Stylish Dress Book: Wear with Freedom

by Yoshiko Tsukiori

Overview

Sew your own chic and original dresses with this stylish sewing book.

Japanese style has long been admired for its grace and artistry. Add to that a sense of fun, and you have the sew-it-yourself Stylish Dress Book. Complete with stunning full-color photos, this Japanese sewing book (in English) gives you instructions and pull-out patterns for unique Japanese fashion—26 relaxed and comfortable yet elegant dresses and tops—pretty, timeless pieces that can be worn year after year, by women of all ages and sizes. The detailed diagrams and easy-to-follow instructions take you step-by-step from layout to finished garment. The no-rules looks pictured in this book are perfect for today's carefree fashion sensibility and will inspire you to have fun with fabric and style.

Simple lines make these garments perfect for women of all ages and all sizes. This book includes a complete western-sized sewing pattern for each design that is easily adjusted to fit your body form. The concise diagrams and simple instructions allow you to develop your unique style with ease and confidence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780804843157
Publisher:	Tuttle Publishing
Publication date:	09/10/2012
Edition description:	Paperback with Flaps
Pages:	80
Product dimensions:	9.80(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Yoshiko Tsukiori is a graduate of Joshi Bijutsu College of Fine Arts in Kanawaga, Japan. After working for apparel companies she became an independent freelance designer, creating designs for women, babies and children. She has written numerous books in her native Japan, primarily featuring projects for chic women's and children's wear.

Editorial Reviews

For experienced sewists who’d like to try some of the popular patterns coming out of Japan, this book is a good introduction. Tsukiori’s designs are unified around a common theme, which might be called “Boho Peasant,” and feature 26 patterns for smocks, dresses, and overshirts, all of them loose-fitting and distinctly youthful. The photos are very much in the Japanese style: one wan-looking model, wearing clothes done up in Liberty fabrics. Perhaps a better idea is to look at the pattern schematics themselves, black and white sketches that give a better idea of the shape (and the appeal) of the garments. The usual caveats to Japanese-origin publishing are needed—there are no instructions on sewing technique, and what directions there are must be carefully read; readers may miss the introductory note that seam allowances aren’t provided on the provided pattern paper. Notably, however, more directions than usual are provided, and the size range is much greater than typically given, going up to size 16. Using Japanese-origin books as crafting manuals, even when well translated, is always a bit of an adventure; this book is a good place to start if so inclined. Full-color photos, patterns for tracing.(Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"For experienced sewists who'd like to try some of the popular patterns coming out of Japan, this book is a good introduction. […] Notably, however, more directions than usual are provided, and the size range is much greater than typically given, going up to size 16. Using Japanese-origin books as crafting manuals, even when well translated, is always a bit of an adventure; this book is a good place to start if so inclined." —Publishers Weekly

"The no-rules looks pictured in this book are perfect for today's carefree fashion sensibility and will inspire you to have fun with fabric and style." —Sew Mama Sew blog

"…Considering the number of patterns in the book and my fabric stash the possibilities are endless. Even a penny pincher like me can see that the cost of the book with twenty-six patterns included is an absolute bargain!" —About.com

"This collection of 26 garments features the work of designer Tsukiori, whose blousy, romantic style is popular in her native Japan. Some of the dresses are stylish in a sweet, retro way, but a few look like children's clothing sized to fit adults, making them a little too precious-looking for most adults to wear. The directions for assembling the garments assume significant knowledge of clothing construction—there is no basic how-to information provided. Patterns for sizes 6 -16 are included. VERDICT Though the garments themselves aren't particularly complex and the directions aren't very detailed; this book is most appropriate for skilled, confident sewists or fashion/design collections." —Library Journal

"Stylish Dress Book is the book that really fueled the popularity of Japanese sewing pattern books internationally. Even though the original Japanese version was published back in 2008, Stylish Dress Book remains extremely...well, stylish!" —Japanese Sewing Patterns by Sew in Love blog

"I absolutely adore quite a few of the garments in the book and can see them fitting into my wardrobe effortlessly." —Holly Lefevre, 504 Main blog

"[…] a total of 26 patterns in sizes 6 to 16. So many of the styles are perfect for layering and leggings," —Sweeter Than Cupcakes Blog blog

"The patterns are all timeless in style, by this, I guess I mean they'd suit a twenty-year-old equally as well as a fifty-year-old and also that the designs won't really go out of fashion." —Ideas and Inspirations blog

From the Publisher