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japanese sewing books in english

Book Flip Through Videos Book Reviews Japanese Sewing Books in English

Book Flip-Through of A Year of Sewing with Nani Iro

July 2, 2022

It’s finally here! The long-awaited English translation of Naomi Ito’s latest sewing book – 季節をまとう 一年の服 . The English title of the book is “A Year of Sewing with Nani Iro” and it even has a brand new cover! I was so excited when Zakka Workshop sent me the book for a review, and as usual, they’ve done a great job with this one!

(Disclaimer : This post is sponsored by Zakka Workshop, but as always, the opinions are my own!)

I’ve shown the contents of the Japanese version previously, so yes at the risk of repeating myself, here’s the list of patterns included in this book. Oh wait, now I don’t have to translate it, it’s all in English!

Other than the obvious fact that everything is in English, I really appreciate the increased font sizes, black print (Japanese version was light blue) and also the more reader-friendly layout across the whole book. I can tell lots of thought has gone into the layout of the book, in the original book the number of pages was 96, in the English version it’s 136. Many of the diagrams were enlarged, and are not packed tightly in a single page in order to save space.

I reviewed the Japanese version in March 2021, when it was first released with the 2021 nani IRO collection. I did not refer to the previous book review, but randomly took a few photos from the English version, just to show you a few favorites as well as what the new layout looks like. Coincidentally there are quite a few patterns that remain on my to-do list. Looks like these are the ones I really have to make!

What’s different from this and the Japanese version, other than the language of course, is the addition of Imperial measurements alongside the original metric measurements. The measurements as well as fabric yardage, are provided primarily in yards and inches, with the metric equivalents in brackets. The size chart has also been updated to reflect international sizing standards, which is why in the original book you will see 2L instead of XL. This will benefit those who are unfamiliar with Japanese sizing which tend to run small.

In any case, due to the generous ease of the garments, the best way to decide which size to make is by referring to the Finished Sizes chart that is included in every garment’s set of instructions. You can see an example of the finished sizes in the image below. For garments with fitted details, like collars that have button enclosures, I would recommend not to size down more than 1 size in case they end up being too small.

On top of the usual patterns and instructions, there are 3 added sections to help you make use of the patterns in the book fully so as to fully utilise the patterns across all seasons. To be honest I did not pay much attention to these sections in the original version because there was too much text to translate and wade through, but now that it’s in English it makes for much easier reading.

“The Fabric” is based on all the fabric used in the book. The showcase is primarily based on nani IRO fabric of course, but also includes a few other substrates that were used to adapt the patterns for all seasons. For each substrate/print, the corresponding pattern is also listed below for easy reference.

There is another section called “Experimenting with the Patterns” which to us sewists, is like a pattern hack section. The designer herself, provided some creative ideas on how to make the patterns more interesting and unique. From simple hacks like length variations, to adding contrast details to the garments, lots of ideas here!

“Exploring the Garment Designs” brings you through each pattern and discusses the possible fabric variations as well as styling options. As mentioned previously, the fabric options are not limited to nani IRO’s range of fabric and include substrates like wool gauze and even faux fur to adapt the patterns for use during the cooler seasons. The use of different fabrics with different drape, finish and print can also lead to a very different look in the finished garment, and make it suitable for not just different seasons, but different occasions as well. There is also a difficulty scale which can help you decide which project you can probably handle given your skill level or time constraint.

Last but not least, here is the book flip-through of A Year of Sewing with Nani Iro. Enjoy!

Book Details

Title : A Year of Sewing with Nani Iro
Language : English
Author : Naomi Ito
Sizes : Ladies S-XL
No. of sewing projects : 18
Publisher : Zakka Workshop
Published date : July 5 2022
ISBN-13 : 978-1-940552-69-9

Where to buy
The book will be released on July 5th 2022, but you can pre-order your copy now from Zakka Workshop

As part of the book release, Zakka workshop will be giving away a copy of this book! More details on my Instagram post here -> “A Year of Sewing with Nani Iro” Book Giveaway

New to sewing Japanese patterns? I will be following up this post with a how-to-use Japanese patterns, using this book as an example. I’ve had a couple of blog posts on this topic before but nothing like a video tutorial to see how it’s actually done! Subscribe to my YouTube channel and you will be notified when the video is ready to premiere!

I’m also preparing for a sew-along for one of the patterns in this book. Stay tuned to my Instagram for more info! It will be some time in August and the sew-along will be at a very relaxed pace, so do join us for it after you’ve purchased the book!

Book Flip Through Videos

Book Flip Through Videos of my Japanese Sewing Patterns Book Collection

August 22, 2016

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The latest videos will always be first published on my Instagram account which is also linked to my Facebook page. The detailed information for each book will be added to the youtube description a few days later, so please bookmark this page or subscribe to me on youtube! Just click Subscribe below!

 

Book Reviews Japanese Sewing Books in English Ladies Sewing Patterns

Book Review – Happy Homemade : Sew Chic (in English)

August 14, 2013

I went away for the long weekend, had a good break but sadly missed the 20% Kinokuniya sale. Feeling a little blue about it so I decided to go yesterday anyway even though there wasn’t a sale going on. Bookshops are my little getaways if you know what I mean. 🙂 And guess what I found? Happy Homemade : Sew Chic – 20 Simple Everyday Designs by Yoshiko Tsukiori. In English. Not due for release on Amazon till Sept 24th! Want to have a look inside?

 As the book title suggests, there are 20 patterns inside. For sizes 6-16. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for detailed size chart measurements.

A quick glance at all the garments included in the book.

 Same box tunic, different look with the addition of a belt (below)

 A very simple jacket to make since there are no buttons or fasteners 🙂 Perfect for layering in spring and autumn.

Don’t you love the little translated passages attached to each picture. What’s “ping”?

This is the same outfit shown on the cover. So why did I show this picture again? Because I thought it might interest you to know that only the pants pattern is included. The blouse pattern, which I really like, is not included. 🙁

 When I saw this dress I didn’t quite like it, but I realized it was the choice of fabric. Bearing in mind that the original Japanese version was published in 2009, so this was probably styled 4 years ago. Nevertheless the dress pattern itself (a casual sundress) is a versatile pattern and can be easily updated by using a different fabric and and trims.

I love this tunic. It’s made using hemp fabric which I’ve never tried sewing with before but it looks rather comfortable and lightweight enough for layering.

Flower-child style? 🙂 Not a fan of layering with pants but the dress itself is pretty sweet.

 Sleeveless blouse with frill details.

 I live in berms and shorts most of the time. Gotta make this! Will be so pretty in linen 🙂

According to the book, there are 6 pages of “How-to” techniques that are taken from the book “Sewing Recipe:  Master Sewing Techniques as You Go”. I am guessing these were not included in the original Japanese version of the Sew Chic book.

I had to give this section special mention as it is really useful for all of you interested in starting out in Japanese Sewing Books. Especially those of you who are looking to own your first book, this section is invaluable. It’s also great for sewing beginners since they cover basic sewing techniques as well. The best part is, all the diagrams include both inches and cm, so everyone can use the diagrams and patterns with ease. No need for conversions. Here’s what’s included…

Basic Techniques :

  • Basic Tools (with pictures and descriptions)
  • Needles and Threads (about needle sizes, thread types and what they are used for, and a table of appropriate needles/threads to use for different fabrics)
  • Sewing Machine Tips (2 pages of photographs on basic techniques, gathering, sewing corners)
  • How to make paper pattern with Seam Allowance – include diagrams showing you how to use the paper patterns and add seam allowance. (I get this question a lot, and now there is a very good guide showing you exactly how to do it!)
  • How to straighten fabric
  • Pattern placement – key techniques for alignment, placement and cutting
  • Taking your measurements

How to make – a page with diagrams on how to make the following

  • Bias strips
  • V-neckline Facing
  • Facing
  • Binding
  • Pockets

Now that you have mastered all the basic techniques, let’s move on to the actual patterns. Each of the pattern how-to-make looks like this (see below)

I noticed that for simplicity’s sake, the respective quantities of fabric and materials for each size are omitted and there is only one set of quantity. This could have been done to prevent confusion over which measurements to use, as it is one of the features of Japanese sewing books that make the patterns look so complicated. Logically, this set of fabric quantity must be for the largest size listed (size 16).

Even though it is better to buy extra fabric in case of mistakes, there are times when you may need to know the actual fabric amounts. For example, you may already have a fabric you want to use but you don’t have quite as much as stated on the pattern. I would suggest you trace out the patterns first and lay it on your fabric to see if there is enough before rushing out to shop for more. This is because, in general, sewing patterns tend to space out the patterns quite a bit on their cutting layout diagrams, but in actual practice I try to lay my pattern pieces together as close as possible to prevent fabric wastage. From past experiences I usually do get quite a bit of fabric leftover.

Another instance where this might help is if you are shopping for expensive fabric, it might be wise to trace out your patterns first and lay it out on fabric of similar width to simulate the actual quantity you need so you don’t have to buy more than you actually need.

The only exception to this is when the fabric is printed and the prints need to be matched up or orientated in a specific direction, that is when you may need to consider pattern-repeat, positioning and hence you may actually need to buy a larger quantity of fabric than listed. But that’s another story.

All the “how-to-make ” pages include step by step diagrams, like the one above.

A sample of the cutting diagram – note the measurements are primarily in inches, and the number in the brackets are in centimetres.

2 sheets of patterns are included in a envelope stuck to the back cover. Easy to remove (no cutting or ugly glue marks!) and easy to store.

 Sizes included : 6-16. Best to measure before deciding which set of pattern to trace, instead of following your own clothing size. This is because different manufacturers, different pattern makers, use different sets of measurements.

Last but not least, a sample of the pattern – all the markings in english! The different pieces are marked out in different colors which makes it easy to differentiate.


Happy Homemade: Sew Chic: 20 Simple Everyday Designs
by Yoshiko Tsukiori

Check out my list of other English versions of Japanese Sewing Books here!

Next week I will review the other book I bought which is due for release in November – Sew Chic Kids. It’s for both boys and girls! Stay tuned!