Japanese Magazines

My brother was in Japan recently for a friends wedding and I asked if he had some time, would get some Japanese sewing books. I sent him an e-mail with the pictures so he took that to show to the newsagents.








The bride (Japanese) was very amused at the idea that an Irish person would be able to use these and kindly offered to translate!













Of course there is lots that I cannot make head nor tail of, but there is plenty I can - lots of patterns and sewing instructions!

These are pages from Cotton Friend

- I prefer this magazine as the sewing instructions and drawings are clearer.

This pic, below, is from Pochee - the clothes in this seem to involve more detailed sewing techniques,







and the sewing instructions seem to be less clear - at least they are more crowded on the page!








I'm still deciding what to start on -- probably something for the children, though there are some nice bags and hats (adult sized) too........ Pin It Now!  

Nothing like a deadline to get things done

In the last year I've sewn for most of my nieces. One of the older nieces is 10 this year(this week), and I hadn't made anything for her. I thought maybe she might not be into handmade stuff - well I was wrong!

She was really, really enthusiastic when I suggested I might make something. I asked her what colours she was into and she said blue, that she didn't mind flowers, and dark or light colours would be fine, but not pink.
Because I mostly sew for my daughter, I have a lot of pinkish fabric, so I didn't have a lot of choice. I had a look in my wardrobe and out came the perfect fabric in the form of a large unflattering dress that I last wore probably about 10 years ago - no picture though!

I had been thinking what might suit her from the Ottobre magazines and I had wanted to make no 33 the "Kerry" floral top from issue (3/2009),


(This is the front)

so that was decided on (by me!).

(This is the back)

Though the pattern is for a knit, the dress is stretchy crinkly viscose, so it should be ok. I also cut up an old top for the navy trim.

(The navy trim at the hem, with stretch-stitch topstitching. The hem was from the original top - that saved me some work)


(Back shoulder detail)

It was easy and quick to sew, despite the shirring,

(Front view of shirring)


though I'm not very happy with the sleeve edges. Hopefully it will fit ok.

I couldn't exactly give my niece something that cost zero - (well I suppose I could) so I also made her another top, which I must take pictures of tomorrow. Pin It Now!  

Sewing Magazines

-I love the day each month when I decide that it's time to take a trip to Cork, about a 40 odd mile round trip, so I can go to Easons and get three sewing magazines Burda, Sew Hip and Sewing World.


Burda is a favourite for patterns. I have the last 8 issues and i have a childs dress from most of them. Another thing I have noticed about them is that most of the fashion that is illustrated in the pages appears in boutiques a few weeks or months later. That is quite impressive. I love browsing through the pages, and imagining how the designs would suit me. I can pick some that wouldn't fairly immediately. Trousers and skirts with pleats or gathers at the waist are a no-no! Above right is a blouse from Burda 3/2009. The skirt is Ottobre. Below are some of the childrens dresses I have made in the last few months. The two below top are from the same pattern Burda 11/2008 which I loved making. The dress on the bottom Burda 1/2009 needed some alterations to the neck to fit over my daughters head, but is always complimented and commented on when she is wearing it.

















Sew Hip for fabric designers and everything to do with sewing. This is only being published for the last 6 or 7 months and I have every issue. This is a gem when it comes to fabric and fabric designers. I have been following Sandi Henderson's blog and I was wondering lately how ever did I come across her. I saw pictures of her patterns in issue 1 of Sew Hip and went directly to her website and blog. I fell for her fabrics in a big way, though haven't bought many of them .... yet! They are so bright, cheerful and fun - so well worth checking out.

and Sewing World for general info on all things sewing. This has lots of bits and patterns for accessories, but comes across as a bit more conservative and maybe for - I don't know how to put this as I am more middle-aged than young!! - but for the much older sewer? - but I am so open to being corrected - and it's just my impression! Pin It Now!  

Ottobre patterns and sewing dresses

I made the orange and blue dress that I referred to in an earlier post. It is from the same pattern as the 'luminuous' greendress which is also pictured earlier. The pattern is Ottobre 1/2005 no. 18 & 19, which is very wide fitting but looked very pretty on my 2 year old at her cousins christening. I really enjoyed making it and was delighted with how it turned out, even the colours, which on paper don't sound great. The fabric is from another online fabric and pattern shop which stocks the most gorgeous selection of fabric Dots and Stripes.

The little pinafore was a present for the same cousin and includes hat number 2 that I mentioned a while back. The pockets should really be of a pinker fabric to match better. The cotton cord is from Holland Fabric House and is so soft to the touch.

There is no picture of hat number 3 from the green fabric, just because I finished it in a hurry to send it to my niece, but I made a hat for the orange and blue dress above. This hat pattern is from the same issue of Ottobre, and is my current favourite.

I have been doing quite a bit of sewing and creating these pieces gives me such a lift. I have to get planning the next piece to keep my thinking occupied. I have felt very "normal" or perhaps it is better to say I feel more myself, the last few weeks which is a very, very good thing. Pin It Now!