a little outfit
Girly Style Wardrobe
I think I'm the last one to the ball in terms of raving over this book. I got it from Ebay and it's my only Japanese book. Oh, I just remembered I do have another with gorgeous embroidery ideas....but as far as sewing goes, this is it. I purchased it solely on strength of the too cute photos, I'm ashamed to admit.......
After doing a lot of reading or rather working out how the things are put together from the diagrams, I decided on this little dress
it may even be a top...it came out pretty short, so I added another few inches on afterwards, cleverly disguised by the braid. ( I may well have traced the wrong bit from the pattern...my eyes were going mighty funny by the time I had finished...millions of lines and Japanese writing, with me desperately searching for the ones that related to 'r', my pattern letter). Still I am truly pleased with the result. It was actually very easy to make. Despite my confusion regarding the tracing and cutting (that's just me, not the books fault), the little diagrams are very straight forward, guiding you through every step. If you've had a little dressmaking experience I'm sure its easy peasy. I'm a newbie in this field and I managed. I think I could have matched up the pattern a little better for the front, now I know how the dress works I may be able to manage that next time. The cross over pieces are cut separately from the bottom half and it didn't even occur to me to check that the pattern vaguely carried over from one to the other. It's not an issue though, just something I'm now aware of.
There is a lovely piece written about using Japanese sewing books over at Thought and Thimble with some great links to suppliers and other useful resources. Amy has also had some fun with this book (told you I was bringing up the rear!) and has some glimpses into other books too.
She likes it ! Any worries I had about it being too boxy were quelled once it was on
I'm definitely going to make more and may even branch out and make one of the other dresses... (steady, girl.....)
As for other news...I'm just getting over the headache from hell that hit me on Friday , the most piercing, stabbing affair where I had to keep my head
c o m p l e t e l y s t i l l , coupled with full body pain. It felt like thousands of tiny needles were being pushed in all over...truly ghastly. No doubt some hideous variation of the flu thats going round. It goes without saying that life continued as normal around me..yelling, screeching, crashing and banging....but I did get lots of kisses for my poorly head from Mads in between bouts of noise ;)
Lils returned from her trip, with dreadlocked hair and fingernails that could have grown potatoes. The hair thanks to jumping in a freezing lake (fully clothed of course)...it was optional...and she chose to do it..I ask you. The nails were the legacy of the caving expedition the previous day (their room had an en suite, was it used much ?...I think not). All in all, the signs of a truly fantastic time, if she'd come home clean there would have been something amiss. Lovely to have her back in the fold.
Hi Asti, the dress you made is absolutely adorable. Great work! Your post makes me want to buy the book for sure! I'm glad your daughter had a fabulous time and your headache is better!!
Posted by: Penny | March 17, 2008 at 10:23
The dress is beautiful- your daughter looks a complete peach in it!
Posted by: the pesky bombolino | March 17, 2008 at 10:25
That is really very pretty. I adore the fabric you used. Velma thinks that's her in the photo (What's Velma doin'?)! There is, indeed, a resemblance.
Posted by: MamaShift | March 17, 2008 at 10:28
The dress is gorgeous (and I think she knows it!). Bravo - I'm too scared to sew Japanese clothing patterns - it's enough of a struggle for me when the instructions are in a language I can read!
Posted by: Ali | March 17, 2008 at 11:43
what an adorable dress (and the little girl in it as well! good grief asti!).
so glad lily had a great time too.
Posted by: kristi | March 17, 2008 at 19:38
what an adorable dress (and the little girl in it as well! good grief asti!).
so glad lily had a great time too.
Posted by: kristi | March 17, 2008 at 19:38
what a sweet little dress!
Posted by: beki | March 17, 2008 at 20:26
i love the dress. she is too cute!
Posted by: amy | March 18, 2008 at 02:28
Glad she had a good time, it's always more fun when you get scruffy. Lovely dress too
Lisa x
Posted by: Periwinkle | March 18, 2008 at 09:25
Adorable little dress and model. Love all the pretty shades of blue in your earlier post too.
Have a great day!
Posted by: Lisa | March 18, 2008 at 14:08
Such a wonderfully unique dress, and your daughter is so cute you must eat with her a spoon every day!
Posted by: Linda | March 19, 2008 at 12:07
That is beautiful. The color of the fabric and the lace trim are perfect together. And your little one is adorable - especially the hair. My 2nd son's hair was like that - curly curly - that is until I had to cut his hair and curls disappeared. Now they only reappear when it's hot and sticky outside.
Posted by: Ellen | March 28, 2008 at 19:49