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Showing posts with label Japanese Patterns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japanese Patterns. Show all posts
Playing Outside in my Parka
A bit big...but so warm. I did think about unpicking the front so the elastic was tighter but in the end I left it. The next one I make will make tighter....
Finished in Time
Most of my sewing was done today. I did enjoy sewing this pattern and what a help it was to be able to refer to the blog posts over at you & mie. While I was happy with the style, I think my fabric choice was a bit difficult when I needed to bind the neck seam. I used polar/micro fleece that was stretchy and it it didn't matter how carefully you top stitched the fleece it still looked a bit shabby....
When out fabric shopping my rule that I hate sewing polar/micro fleece was soon forgotten. I was swayed by a pretty yellow coloured fabric. It was so pretty, a little bit of warmth in the middle of winter I thought to myself... Yes I'll buy that!
The parka hood and pocket are both lined with a yellow striped cotton fleece...
The photos below don't do the parka much justice, it just hangs like a sack in the pics. I need a little person to model the parka but there is not one in sight...On reflection I would certainly make this again, but I would use a lighter weight fabric. I think the pattern is definitely better in a light weight fabric. It might have made a difference if I hadn't lined the hood which added bulk.
Another sew-a-long blogger did their parka using bias to finish the seams, the edges of the hood etc. This might have worked better for my parka, I am not really happy with the front because the gathers are not very defined!
When out fabric shopping my rule that I hate sewing polar/micro fleece was soon forgotten. I was swayed by a pretty yellow coloured fabric. It was so pretty, a little bit of warmth in the middle of winter I thought to myself... Yes I'll buy that!
The parka hood and pocket are both lined with a yellow striped cotton fleece...
The photos below don't do the parka much justice, it just hangs like a sack in the pics. I need a little person to model the parka but there is not one in sight...On reflection I would certainly make this again, but I would use a lighter weight fabric. I think the pattern is definitely better in a light weight fabric. It might have made a difference if I hadn't lined the hood which added bulk.
Another sew-a-long blogger did their parka using bias to finish the seams, the edges of the hood etc. This might have worked better for my parka, I am not really happy with the front because the gathers are not very defined!
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| When you use a finer fabric the gathers in the front are more pronounced. Apart from me not being so happy with the outcome this parka is very warm and good for playing outside! |
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| My cat is mental...he was banned from the sewing table today. But just thought he might get in on the photo and nobody would notice! |
Tracing the Pattern
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| It's so muddy outside the cat jumped through the window and put dirty paw marks all over my new pattern...Thank goodness not the book... |
Whew It's Here!
I have been waiting patiently for this Japanese pattern book so I can join in the sew-a-long over at you & mie.......Finally it has arrived, and didn't take too long really. It's just that I'm down at the bottom of the world so it was ordered from the supplier.
Where did I buy it In New Zealand? Mighty Ape, they were most helpful in sending it straight away once it got into the country, and today now it is here! Plus it's in English too...
But I'm 2 days behind in the sew-along so not sure if I will meet the deadline, but I'm going to join in anyway,....I need a project to push me to start sewing!
Where did I buy it In New Zealand? Mighty Ape, they were most helpful in sending it straight away once it got into the country, and today now it is here! Plus it's in English too...
But I'm 2 days behind in the sew-along so not sure if I will meet the deadline, but I'm going to join in anyway,....I need a project to push me to start sewing!
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| Happy Homemade Sew Chic Kids |
Japanese Pattern: Gathered Skirt With a Bow
Have you checked out the ebook How To Sew Japanese Patterns on the blog Sew in Love by Rin.
I purchased it sometime last year, saved it to a hard drive and forgot about it until now...The fabric for this high waisted skirt I have had a long time. It was originally bought for a dress but it crinkled so much I didn't fancy having to iron it all the time...
While this skirt is an easy sew it is work intensive, firstly you have to get your head around the Japanese, then you have to trace your pattern and add seam allowances. Rin has done a great job with all the things you need to know about Japanese patterns, and the English instructions for the skirt. A great resource to have.
Though I must say me being me, who is always doing things backwards. I started out this sewing project without reading anything except the English instructions for 'How to putting the skirt together', nothing else. Hence I missed adding seam allowances onto the skirt. I just went for it and followed the pictures and forgot about seam allowances.
Sometimes I believe learning by doing is the way to go, and today was the day I followed that philosophy. I absolutely loved making this skirt, it was a challenge through my own making. I found the whole process interesting, and I was so pleased with the fit for someone who is over 6ft.
This is my daughter's skirt. I've never been able to wear gathered skirts I'm too short wasted, they just don't suit me. I cut the pattern and fabric out on LL size. I probably could have gone a size down or even smaller as I had plenty of fabric left over on the back seam when fitting. This pattern is so much nicer than a similar skirt I made, a New Look high waisted gathered skirt.
If you want to purchase this ebook you can find out about it here.
Awhile back I had my lovely Japanese daughter in-law help me look at a children's Japanese pattern book that I bought awhile back. It was interesting for me because she is not a sewer so we ended up being both learners together. She was able to translate the Japanese words into English, and I could tell her what they meant for me when cutting out the pattern and sewing it. It was a nice time together.
Who hates those hem fittings? I am afraid I am not the nicest hem fitter, you certainly wouldn't want me marking your hem. I am just so impatient with my commands, that I actually almost yell when the person turns the wrong way....Only to my family though. Poor things they have to stand on a table really still with me barking commands from underneath.
Here is the finished skirt, it was very sunny out so the pics aren't as clear as I would have liked. The hem wasn't that easy to do because the fabric is just so flimsy. I just straight stitched it in the end on the good old Bernina 801. But I must say I really enjoyed sewing from this pattern. You might like to try it too!
I purchased it sometime last year, saved it to a hard drive and forgot about it until now...The fabric for this high waisted skirt I have had a long time. It was originally bought for a dress but it crinkled so much I didn't fancy having to iron it all the time...
While this skirt is an easy sew it is work intensive, firstly you have to get your head around the Japanese, then you have to trace your pattern and add seam allowances. Rin has done a great job with all the things you need to know about Japanese patterns, and the English instructions for the skirt. A great resource to have.
Though I must say me being me, who is always doing things backwards. I started out this sewing project without reading anything except the English instructions for 'How to putting the skirt together', nothing else. Hence I missed adding seam allowances onto the skirt. I just went for it and followed the pictures and forgot about seam allowances.
Sometimes I believe learning by doing is the way to go, and today was the day I followed that philosophy. I absolutely loved making this skirt, it was a challenge through my own making. I found the whole process interesting, and I was so pleased with the fit for someone who is over 6ft.
This is my daughter's skirt. I've never been able to wear gathered skirts I'm too short wasted, they just don't suit me. I cut the pattern and fabric out on LL size. I probably could have gone a size down or even smaller as I had plenty of fabric left over on the back seam when fitting. This pattern is so much nicer than a similar skirt I made, a New Look high waisted gathered skirt.
If you want to purchase this ebook you can find out about it here.
Awhile back I had my lovely Japanese daughter in-law help me look at a children's Japanese pattern book that I bought awhile back. It was interesting for me because she is not a sewer so we ended up being both learners together. She was able to translate the Japanese words into English, and I could tell her what they meant for me when cutting out the pattern and sewing it. It was a nice time together.
Who hates those hem fittings? I am afraid I am not the nicest hem fitter, you certainly wouldn't want me marking your hem. I am just so impatient with my commands, that I actually almost yell when the person turns the wrong way....Only to my family though. Poor things they have to stand on a table really still with me barking commands from underneath.
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| Finally it's hemmed... |
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| The fabric I used was a very light cotton that crinkled so easily A very floaty fabric perhaps it should have been lined. But I didn't want to add bulk around the waist. |
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| Will sew again at some stage. Loved this project and I love how the way the fabric flows and the style... |
Cute Patchwork Dress
This is a girls dress from Japan and it is made up of cotton patchwork squares. The sleeves are a sort of crochet or knitted type with a few flowers attached. For me it has a lovely 70's feel...I really like the mix of textures...I just like it wished I could make something like it...
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| It has elastic around the neck front and back |
Japanese Knot Bag
I made the 'Japanese Knot Bag' out of an old skirt made of a type of Chinese brocade fabric. The skirt was really lovely but I made the short side, not slanting down far too short. It fitted very tight too so I threw it in the disaster rag bag...It sat there for years until today when I re-hashed it into a Japanese knot bag...Here is the pattern.
Japanese Sewing Book
This is my new sewing pattern from Japan. I'm wanting to make something from this booklet......For now though it will have to wait, this will be a big project (I don't know Japanese) and I will have to trace the pieces out and learn a little Japanese (symbols that is) on the way. But I thought I'd post a pic anyway as it's a really nice pattern booklet....
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