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Book Review – Cucito Summer 2012

June 22, 2012

Cucito is a kids sewing magazine published by Boutique-sha. The same people who publish Lady’s Boutique and Cotton Friend. They also publish a lot of other craft books and magazines. This is one of the magazines that I will buy regularly because not only is it cheaper than a normal sewing book but also for the projects using new fabric lines, so it keeps me “aware” of the latest fabrics of the season 🙂

This is the latest Cucito for Summer 2012. Perfect for the hot weather here!

Cucito magazine is a “kids boutique” magazine, so naturally, there are patterns for both boys and girls. A plus for those of you who have little boys!

Some of the projects featuring both boys and girls.

Some of the featured projects include step by step photographs for instructions, and they look like this…

Other than kids patterns, there are also quite a number of patterns that feature matching Mama and kid sets. Nautical is in again this summer (again? ;P)
Hence the stripes and anchors you are about to see.

Even the bags and accessories are matching!

Summer yukatas! Super cute on kids. My kids got to wear them at the onsen, and they are super comfy.

This book includes projects for babies as well!

Baby boys and girls both included.

Summer yukatas in baby size too. Even cuter! Boys pattern on the back of this page, I forgot to snap a picture of it 😉

I might be wrong about this but somehow projects for girls still outnumber the ones available for boys. There were 4 or 5 additional dress patterns just for girls.

And check this one out. Its a Yukata dress which is actually composed of a top and a skirt (which can be worn on it’s own).

Looks complicated to make, but luckily this pattern has 4 whole pages of step by step photograph instructions.

For the rest of the projects that do not have step by step photographs, it is the usual how-to-make pattern with instructions in point form and diagrams such as the one above. Pretty clear and concise pictures so it shouldn’t be a problem understanding them.

And now we move on to hats! 4 whole pages on hats, and 2 more on crochet hats.

This is what the instructions for crochet hats look like. I only know how to crochet using written instructions, not sure if this diagram is in “universal crochet language”.

Some extra craft ideas. This is a macaroon shaped case which is really cute!

You also get to see the latest books available from the same publisher. KIV for future book shopping! 🙂

Title : Kodomo Boutique CUCITO 2012 July Issue
Publisher : http://www.boutique-sha.co.jp/
No ISBN number but there is a JAN (Japanese Article Number) code : JAN4939459402072

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Book Reviews Japanese Sewing Books Kids Sewing Patterns

Book Review – All Your Kids Need Part 1 of 2

May 18, 2012

Today’s book review is from one of my most frequently used books. This is a book covers sewing and other crafty projects, all related to school supplies and school going children.

All your kids need

This book is also the thickest sewing/craft book I have! It’s 187 pages (not including credits 😉 As it is such a thick book, there are lots of projects and inspirations to be found within. I took so many photos of the projects included that I will need to have a 2 part book review just for this book. Today I will be covering the sewing projects for school and kidswear.

First up is school bags and accessories. Sewing is a big hobby in Japan, and most mothers will make school bags, lunch bags, accessories case for their children when they go to school. There is a special bag for every single lesson! And they all have to be co-ordinated! When I was shopping for fabrics in Japan last year, I saw a Grandma + Mum + Daughter trio shopping for fabrics for her new school bags. They took their time deciding on the main theme (they had to choose from animals, fairies, famous characters, ballerinas etc…. ), then they had to select matching co-ordinating fabrics, it was a hard decision for the girl to make! 🙂 T. Now that’s my kind of shopping trip!

Look how a simple navy blue bag can be jazzed up with some scrap fabrics. And don’t forget to label the bag with your name. Embroidered of course. I love how they set up the scene when the take photos of the bags. Isn’t the little tool box with the child size tools just adorable?

For lunch break, you need a bag for your bento, a separate pouch for your cup, and of course, a co-ordinating lunch mat to lay your bento and cup on. (Oops, that’s on the right page which got cut off, but it’s a mat with slots to keep your fork and spoon.

Like the appliques they use to embellish the bags? The book provides you with the templates for felt characters, all to be stitched on by hand on the bags.

And on the days you have sports/PE lessons, you will have one bag for your sports kit, and separate bag for shoes. Even the towel can be co-ordinated as well by adding a matching applique.

On the days that you have art class, don’t forget your smock, so that you get your uniform dirty!

And for music lessons, you need a bag for your music books, and matching pouches for your recorder, harmonica and castanet!

Great! We made it through the school day, let’s change into something comfortable when we get home. There are 4 casual dresses covered under the Daily Wardrobe section.

Add a cute skirt and I’m ready to play!

Now babies + toddlers need some home made wear too. Co-ordinated hat and pants. With extra booty space for diapers.

Some more goodies. Mummy needs a light weight bag to carry when she goes shopping, and the baby needs a bib for eating.

In summer, the kids wear yukatas, which are light weight casual cotton kimonos. Fun to wear!
My kids were given these during their trips to onsens, and they are really comfortable to wear.

Now for special occasions. I have made 3 dresses out of this pattern alone. The first was modified into a Cinderella gown for a school halloween party. That was 5 yrs ago, and the gown is complete worn out by now as I used the wrong type of fabric. The second one is still going strong except that the tulle layer has been stretched and distorted, but what I wanted to show you is this snow white gown I made from this pattern. I used the bodice and skirt patterns, but changed the sleeves and split the bodice into two so that I could add the piping. I deliberately used cotton instead of satin so that she could wear it on a daily basis. You can see more of the Snow White dress here.

And of course there is something for the boys too. Would he like to be a prince?

Or Peter Pan?

Cute little fairy with wings and a wand. Great for Halloween or even for play.

That’s all for today. Next week I’ll cover the rest of the book, which is an assortment of crafts and some more sewing projects. See you next week!

Title : All your kids need
ISBN no. : 9784579111336
Publisher : 文化出版局
Pages : 187

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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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Bags or Zakka Sewing Patterns Book Reviews Japanese Sewing Books

Book Review – Handmade Rilakkuma

March 29, 2012

Today’s book is really fun. Have you heard of Rilakkuma? It’s a character from San-x, also known as Relax Bear. It’s one of my favourite characters. I have many Rilakkuma goods. Notepads, a tote bag, even have a 3D Rilakkuma iphone case! 🙂

For those of you who are fans, this is a great book. It provides you with the patterns to make all kinds of Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma goods. The crafts include Amigurumi (crochet dolls), felt mascot, stuffed toy, puppets, personal accessories, lunch goods, interior goods, appliques and even bath goods.

Stuffed toys! The only problem I have about this is where to find the correct fabric to make these.

This is much easier, tiny felt mascots. Felt is much easier to get in the correct colors 🙂

Awfully cute hair accessories!

I wanted to make this for my daughter’s lunch bag but her bottle is too big for it.

I love these! Coin pouches and sling bags. Perfect for little girls. I know they will both want the Korilakkuma purses. (White and pink)

Bath gloves! But need terry material in the right brown and orange. Korilakkuma should be easier?

As these are small goods and accessories, the pattern pieces fit into one page of the book. But it looks a little complicated. Some translation might be needed here.

Example of a how-to-make section for a keyring. Looks simple enough once you cut out the basic shapes. There are alot of labels with words but don’t worry, they are just telling you the body part, color of embroidery thread and type of stitch. All of these can be deduced from the finished product pictures in the beginning section of the book. And it’s ok to use a different stich if you want, so no real translation necessary here.

ISBN No : 978-4-391-13107-9

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Book Reviews

Book Review – Pochee 2010 Spring Vol. 9

March 21, 2012

First of all, I’m not sure if Pochee is a book or a magazine. If you remember my other Pochee review over here, I used to think that it was a magazine, like Cotton Friend/Cotton Time, but the staff at Kinouniya told me it’s a book. and it does have an ISBN number. Anyway, I’ll just call it a book. A book that is published 4 times a year, one for each season.

During the last Kinokuniya sale (a week ago), I picked up two older copies of Pochee. This book contains mainly adult patterns, accessories and even matching patterns for kids. This book in particular had quite a few patterns that I would actually wear, and I’ve even made something for myself already 🙂

It comes with a free “gift”. Actually just a nicely printed cardboard piece with markings to help you make your seam allowances on straight edges easily. Just fold over the desired length (in cm only) and iron over it to get your crease.

Here are just some of the garments you can make from this book. Many of them are variations of the same pattern piece, which is great since I’m not a big fan of tracing patterns. 🙂

This has got to be my favourite shirt in the book. It is the shirt featured on the front cover.

This is what I made!

This is my second favourite shirt. I will be making this next.

There are a couple of step by step detailed photographs for a couple of the garments that are a little more advanced.

Updated to add completed purple linen shirt! The sleeves were quite hard to iron as they were made of half twisted tubes.
I think maybe a steam iron will do much better with these sleeves 😛 But on the whole it is a really nice shirt to go with jeans. Love it!

There are also some patterns for boys and girls. Note the little picture in the corner. The kids patterns are meant to match Mum’s outfit!

Very sweet little girls. And I love the dresses too. =)

Then there are bags. A pattern for a everyday canvas bag. It even provides you with the different ways to coordinate the fabrics.
Detailed step by step photos are provided for these bags too!

Other than bags, there are also patterns for hair accessories. Best part is, they even show you how to use the hair accessories.

One of my favourite sections. Peeking into the sewing rooms and creations of creative Japanese ladies. I simply love the way they organize their craft and sewing supplies using an assortment of rustic looking cabinets/shelves. I came across these metal shelves with little cubby holes in them while in Japan, and I really really wanted to buy it. But it would have been crazy to bring it back as I was travelling by train with 2 kids and a ton of luggage 🙁

Last photo. Just a glimpse of the standard “how to make” pattern instructions. Unfortunately most of the patterns are like this. The shirt I made was condensed into half a page of instructions. 🙂 On the right column (where the words are), it basically lists materials, completed size, and the steps for making the shirt. Important steps are shown in the diagram.