STYLISH DRESS BOOK : DRESS ‘J’
Stylish Dress Book (available at the workroom)
Dress ‘J’ : nani IRO double gauze ‘Fuwari Fuwari’
I don’t think I’ve ever studied a book as much as I’ve studied the Stylish Dress Book. Every week or so, I pull it off the shelf and carefully flip though it, examining the photos and the technical drawings looking for my next project. The crazy thing is that I always find something that seems ‘new’ to me.
A couple months ago, I had tucked away a couple metres of the nani IRO fuwari fuwari double gauze cotton in purple when it had arrived. The entire bolt got snapped up within 24 hours. Within a few days both Ayalah and Melinda had whipped up cute frocks from the Stylish Dress Book, but I just couldn’t decide what to make.
The incredible thing about this particular nani IRO print is that it changes as it moves across the width of the bolt. This plays out in interesting ways depending on how you choose to lay your pattern out.
With the colder weather approaching, I’m switching to making shirts and tunics that I can wear with jeans (my cold weather uniform). I decided to change Dress ‘J’, into a shirt that could also double as a cute cardigan.
One of my favourite details in sewing in using variegated thread. I get so much pleasure from seeing the thread colour change along my stitching line. Seriously, it makes me so happy. I used it to sew my buttonholes on this shirt and I just love how they turned out. Little coloured rainbow buttonholes! This particular spool is called ‘Water Lilies’ (clearly a reference to Monet) and it changes from purple to pink to blue to green.
I’m going to Houston, Texas next Friday with Jacqueline for Quilt Market! Does anyone know anything about Houston? Is there anything I should see? I’m pretty excited to go check out all the new fabrics and maybe meet some of the designers. My two missions are ‘Japanese imports’ and ‘felt’.
45 comments
This turned out so pretty! I like this pattern as a top/cardigan! The details turned out so well.
Wow, that’s really pretty. I’m intrigued by the pattern-shifts-on-the-bolt idea… very cool! And I will have to try that varigated thread. I know varigated yarn makes me very happy and that thread looks quite yummy.
What a beautiful top! I was inspired to purchase that book the last time you made something out of it! Now I just need to give something a try! I love that FABRIC!!
Waw! Your “j” looks just great! I didn’t even notice this pattern in the book!
I think this one might just be my favorite yet – I love how the flowers have “collected” more on the one side thanks to the change in the fabric. Beautiful.
I love this new tunic! I love this watercolour fabric!
and the button holes are ingenius!!
have fun in houston!
oh this is so beautiful!!!
This is my favorite project of yours from this book! So Pretty!
I took a look at the books on Pomadour24’s Etsy shop, but the pattern sizes given are too small/short for me. If I ever become skilled enough to attempt a Japanese pattern – are they easy to alter to a larger size?
This tunic is Gorgeous! I love those buttonholes (I accidentally typed that as “buttonhomes” which sounded like a better description).
I love verigated thread, too! I have one spool of some that I bought last year because I’d never seen anything like it before. I have yet to use, though. I want to find just the right project for it! Love those buttonholes and your top is just beautiful!
amazing! do you know any places online that you can order this book from?
Your new tunic is beautiful!
I’ve never been to Houston, but one of my friends, Dionne, lives there. If you have any questions about where to go, I’m sure she’d be more than happy to help you out. Her blog is: http://notesfromdionne.blogspot.com, let her know Kaye sent you.
Hello… I’m a new visitor to your spectacular and inspiring blog. Just had to say that those buttonholes are just exquisite. I am mesmerized!
Oh so pretty! Fantastic job
Those buttonholes are AMAZING!
Really nice job. And, you are making me re-think variegated thread!
This tunic is SOOOOOO gorgeous. I am blown away!
Absolutely gorgeous! I’m book marking this for when I finally get down to sewing my own clothes.
I think I love everything about this blouse.
This is absolutely beautiful – well done! Love the variegated thread, I would never have thought to do that.
so good karyn! i love the detail, down to its button holes! WHAT!
have fun in houston!! hope to hear it when you get back
It’s very cute! I liked the thread, never seen something like that before!
I think I need some tips from you on using that super slippery thread, it always seems to get tangled when I try to use it. Also the button hole maker on my machine SUCKS. Maybe a new bernina is in my distant future?
That’s the prettiest buttonhole I think I’ve ever seen!
Oh, it’s just glorious. You clever thing.
This thread is just incredible !
I just hope I can find something like that here in France.
Everytime you show us something new I am amazed at the way you find the match between fabric and pattern.
Speaking of handmade clothing have you seen the Makeshift project ?
This girl planned to wear only stuff made by herself for one year, including undergarments and shoes !
I am sure you’ll love it
I just love this dress – the color and design of the fabric are so beautiful!
beautiful. stunning. inspirational as always. enjoy houston. can’t wait to hear about it from your perspective and i’m really looking forward to the felt!
the fabric, the buttonhole, the thread! i’m dying. it’s all to amazing. nice work.
Absolutely stunning! The book’s photo & illustration doesn’t do this model much justice. I have several other styles from this book (like K on the next page) on my to-do list, and will need to add J now. Yours has such a nice fit (sometimes the Japanese styles are a bit swimmingly loose for my average Anglo-Saxon frame) and the shows off the fabric so beautifully. Love the details, too! Nani Iro fabric is SO magically…I haven’t quite managed to cut mine yet, but need to, so I can truly enjoy it.
To Tasha on altering the Japanese patterns: Many of the Japanese patterns are loose-fitting, so there’s some wiggle room there. Many are composed of fairly simple shapes a few pieces. I’ve only made a few with pretty simple alterations, but since I am tracing & making my own pattern, it’s been easy to make adjustments. There are books out there that describe how to adjust pattern alterations. I’ve used clothing with similar fit to compare sizing. I’ve also looked at Japan Couture Addicts, a French site dedicated to the Japanese patterns to see how different models fit and what adjustments might work for me. Here’s the translated website: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://japancouture.canalblog.com/&ei=S3nHSsvsM4mqtgP5j-ChBQ&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Djapan%2Bcouture%2Baddict%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den
Oh …. so lovely .
I have some Nani Iro double gauze & would love to try this pattern .
What a wonderful site I’ve just discovered. I love fabrics and patterns and have seen lots of beautiful pieces around. I’ll be visitng often! Ciao
Wow, this turned out amazing. I’m going to post a link to your post right now!! Awesome use of the fabric. Some of my favorites are by Nani Iro.
love your blog! love that top! I have the book and am inspired to get it out and start crafting!
gorgeous!
Corrie:)
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, KARYN!!! 🙂
Hello, new to your blog but I wanted to say how pretty that shirt is, and I simply love the buttonhole in variegated thread. What a great idea, and one I’ll be using next time I need to do a buttonhole on a oolour print!
What a brilliant blouse. I love how the nani iro changes across the width of the fabric–I admit that it got me confused at first about what to do with it. But once I embraced the irregularity, I love it even more. So tempting to buy more nani iro when it is available a short bicycle ride away from me here in Tokyo. Your sewing is inspiring!
That is one beautiful blouse! I just adore the fabric and the pattern you have used is so stylish. Your work on it appears no less than perfect. Well done!
i love it! the variegated thread goes perfectly with your fabric!
So lovely!
g.
Karyn, do you have the actual product number for that thread? I am planning to replicate this tunic (best form of flattery!!!). On the USA website where I found the same “Water Lilies”-named Valdani variegated thread (http://www.snowflakememories.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=4408457), the spool has a very different look–really missing the vibrancy of yours. Do the dye lots really vary that much?
Thanks for posting all your beautiful creations–you are SUCH an inspiration! I wish I lived closer (or that you had an online shop)–I’d be a regular customer!
Absolutely sweet and beautiful !
the fabric and cut of this top is so beautiful. I’m newly intrigued to the stylish dress book. simply lovely!