So I finally bought my serger, so the first thing I needed was a book that would teach me how to sew with one. I wanted to get this book but it was out of stock in the bookshop.
So I bought the next best thing! A book on sewing with the ロックミシン – literally Lock Machine. It’s by Kurai Muki, and it covers making kids clothes using a serger.
Today’s book review is about knitwear for kids. The common misconception is that you will need an overlocker or serger to sew knits. But this book shows you that it is possible to sew knits with a home sewing machine. In fact, the whole book is about sewing knits using a typical home sewing machine.
The book is broken down into a few sections. It starts with the “Basic” section which covers the basic introduction of knit fabrics and the tools and techniques necessary for sewing knits using a home sewing machine. Then the projects which are separated into Tops, Bottoms, Dress and Outerwear. Just a quick overview of the basic garments covered in this book. There are 27 projects in all.
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
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
I’ve seen a couple of requests for boy patterns. Sorry to say that because I have two girls, the only boy patterns I have are from books that have a combination of patterns for kids. I don’t have any books specially for boys! But today’s free pattern link will be useful to those of you with little boys. 🙂
Today’s free pattern comes from a website called Nuimonotictac, Nuimono means sewing, and tic tac I suppose just means tic tac.. lol 🙂
The website is well organized, the links to the instructions are accessible from the thumbnails. There are clothes for babies, boys, girls, mama and even one for papa. There are also some cute accessories and school accessories.
What I like most about this site is how clear the photographs and diagrams are. Even the patterns look like they are fit to be sold and not free downloads! Look at the examples below.
Other than sewing, if you access her website from the main page – http://nuimonotictac.mameshibori.net/ you will see links to an introduction to her site where she lists some basic instructions for printing as well as her terms of use of her free patterns.
She also provides information on stenciling on clothes using fabric stamps/paint, as well as some handmade toys like making trains out of old milk cartons.
I hope this will make mummies of little boys very happy 🙂 I for one, love that little rugby shirt! I think I might make one for my girls if I can find some nice jersey material.
Happy Sewing!