Make Your Own Japanese Clothes: Patterns and Ideas for Modern Wear

Classical elegance. Loose-fitting comfort. Versatility. Functional design. These are just some of the reasons why traditional Japanese clothes have captured the imagination of modern fashion designers and stylish dressers around the world. Making Japanese clothes is surprisingly simple. Patterns consist of virtually all straight lines, and the non-body-conforming shapes require no darts, buttonholes, or zippers. Here, in this creative sourcebook, is all the information you need to sew authentic Japanese clothes or to design your own Japan-inspired fashions: BL Step-by-step instructions for making 14 select traditional garments, from the luxurious wedding rove and the classic kimono to the informal hanten jacket and practical field pants BL Detailed patterns that can be adjusted to fit any size BL An introduction to the basic building blockssleeve shapes, collars, hems, linings, and paddingso creative sewers can design their own fashions BL Over 40 sketches with many more suggestions for modern variations on the classic garments BL A choice of authentic Japanese techniques or simplified methods that achieve the same look BL How to use any width fabric, whether narrow Japanese fabric or standard Western widths BL Sources of Japanese fabric and sewing accessories BL Care and storage guidelines BL Fabric suggestions, ideas for creative wear, historical information, and much more!