Here is a quick overview of Misako Aoki’s sewing book volume 1! I am including a few photographs of the interior and my first impression thoughts for anyone interested in picking this up. I purchased this and the latest Otome no Sewing volume from amazon.jp and got it in about a week. You might be able to find on other Japanese import sites but I have little luck finding them on my favorite sites.
The first thought when I opened the package is that this book is smaller than Otome no Sewing book, about the size of a regular Japanese mook (8.5 x 11.7 inches or 21 x 30 cm). Unlike Otome no Sewing, it opens and reads from left to right (Western style) instead of right to left (Japanese style). I have no idea why… All of the script is in Japanese except the numerals.
Here is the contents page! A great selection of dresses, blouses, skirts, purses, hair accessories, wrist accessories and undergarments, typical of the Otome no Sewing books. It is missing outerwear and ouji shorts and maybe crafting/jewelry. I think Misako only models shorts for Meta once in a while, coats are quite difficult to sew and crafts are probably not worth to include, at least not in this first volume.
Here is a styling page for featured apron and dress combo on the cover. I like how she includes an alternate styling with a non-handmade cardigan, which is not really included in Otome no Sewing, it’s just the one styling with all of the other handsewn accessories there. Also she is the only model in her own book, makes sense.
Typical garment requirements, drafting instructions and pattern layout. Similar to Otome no Sewing but printed the opposite direction and includes LL (extra-large) sizing, which is bust 93cm, waist 73 cm and hips 100cm.
And the included pattern sheet, which also looks like Otome no Sewing but with extra decorations and has more purse patterns.
Overall, I’m very pleased with a cute J-fashion alternate to Otome no Sewing, even if the actual instruction part is similar. I love the LL inclusion, as my hips and waist are in XXL and XL for Asian sizing, and my bust is between medium and large. Almost everything is the comfortable and modest style ideal for a Japanese older woman in her 30s to 40s, what I call Pink House style, but with many cute eye-catching details like ruffles, lace, peter pan collars and tons of pretty hair accessories and adorable kitschy purses. I like the long skirts (compared to lolita) and comfortable elasticized waistbands for when you’ve had too much food. All but two clothing items are button down or pull-over or tie-on style, zippers are not fashionable or comfortable to Misako apparently and I agree!
Personally, I kinda want to make the purses, but I have like 50 bags in my closet, of which I only use 5, so I better not… I think I might try a button down dress to use my button maker, or a tiered elastic waist skirt. Anything you want to see me make?
There will be a volume 2 released soon! I can’t wait to see what that one includes.
[…] socks for a perfect spring or summer coord. I do have a pattern for a cute strawberry purse in Misako’s sewing book, which is also found in another Otome no Sewing volume, but such a purse would be so obviously […]