the seam. There will always be a diagram of how the pattern pieces are laid out on the fabric for cutting, included in this diagram will be the seam allowances.
Usually, there will be also a remark next to the diagram saying 指定以外の縫い代は１cm where “指定以外” means “other than those specified” and “縫い代は１cm” means seam allowance is 1cm. - On the pattern pieces, there will sometimes be a dotted line, with the character わ labeled on it. This means to align the dotted line on the folded edge of the fabric.
- There will also be long arrows showing the direction of the print of the cloth. Take note of the direction especially if your fabric is printed and there is a right way up.
What’s the word or sign for seam allowence?
Hi Patty, the phrase for seam allowance is 縫い代 (pronounced nu-i-dai)
thanks!
Most of the time they don’t mention in under the instructions, but near the cutting diagrams, you will always find a note saying
指定以外の縫い代は１cm where “指定以外” means “other than those specified” “縫い代は１cm” – seam allowance is 1cm.
Good question! I’m going to add it to the list
Hi JSB,
I really enjoy reading your blog, as I am a huge fan of japanese patterns. I’d like to know what the term fabric スレーキ #2000 means (used a lot in Ayano Uchida’s My Favorite Handmade Style, as lining fabric). I did a little research, it’s called sleek fabric. But what kind of fabric is it actually?
Thanks a bunch!
Hi Yulia, It’s my first time seeing this term too. But I checked on google and found that it literally means “sleek” (smooth) fabric. It is a thin smooth fabric used for making pockets of men’s pants, or as lining fabric. It is usually plain weave/twill in either cotton or polyester or a blend. Apparently it is pricier because the quality is better as it is supposed to last as long as the pants itself (for example jeans or upscale men’s pants).
Thanks a lot for the info
Really helped me out. I guess the idea is to use a comfortable yet durable fabric as lining.
I think the other consideration is smoothness of the fabric, hence the term “sleek”. One of the ways to get a visual explanation is to input the term and search under google images. Turns up alot of pants pockets!
especially from jeans.
Ah, now that you brought up the “sleek” effect, I did a deeper research on スレーキ, thanks to you. It appears that this particular fabric is commonly used in japan as pocket lining on jeans. The characteristics are breathable (the composition is mainly cotton), smooth (with minimal wrinkle factor), yet durable.
So I checked my jeans’ pocket lining and I was like… “Oh, so this is what スレーキlooks like”.
Now the next step is to find that fabric, but hey… that will be another problem to solve.
Thank you so much for helping me, Yifarn
No problem! I got to learn something new too
It might interest you to know that スレーキ is pronounced “su-re-ki” which is the phonetic translation of the english word “sleek”. One of the sites that was talking about this material also mentioned that nowadays to save costs, normal cotton is used, so I guess if you can’t really find the exact same thing then maybe a good quality cotton can be used as well.
Trying to find out what a symbol is on the pattern b from girly style wardobe. I can make out symbol for right and left but not the rest. Its for the collar tie… have you the same book… if not how do I type japanese symbol to send to you so you can see? I am new to all this and to sewing but love the challenge!
You weeb site is fabulous. Thanks Niki
Hi Niki, Yes I have the same book. Just take a photo of the characters and send to my email japanesesewingbooks@gmail.com then I can help you with the translation.
in response to yulia… is the fabric calico? Or maybe a ‘lawn’ fabric here in the UK?
Hi Niki, I found the English name of this fabric. It’s called Silesia.
Just sent an email and had delivered my second book! No idea what it’s called but girl with plum puff dress on front with little wooden pull along dog?
This book seems to habe less diagrams but maybe its just unfamiliar? Dying to start but whole bathroom being pulled out and re fitted so sewing is impossible! I have withdrawal symptoms!xxxxx
Hi Niki, Yup I receved your email. Will work on it and send it to you when I’m done
Oh I hate bathroom refittings! The dust and noise!
http://egl.livejournal.com/10332969.html
This site quite good too. Trwling hrough bit by bit but so hard going!!!
do you know what あき止まり means? i’ve tried to translate it with google but the result is blind autumn, i did’t understand
Hi Yuanita,
That is because あき(aki) is the pronounciation for both 秋(autumn) as welll as 開き(opening). Together with 止まり (which means stop/end)
So it actually means “endpoint of opening”. Where opening may refer to any slits/opening in the garment. So you usually see it when they are referring to a slit/opening and it indicates where the opening should end or stop.
Hi, I looked at the whole list but there was no word translation for boning (boning is used to put in a corset), what is the Japanese word for boning?
And do they sell boning in Japan?
Hi Stacie, the Japanese word is ボーン (bo-n) derived from the English word bone. I’m sure they sell it in Japan since sewing is such a popular hobby and cosplay costumes use it alot too. Here is an example of an online shop listing with different types of boning. http://item.rakuten.co.jp/okadaya1ec2/c/0000000690/
This shop also has a physical store in Shinjuku if you are in Tokyo. Otherwise there are lots of other sewing and hobby stores in Japan that will sell them.
Thank you very much, どうもありがとう this is very helpful for me because I tried to look myself and could not find results on rakuten or any online webpage or dictionary, but your information on the Japanese word for it and rakuten link solved my problem
thanks!