Bags or Zakka Sewing Patterns Japanese Sewing Books

Book Review and Flip through Video – Everyday Rucksacks

August 21, 2017


Based on the last poll on books you would like me to read, this book came out second! The title of the book is Everyday Ruck(sacks). The characters “リュック” is literally translated to Ruck instead of the full word rucksack, but the Japanese have shortened it to Ruck and it’s understood that it means a rucksack / backpack.

Featured on the cover is the popular backpack style with the wire frame opening, which allows it to open fully and stay open while you dig through your backpack for stuff. Let’s take look at the different rucksacks / backpack sewing patterns you can make with this book.
everydayrucksacks

openframebag

The first pattern is the wire frame rucksack / backpack sewing pattern as featured on the front cover. See in the bottom right picture how it opens up big and wide which makes it easy to find your stuff.
toteruck

This is a cute Tote style backpack with a simple zip opening on the top.

kidsruck

The standard backpack sewing pattern. This is available in kids size as well as adult size versions. The kids size version is  32cm(H) x 23cm(W) x 12cm (D) while the adult size is 40cm(H)  x 28cm(W) x 1cm(D). This pattern comes with a detailed sewing lesson.

purseframeruck

Who said backpacks have to look sporty or rugged, here’s a cute kisslock purse frame bag.

messengerruck

This is a convertible backpack / messenger bag, made using digitally printed basket weave fabric. I’m not a big fan of these digitally printed textures but it does look like a basket weave bag from far doesn’t it?

checkoutruck

I really like this idea! and I learned a new phrase while looking this up. This back is called the レジかご リュック。 The first term レジかご (rejikago) actually means checkout while the second term means rucksack. So this is a bag designed to fit into a shopping basket, and you can carry your groceries in it after payment. There are lots of such bags available for sale online but mostly in tote bag style. This is one that converts to a rucksack/backpack that allows you to carry it on your shoulders.

shouldertote

Another interesting convertible bag. This converts from shoulder bag that can be carried messenger/crossbody style, or backpack style. The unique feature of this bag is how the backpack straps are zipped together to form one wider strap for the shoulder bag. Seems like a great idea for a travel or diaper bag.

ruckorganizer

This is not a rucksack / backpack sewing pattern, but rather a in-bag organizer for you to sort out all the small items that tend to disappear in the depths of your backpack. It will help to keep things upright as well!

sampleinstructions

There is a full, step by step photo tutorial for the making of the basic rucksack / backpack sewing pattern.

samplehowtomake

Here is an example for the other bag patterns’ instructions. I did feel that the instructions were a little brief for certain steps, and when it comes to bag making, so many of the parts look similar (for example rectangular pieces) and it takes a while to decipher the instructions. You may also need to translate some of the text to tell which part of the bag you are making too.
closeuphowtomake

A close up of the diagrams.

patternsheets

Pattern sheets attached

backcover

In summary, if you want to learn how to make a standard rucksack / backpack from scratch, the detailed sewing lesson will be a great resource. However, for the rest of the patterns, they are not that simple to sew so it may not be ideal for a beginner sewist. However, if you are quite adept at sewing bags, you will love this book because I found many new creative ideas for convertible bags in here.

For the rest of the bag patterns not shown above, here’s my book flip-through review! Happy browsing!

 

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Mainichi Ruck / Boutique-sha

Japanese Title : 毎日リュック
Translated Title : Everyday Rucksacks
Publisher : Boutique-sha
ISBN : 9784834743722

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5 Comments

  • Reply JenL August 21, 2017 at 11:54 pm

    Looks like a really nice book. Thanks for the review!

    • Reply JenL September 23, 2017 at 1:12 pm

      I got it too. It is a really nice book – just what I was looking for.

  • Reply Vix September 4, 2017 at 12:41 am

    Thanks! This book is just what I was dreaming of and your review is very helpful. Definitely getting this book… self birthday present.

    • Reply Japanese Sewing Books September 21, 2017 at 9:19 am

      yay! Happy birthday! 🙂

  • Reply Week 38: Selene front top stitching – Make it or Mend it September 25, 2017 at 11:27 am

    […] mean bags are great in general, but after seeing this review I decided I had to have this book specifically for this pattern […]

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