translation requests – Page 2 – Japanese Sewing, Pattern, Craft Books and Fabrics

Translation Request – Daily Sewing Book

August 23, 2012

I received a translation request for a couple of patterns from this book – Daily Sewing Book

The first pattern I translated was G.02 which is a slip dress with tucks and gathers in the front, and gathers at the back.

Note that when they mentioned border cloth, it’s actually similar to bias tape. The only difference is that for the front and back bodice the border cloth is cut on the grain and not on the bias. This could be the reason why it was not called bias tape and called border cloth instead. It is made in the same way (strips of fabric with the long edges double folded towards the center line and applied to the garment the same way bias tape is attached. However, since the curvature for the necklines is not very great, there is no need to use bias tape, whereas for the armholes the curvature requires the fabric to be cut on the bias so that it has more stretch while sewing.

Well, I hope this helps you Gee, and those of you who have the same book! 🙂

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Translations and Help with Patterns

Translation Requests – for Niki

August 1, 2012

This week’s translation request is from Niki, who needed some help with the following patterns.

The first pattern is from the book girly style wardrobe – おんなのこのワードローブ

The second pattern is from another book that I’ve reviewed before – おしゃれが好きな女の子の服

The name of this shirt is called – no suribu burawusu – No Sleeve Blouse. Actually just means sleeveless blouse 🙂

No-sleeve (Sleeveless) Blouse

[Completed size] … Size 100/110/120/130 in order
(For the rest of the pattern I will omit typing out the measurements, but they are all in order of these sizes)
Bust…
Length

[Pattern] … F from pattern sheet 1
F front bodice, F back bodice, F front and back hem belt
*For front and back Collar facing patterns, Copy the lines indicated for 見返し (indicated as a long-dash-short-dash line) from the front and back bodice patterns.
*Cord, armhole bias tape – cut according to dimensions shown in cutting diagram

[Materials] — Size
Surface fabric (cotton linen) – 150cm width
Interfacing

[Preparation]
* Attach Interfacing to collar facing pieces
* Use zig zag stitch or overlocker to serge the seam allowance edges of the shoulder, side seams, as well as the edges of the facing pieces.

[Order of Make] — refer to diagram
1. Sew shoulder seams of bodice and facing pieces. Press seams open.
2. Finish armhole with bias fabric – Refer to pg 41
3. Make cord – Cord is made by 1cm width of fabric folded 4 times (fold both long edges to midline, then fold again to hide raw edges) and stitch together. Refer to pg 36
4. Sew facing to neckline seam, finish back edges, sew in cord (for ribbon tie) between layers of facing and back edge – Refer to diagram 4 on page 47
5. Sew bodice sides, gather hem. refer to diagram 5 on Pg 47
6. Sew hem belt, attach to bodice hem. Finish edges with zig zag stitch and press to bodice side.

The instructions for this blouse was very short, and seemed to be missing out on diagrams. Actually, it’s because there are alot of repeated techniques which are featured on other patterns, hence the need to make references to other pages. For example, in point no.4, the instructions were very brief, but turning to page 47, the entire process is shown in a clear diagram.

Hope this helps Niki and anyone else who has this book. Happy Sewing!

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Translations and Help with Patterns

Translation Request – V-neck Straight Dress

June 27, 2012

Today’s translation request is from Ritisha, who needed some help with the following nani IRO pattern. I love nani IRO fabrics, but have never sewn with one (because I cannot bear to cut that single piece I have stashed away), and it was only after doing this translation that I realized it was slightly narrower than the usual fabrics (106cm vs 110cm). So there are two cutting diagrams depending on which fabric you use. Interesting!

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Translations and Help with Patterns

Translation Wednesdays!

May 16, 2012

I know that despite the best translation guides and dictionaries, sometimes it is still hard to deciper a pattern especially when you pick up a book like this. Some books provide great step by step picture, but this book gives me a one page “how-to-make”, with no step by step diagrams. I’m suppose to guess what to do with the numbers pointing at the coat? Actually, all the instructions are on the left, but in Japanese. If you have one of these books you probably bought it for the pretty pictures. But given that these books are not cheap, let’s try to make the most of them by actually making something from it!

I have mentioned before that I am not Japanese, nor am I proficient in the language. In fact, I can hardly speak it except for the phrases that recur in dramas 🙂 But I have learnt enough to read and understand, and when necessary, input the characters into a translation or online dictionary for translations.

As a matter of fact, I have just decided to be more conscientious in my learning of the language since I really love it, and it will certainly help during my trips to Japan. So as part of my learning exercise, I would like help some of you translate patterns/sections out of Japanese sewing books. It will be good practice for me, and you can finally make something out of the book!

In order for the translations to be helpful to everyone, I will only do translations for how-to-make pages like the above, where the materials, preparation, and procedures are listed. Alternatively, you are are stuck trying to figure out the meanings on pages where important information, such as sizing/general know-how, I can try to translate it for you too. Please try to restrict the number of pages to 1-2 pages. As that’s the usual number of pages for how-to-makes in Japanese sewing books. Hope you understand that it takes time and I can only handle 1 request a week! 🙂

To send me your requests, please take a clear picture of

1. The cover of the book
2. The page you wish to translate
Please also provide the ISBN number so that I can find references of it on the internet and link it up so that others who would like the purchase the book can find it.

Email all of the above information to japanesesewingbooks@gmail.com
I can’t promise to be able to translate everyone’s requests but I will try to do one a week and post it up on the blog on Wednesdays. Send me your requests now! 🙂

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Translations and Help with Patterns

Translation Request – What size to make (for Ira)

April 13, 2012

I received a request via email today from Ira, who asked which size she should make for her 5 year old girl.
Hi Ira! You didn’t mention how tall she is, so I can’t tell you exactly which one to use. But the patterns usually refer to size for kids by their heights.

Under the how to make section, you will see a series of numbers divided by slashes. These are the different sizes (based on height).Subsequently for each set of materials/measurements, just take the corresponding measurement.

The translation for the above will be

materials for sizes (90/100/110/120/130cm)
表布 main fabric (denim coat) 110cm wide (70/75/80/85/90cm)
別布 co-ordinating fabric (broadcloth cotton) 110cm wide (55/60/65/70/75cm)
2.5cm wide elastic band (ゴムテープ） (43/45/48/51/55cm)
2.2cm wide lace（レース） (110/115/125/125/135cm)
1 button （ボタン） of 1.5cm diameter （直径）
4 buttons （ボタン）of 1.2cm diameter （直径）
completed garment size
pants （パンツ）length（丈） 38.5/42/45.5/49/51.1cm

So let’s say if your daughter is 110cm tall, then you will take the 3rd set of measurements for each item. Meaning 80cm of main fabric, 65cm of co-ordinating fabric, 48cm of elastic and 125cm of lace. And the finished size will be 45.5cm. If you wish to adjust the length of the pants you can just extend or shorten from the bottom edge of the pants pattern.

Hope this helps you decide which size to make!

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