I made this top from the very popular Japanese sewing pattern book, Stylish Dress Book. It is the very first pattern in the book, and is true to the flowy, relaxed styles found throughout. I used a pink semi-transparent rayon type fabric. The only difficult part were the pleats at the front, as I didn’t want to melt the fabric by using a very hot iron. Lots and lots of basting stitches were used to keep the pleats in place before and stitched them. I think that the ruffles on the sleeves are awesome, and now that I have mastered the art of creating ruffles with the sewing machine, they were easy to achieve.
I”ll be wearing this top with shorts (like seen here), denim cut offs, skinny leg jeans, and I might also try to see what it looks like tucked into skirts. Might look nice with the white Burdastyle pleated skirt I made recently, worn with a waist belt. Hmmm any suggestions?
There really are very nice patterns in this book. You can read a bit more about this book and other Japanese sewing pattern books in this post, Top 10 Japanese Sewing Pattern Books. Next one on my ever expanding to do list is the dress on the front cover (as below), which Novita from Very Purple Person has made into a cute top.
And yes, as the title for this post suggests, I have a brand new copy of Stylish Dress Book to giveaway. Entry is open worldwide.
TO ENTER:
1) Simply leave a comment on any of my blog posts.
2) For an additional chance to win, follow Sew in Love on Twitter or subscribe to my Sew in Love RSS feed.
Entries close on SUNDAY 7 November. Good luck!
37 comments
[…] P.S. I am giving away a copy of Stylish Dress Book by Akiko Tsukiori this month so make sure you ent… […]
I guess this blog post counts as one qualified for the draw… so i’m commenting here for now. Maybe more later…
le.paradis.found at gmail dot com
I’ve added you to my google reader by the way!
First one to enter, yey! Already follow you on twitter, which is where I found out about the comp.. would love to try out some Japanese patterns, beautiful!
Hiya! I just saw your post on BurdaStyle – and as I said in my reply there – I have just recently discovered the wonder, beauty and simplicity of these books. How fab are they?
Why don’t we have things like this in English? It really makes me wonder – when you go and look through the bulk of commercial patterns available over here – most of them you wouldn’t make/wear in a fit!! I am trying hard to learn a bit of sewing Japanese so I can whip up a little number of my own! Looking forward to checking out the rest of your blog! xx
Hi Rin, I love your blog 🙂 I’m so crazy about japanese sewing books, eventhough I don’t understand the language at all. I’m so exciting read about your “top 10 japanese sewing pattern books (I have book no 1 and 4 YAY!!)
I love the beautiful blouse!!! What a gorgeous color and it looks so comfy!!
I’m so glad I ran across this blog! I really like that you refer to Japanese craft books. I would spend hours trying to make those little felt guys from my mom’s! Thanks!
This looks like an amazing book – I would love to win! Thanks for the great giveaway!
Hi,
It seems like quite a simple design, except for the gathers. Did you have trouble?
Cheers
That top is super cute, looks super comfy, and would look super awesome with a pair of skinny jeans! Yeah, I need this book 🙂
Count me in. I would love this pattern book. I am an art teacher in a little (almost nonexistent 🙂 ) Utah town.
Love your Blog! I would love this book!
the blouse you made is lovely!
Love the pink top you made. And I hope I’m the winner
Hey there,
I love to sew and LOVE Japanese sewing books but alas I’m not in Japan! You rock for sponsoring this giveaway!
Thanks!
What a beautiful top! I like how the pattern works in both plain and patterned fabric.
K
Such a lovely giveaway. I lived in Japan (Tokyo) for about 1 year and I loved my time there. People were so friendly and women had so much style and class, I just loved the fashion there!
Love Japanese Books and sewing!!! Send me one 🙂
Hi , that’s a sweet top ! I love japanese sewing books. They’re great !
That’s a great top — I’d love to try it!
I’m joining!!!
I’m so glad I found your website!!! It’s fun to find people that like the same things as you 🙂 I’ve just began sewing over the last few months and I’ve fallen in love with the Japanese dressmaking books. I’ve only got two at the moment, and even with very little knowledge of Japanese, I’ve managed to make some really nice things. I’d love to win the Stylish Dress Book to add to my little collection! Enjoy your overlocker lessons (I know too well of the frustration of re-threading the machine!) and I look forward to seeing a very stylish overlocker cover, hahaha. I’ll be back to read more of your blogs 🙂
I just arrived from Karyn’s blog: make something. I love the ruffle on the blouse sleeves, it’s details like that that make it so pretty!
Zowee! I just floated through your blogposts. I especially loved the e-online business post. I am in the same boat. Chose to close down a retail shop to stay at home with my little ones and make a go of it online. Thanks so much!
I LOVE <3 these Japanese sewing books!! I live in NY and have been eyeing them in Kinokuniya-would love to try to make some of the amazing designs they have!
Would L<3VE to try this pattern book**what a great giveaway!
So ~who won the book? ~: ))
Hey Marilyn, I’ve contacted the winner but no reply! If she doesn’t come back to me by Friday, I’ll be drawing a new winner 🙂
Really!? Sounds good, but I am sure that person will get back to you soon! : ))
Thanks!
So did the person reply?? ~: )
Hello~ No reply, so new winner has been randomly picked again 🙂 It is Annette from Fabricate and Mira. Hopefully she will reply!
Congratulations to her!! How fun!
Love your blog!!!!!! Just starting to learn to sew and I hope this will be a start of something great!! Thanks!!!!
Oh, how exciting! I have wanted to try out a Japanese sewing book for a while. This would be a great opportunity. Greetings from Coogee!
Heya Nata. If you’re in Coogee, head down to Kinokuniya in Town Hall and check out the collection of books they have there. I can spend hours looking at not only Japanese sewing books, but other random craft books from Japan.
[…] Pattern A – Pleated neck top with ruffled sleeves (which I made in pink and see Novita from Very Purple Person’s version […]
[…] by passion for Japanese sewing books. It remains extremely popular, and I have already made a blouse (pattern A) and a smock dress (pattern K) to great success from this book. The patterns in this book are […]