hints of spring

I'm so ready for sewing lighter garments for spring. Looking at outside snowing, I've sewn a pullover and a skirt, already.

A color-blocking pullover
One day, I was very optimistic and I couldn't avoid an experiment that I wouldn't normally try on my own garments. It was color-blocking, and hahaha, you can see what I have done. I think it ended up Okay and I quite enjoy wearing it when I especially like to dress casual. The gray jersey fabric is shiny and shaggy, and is a good contrast to the white jersey fabric that has a soft and spongy texture. It was hard to photograph the garment with showing its good characters rightly, though, you might be able to feel that I'm pleased with this tiny sewing adventure. The pattern was Edelweiss from Tamanegi-kobo. By the way, I tell you that Edelweiss is one of my best staple patterns. It is so versatile and pretty!

Having talked about Tamanegi-kobo, I let you know that they have moved to the new site for renewal opening very recently. The new shop now perfectly supports two languages, Japanese and English, and the patterns are instant download upon purchase. Yay! Even their patterns got huge improvements in many aspects too, for instance, the way of page placement and multi-size layering of the newly released PDF patterns seems even better. Moreover, and also what might be better for you, they have decided to provide some oldest patterns free of charge. The newly free patterns are limited to the ones that are nested PDF without individual layers for each size, nevertheless, I think it is a big surprise. If you are curious about using my favorite pattern shop's patterns, now is the time to try. By the way, the pattern Balloon which I wrote about in this blog post is now one of their free patterns too.

An Aboriginal print skirt
In November, Carolyn visited Japan on family holiday and I met up with her and her family in Tokyo and also in the countryside near Mt. Fuji and Hakone. I enjoyed acting like a tour guide and we had very lovely two days in a row. Carolyn, Cassie, and I managed to drop by Nippori town in the end of the first day too, and of course we got one or two pieces of fabrics for ourselves each. I bought a small piece of ultrasuede, I confess you before you ask me what I've got. ;)

I got another fabric while they were here too, and I made this skirt using it. As you may be guessing, Carolyn kindly brought me this beautiful Aboriginal print fabric as a gift. I am such a lucky woman. I always think that I am, but I really mean it when I think of my sewing friends. You all are gems in my life, and you make me feel that I'd love to be a nice person like you and others.

Thank you so much, Carolyn, the Fish Basket fabric turned out a pretty skirt and the color suits my wardrobe very much!

This is a simple skirt with asymmetric but conservative ruffles. The pattern is from Annee-patterns and its name is Daisy. I didn't put many alterations to the pattern but lengthened a bit to fit my height. I like this feminine skirt, and I'm sure it's going to appear on many warm days in the future.

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color-blocking pullover
pattern: Edelweiss from Tamanegi-kobo
Not much altered except color blocking. jerseys with medium body. White and gray.

skirt with ruffles
pattern: Daisy from Annee-patterns
Plain woven cotton with Aboriginal print "Fish Basket". fairly firm, drapes not bad, gray, white, black and yellow.
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Have a great day, everyone!

Love,
yoshimi