Japanese Sewing Patterns

This weekend I sewed a tunic-

The pattern is from this Japanese book-

The book is roughly translated as Basic Adult Clothes, and it contains all these patterns-

I bought this book in Japan for 1400 Yen - about $14 Can, which is about the price of one pattern here. The patterns come in four sizes - small to extra large.

I made this tunic-

With the collar from this dress-

As you can see the sewing patterns are super simple. I used the Google Translate app on my phone to translate the instructions.

I made some changes to the pattern-

I added pockets, which meant that I had to round out the points on the side because the tunic just didn't hang right.

The fabric is 100% cotton knit with little loops on the back. I used a ribbon to stabilize the seams (I bought a few rolls of ribbon for pennies at a fabric sale in the summer). I sewed the seams and finished off the hem edges with a serger.

I used a twin needles for the hems.

I love the collar.

The tunic is super fun to wear - oversized and pockets - a great combination! Of course it is so comfortable.

I have plans (and fabric) to make a few more things from the book.

Photos from around -

 While we were away my son took this photo of a fox - he said that it had been looking in the window when he came in the room.

 Geese flying south last week

 Miss Maggie never liked boxes before, but she seems to have found one she likes.

 Snow melting off the grain bins.

All the best!♥︎

Holiday Photos

Last week my husband, oldest son and I came back from an amazing holiday - just over two weeks in Japan and four days in Seoul, South Korea. We have been to Japan before and absolutely love it, but it was the first time in South Korea. I thought I would share some of my photos.

Walking around gardens in Tokyo is one of my favourite things - to think that some have been planted hundreds of years ago, and tended and enjoyed for so long amazes me. 

Random, different garden photos-

field of cosmos

swan boats

We saw so many 'new-to-me' plants -

this one was in a metro station

Travelling for us is about experiencing the country that we are in - we stayed in Air B&B's, shopped at the grocery store, travelled by train and metro, and did lots of walking (15-20 kms a day). 

Here are some photos from our walks -

Sky Tree tower near where we stayed in Tokyo

Akihabera

saw lots of Mario Cart tours

apartments built around an older building

gas station - the pumps are above

so many sculptures

a park under a highway

mix of old and new - Imperial Palace wall

near where we stayed - Kinshicho station on the right

Shibuya Scramble Square Tower opened while we were there, so we had to go see it-

we went to the top of that tower

the top is open (it is a helicopter landing pad)

view from the top

famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing

We went to the Tobacco and Salt Museum , it was an interesting museum and there was a wonderful display of miniatures-

the detail was incredible

We took a couple of day trips from Tokyo.

One to Fujikawaguchiko, to see Mount Fuji -

we walked around the end of Lake Kawaguchi

 

there was lots of fishing happening

sculpture in the town

Another day trip to the Jogasaki Coast-

when you are from the centre of Canada ocean views are amazing!

a sculpture garden in Ito

steep roads in Futo

 The main reason that we went to Tokyo at the time that we did was to see the Tokyo Motor Show-

Tokyo Big Site 

so many futuristic cars

some old

some super

 While we were in Seoul we mainly walked around -

built on an old train line

people dressed in traditional clothes outside Gyeongbokgung Palace

 The next photos are the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul -

We had an amazing time! Saw family - which was lovely! Now if we can just get over the colds we came back with..

All the best!♥︎