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Book Reviews Japanese Sewing Books Ladies Sewing Patterns

Book Review – Sewing Recipe

February 8, 2012

 

Today’s book is the adult version of one of my previous reviews – Sewing recipe for Girl’s

It’s by the same author, but with designs, lessons and techniques catered to adult wear. This book covers 6 basic styles (as shown above and below)

When I saw styles 5 and 6, the collars on the shirt-dress and shirt just threw me off. I’ve never attempted a collar before. Not that there are no girls’ patterns with collars, just that I’ve never tried. Wondering if it’s too complicated to do.

Above is an example of a “how to make” page for each of the basic styles. Seems rather short and lacking in instructions, it follows the usual format of diagram + procedure in numbered steps. Description of the numbered steps is also in point form. So, how to make???

Thankfully, the rest of the book covers all the basics and advanced techniques you need for the steps in all the garments included 🙂

Starting from basics, and I really mean basics…. like how to thread your sewing machine!

After covering the basics, she moves on to cover Techniques. The pictures below shows the process of making gathers.

Not all the lessons are in photographs though, some are in diagrams, but as you can see below, it is pretty clear cut. I would say most of the time I don’t have to reach for my dictionary to understand it.

Oh, and for those of you (like myself) who have a great phobia of zips, there are a few good tutorials showing you how zips are inserted in a few ways. The one below shows the way to insert zips into a skirt.

There are also techniques for inserting side pockets, collars, yokes, all the baffling sewing techniques for advanced sewers, but showing in step by step photographs. Armed with this knowledge, you can build all 6 garments showin in the contents page!

This is a great book for learning everything from basics to advanced techniques. And a great beginner book to start making clothes of your own.

Book Title : Sewing Recipe
Author : 月居良子
ISBN : 978-4-579-11180-0

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