On a quick trip to Hobbyra Hobbyre I picked up a new sashiko project. Here is my work-in-progress:
To be continued…
Crafts
The Tokyo Craft Party at FabCafe
Thanks again to everyone who joined us at the Etsy Worldwide Craft Party in Tokyo yesterday! It was fun meeting fellow makers, talkin’ shop, and getting our hands dirty in some decoupage. It must be a sign that I was too busy enjoying the party to stop and take photos, though thankfully my trusty assistant (my husband) snapped a few.
My sashiko workshop in-progress:
Never enough pom poms:
Some ladies wore yukata, a cotton kimono popular at summer festivals:
The staff at FabCafe were wonderful. Here, the laser cutter at work:
My assistant and I take a break:
Thanks again, everyone! Hope to see you at the next event!
First Dress
I made a dress. And I took my picture and will let you see my face.
These are big steps. Admittedly, I’m a little nervous.
This is the first dress I have sewn. Maybe I made a dress when I was a kid, but I don’t remember it so it doesn’t count. My friend Thewallina helped me decipher the pattern from BurdaStyle Magazine, and I pieced it together on my own. It was simple and satisfying, the prefect project.
I bought this fabric for 100 yen a meter in Fabric Town, so I felt OK just going for it — no practice muslins for this girl. I misaligned the stripes because I like it that way, and when you sew your own clothes you can do whatever you want! If I make this dress again, I’ll omit the pockets because honestly, they’re useless.
I made this dress a few weeks ago and have been saving it for the right occasion. I finally got tired of waiting and wore it to the supermarket. It was a really hot day, and this dress was cool and breezy. I realize these are the key characteristics of a muumuu, and this dress might actually resemble one if you look closely enough, but that doesn’t matter because I made it. So all you naysayers, back away slowly.
Because I made a dress, and then I wore it in public.
Sashiko Tissue Case Workshop, The Etsy Craft Party 8/25
As I hinted before, I’ll be hosting a sashiko workshop on Saturday, August 25th at the Etsy Worldwide Craft Party! Email me at sakepuppets@gmail.com to reserve a spot or see below for more details.
It sounds like the event is shaping up to be a really fun night, so I hope you’ll join us. Etsy gatherings in Tokyo are always a great opportunity to meet other sellers, trade advice about our shops, and generally chat about craft life in Japan. I’ve met some wonderful people at past Etsy parties who have since become good friends, so I’m looking forward to this one as well.
This year’s Etsy Craft Party theme is “Wish you were here!” so we’re celebrating what makes summer unique in Japan — festivals! Etsy is sending craft supplies for lots of DIY activities, including a photo booth, laser-cut designs, a photo frame workshop, lots of food and cheap drinks. I hope to see you there! Click this link to RSVP — the more attendees, the more craft loot Etsy sends us! So please sign up!
Saké Puppets Sashiko Tissue Case Workshop
When: Saturday, August 25th 7-8 pm
Where: FabCafe in Shibuya (Access map)
Cost: ￥2000 per person for workshop participants. Entry to the Etsy Craft Party is free and includes snacks, drinks available for ￥500 at the bar
The Project: Make your own sashiko tissue case! Together we’ll hand-sew a pocket tissue case and learn how to use sashiko embroidery to decorate it with fun and modern designs. Choose your favorite fabric, colors, patterns, and embellishments! The workshop will be held in English, but help in Japanese is available.
Space is limited so please email me at sakepuppets@gmail.com to sign up. Thanks! I hope to see you there!
開催日：2012年8月25日（土）
開催時間：19:00 〜 20:00
場所：FabCafe 渋谷（アクセス）
参加費 :１人￥2000 、Etsy Craft Party は無料、お酒と飲み物は￥500
作るもの：ポケットティッシュケース
いつもバッグの中に入れておくものだから、手作りのティッシュケースだと楽しいですね。
ワークショップでは刺し子作りなどを通じて、楽しく英語を勉強できます。ワークショップ = 手芸 ＋ 楽しい英語!
英語では難しければ、日本語のヘルプもあります。
ワークショップに参加をご希望の方は、以下のアドレスまでご連絡下さい。ご質問もお気軽にどうぞ。（英語・日本語どちらでも結構です）
連絡先：sakepuppets@gmail.com
Mosquitos Don’t Scare Us
They tried — those little blood-sucking devils! — but craft prevailed, and we had a lovely time sewing in the park.
Sunday’s session of the English Craft Club was the nine-patch quilting class. We started on some fluffy grass under a tree in Shinjuku Gyoen, and after valiant battle with some mosquitos we retreated found a better spot in a nearby picnic pavilion. The mosquitos may have bullied us, but they couldn’t damper our craft spirits.
My favorite part of these quilting classes is watching everyone choose their fabrics. For each class I bring pre-cut fabric squares so we can get right to work designing our quilt blocks. I’ve been collecting this fabric for the past two years, and some I brought with me from the US, so it is always interesting to see the fabric find a new life in someone’s quilt. Here is Thewallinna making her first quilt block. So sweet!
The next quilting class will be held on Sunday, September 23rd, and a special Saké Puppets sashiko workshop is scheduled for August 25th at the Etsy Craft Party in Shibuya. Stay tuned for more details!
English Craft Club 8月12日: 9 Square Quilts
The next English Craft Club class meets this Sunday August 12th in Shinjuku Gyoen! This upcoming class is part of the American Quilt Series, and up this week is the 9 Square block.
Looks can be deceiving — the 9 Square may look simple, but construction can be difficult because of the many sharp corners. We’ll learn how to piece and hand sew this block, and discuss some variations. The 9 Square is fun to design – you can arrange fabric colors and patterns in many combinations and styles. Come try it for yourself!
Finished quilt blocks can be used to create a table mat, decorate a tote bag or cushion cover, or save to add to a larger quilt. All project materials and light snacks are included. Cost is 5000 yen per person, or bring a friend for a discount of just 3500 yen per person. The English Craft Club is open to everyone — men, women, both native speakers and those learning English. If you are interested in joining the class, please send an email to sakepuppets@gmail.com to register. Hope to see you there!
You can find more information about upcoming classes by clicking the links below. Thanks!
Sunday August 12th: Schedule
12:55 Meet at the Okido Gate at Shinjuku Gyoen
13:00 Class begins! Choose fabric and begin project
14:00 Break for snacks and refreshments
14:30 Class instruction ends, but feel free to stay until 15:00 to finish your project and chat with instructors and new friends
* * *
キルトを学びます。型紙の写し方、キルトのステッチをお教えします。キルトはテーブルに置くコースターか、トートバッグの飾りとして使えます。
計画
12:55 新宿御苑の大木戸門で集合
13:00 レッスンを始めしょう！ 単語集を習ったり、ご自身で布を選んで頂きます。
14:00 休憩
14:30 ワークショップ終了。15:00までは講師が残っています。
含まれる材料：ご自身で選んだ布、糸、型紙、レッスンメモ
『The English Craft Club』は楽しく英語を勉強するクラブです。毎回のクラスごとに、皆さまに各自で作品を作って頂きます。クラフトをしながら、様々な表現や英単語を楽しく勉強していきます。
ワークショップでは刺し子作りなどを通じて、楽しく英語を勉強できます。ワークショップ = 手芸 ＋ 楽しい英語! ( 英語では難しければ、日本語のヘルプもあります。)
『The English Craft Club』に参加をご希望の方は、以下のアドレスまでご連絡下さい。ご質問もお気軽にどうぞ。（英語・日本語どちらでも結構です）sakepuppets@gmail.com
Works In Progress: Summer Blues
Summer works in progress lead to new holiday kits…
Lady Liberty
Riding the high of my two handmade shirts, I decided to try my hand at embellishing an otherwise plain tank top. Just jazz it up a bit.
I spotted some Liberty of London bias tape on sale at Yuzawaya and couldn’t pass it up. Normally around 600 yen for 2 meters, it was half price. And I got an additional 30% off but don’t ask me why because I have no idea. When a woman wants to give me money back, I just smile and nod at her.
My face is making a very deer-in-the-headlights sort of expression, and thus the crop. Perhaps it was because the neighbor was peeking at me, wondering why a strange girl is smiling at her wall.
In truth this project posed a bit of a challenge because I’ve never sewn knit fabrics before. I know you are supposed to zig-zag, turn in a circle, jump up and down and sing a song in order to sew correctly with knits, but in the end it was easier for me to hand stitch. A DVD movie marathon later, I had myself a new tank.
I love the little bit of pizzazz the bias tape gives the tank. It’s not too much color. I know it is summer, but let’s not get crazy!
I made a shirt.
I totally did. I turned a piece of fabric into something wearable.
Ignore the wrinkles and the pink belly button dot. If I can’t see them then you can’t see them. That’s the way it works, right?
And no, I’m not going to model it. I thought about the idea, but really… guys, I’m an awkward lanky goof, and when there is a camera involved it’s a hot mess.
But back to my shirt. My shirt! A friend was wearing one she made, and when I commented on how much I liked it she bullied encouraged me to try sewing one for myself. I ordered the pattern online that same evening, and with speedy, instant gratification it was sent via PDF five minutes later.
All I could think about was sewing this shirt. I was possessed. I bought fabric the next morning, brought it home and washed it and watched it air dry, drumming my fingers, telling it to hurry up already.
It took me 4 hours to make, start to finish. Everything that could possibly go wrong did. I sewed the pocket upside down, then the side seams inside out. I had to rip out all the stitches but I didn’t mind. I was making a shirt, yo.
And then it was finished and I was in love. I put it on immediately, which was easy to do because I was wearing only my underwear solely in anticipation of the moment when I could put on my bespoke top. Bespoke — la tee dah!
Then I sat down and sewed another one.
I told you, I was possessed. The second one has a hand-sewn pocket. I used more expensive nani IRO fabric (I was ready!) and it only took me an hour. I’ve already worn it twice.
What shall I sew next?! Do you have pattern suggestions? Please send them my way! I’m giddy! I want to sew all the shirts!
Fire Flowers: A Free Summer Sashiko Pattern
It is hot in Tokyo right now, and though I dislike the heat I love the way Japan deals with it: twinkling wind chimes to remind you of a breeze, shaved ice and cold noodles, evening street festivals, and fireworks.
The word for fireworks in Japanese is hanabi, which roughly translates to “fire flower,” and which I think is delightful.
I sashiko’d this placemat for the shop where I take classes. They asked us to create fun sashiko pieces for their summer window display, and I thought long and hard about what could represent summer in Japan. It was either unagidon (grilled eel on rice) or fireworks, and in the end I decided fireworks would look prettier rendered in thread.
Fireworks are meant to be enjoyed together with lots of oohs and aahs, so what better way to celebrate summer than to share the pattern with you!
Click here to download the free PDF pattern.
I used variegated rainbow sashiko thread for the big blasts, white for the fountain, and scraps of pink and blue for the others. I have some extra rainbow thread, so if you’re interested send me an email at sakepuppets@gmail.com and I can throw together a small, inexpensive kit.
Happy hanabi!
Saké Puppets 