Good morning, friends! I thoroughly enjoyed the long weekend, and I’m feeling rejuvenated. We ended up at a Chinese restaurant on turkey day after all, and I believe this will have to be our annual tradition because it was so stress-free. I don’t mind cooking, but the clean-up is a sore spot for me, so not having to while away time sudsing up dishes was a huge bonus. We also went to see the movie Big Hero 6, and it’s an all-ages pleaser (and yes, I cried — it was very touching)! To add spice to the weekend, we had yet another one of our unplanned trips and found ourselves at a Comfort Inn in Bellingham on Friday, swimming in their minuscule pool. It was awesome.
As promised, I have a little giveaway today. I was gifted this stellar book by Tuttle, and I was excited to add it to my arsenal of sewing books because I’ve been waffling over whether to buy it for years. It was originally published by Nihon Vogue, and I have hemmed and hawed over acquiring it for various reasons, and always left it at the bookstore because I felt like I had too many books. I thought “score!” when I received the newly translated English version, but oh, the sizing goes up to 120cm, which K has pretty much outgrown.
Undaunted, I wanted to make at least one thing out of it before I passed it along to someone with a smaller girl-child to sew for. So I traced pattern L which looked generous in sizing, added two inches to the sleeves and hem (though I forgot to lengthen the plackets so had to shorten the hem back to its original length), and pieced together some scrap knit fabrics, making sure to use the stretchiest knit I could find for the top portion. Too-tight shoulders never feel good. I’m really liking the sporty look. Note: because the stretch factor was vastly different between the light grey and blue-grey knits, I couldn’t get the gathers below the yoke to form. The gathers would have been sweet, but I’m fine without them. This is what the cardi looks like in the book:
With the color-blocking, gathered sleeves, pockets, hood and plackets, this cardi actually took a little longer than I expected. All in all, it’s a good cold-weather staple to have, and I’m glad I sewed it up. As you can see, K got bored of modeling and insisted that she read while I snapped away with my camera:
She did oblige by dancing a little, and then we tried a different prop, which she quickly abandoned:
So, onto the giveaway! This book comes with 22 patterns for dresses, pants, skirts and tops (plus a bag and a hat). Super cute. And of course, the book is filled with the signature beautiful styling and photography of all Japanese craft books. You can see more of the book here.
To enter the giveaway, please answer the following question: if you were guaranteed the time and resources to acquire any new skill or improve upon an existing one, what would it be? I myself would like to learn how to invest and understand how the market works. I’m fairly money-challenged, and I’ve never really invested, and it seems like a solid skill to have. On the flip side, I would also love to learn pottery/ceramics. How about you?
I will leave the giveaway open until this Thursday, December 4th and I will announce the winner the following day. Yes to international entries! Good luck!
If I had the time & a very patient teacher, I’d go back to playing my guitar. I used to play, but could only teach myself up to a certain point. It’s been sitting in my garage, untouched, for about 5 years now.
Having 3 children with food allergies, I’ve had to learn a lot about the topic and completely adapt our eating/cooking. I’d love to acquire the actual degree or certification to turn that into a career that allows me to help other people deal with their dietary restrictions too.
I love this jacket. This is great for inside wear or outside. So useful. And comfy. Can you choose patterns in one glance from a brand new book? What makes you decide what to make? Deciding what to make is such a time killer for me.
Hi Greta! It’s funny, after sewing regularly for two years, I do find that I make super quick decisions on what to sew, especially for K. I know what she likes and what she needs in her wardrobe (never again will I make knickerbockers for her). Choosing fabric though, now that’s a toughie….
I wish I could play the piano. I know how to play “Mary had a Little Lamb” but I have never progressed past that! The time involved to master it at my age seems daunting. And frankly I would rather sew!!
pottery, hand dying wool, and screen printing all come to mind for me but I’m very intrigued by the practical and non-crafty skull you suggested.
Thanks for sharing
Ballet!
I would love to learn to draw and sew better. I’m also really trying to advance my barebones working knowledge of statistics. 🙂
I’d love to have more time to hone my painting skills. My children keep me busy and give me lots of ideas in my sketch book but the time to execute them is hard to find because I’m to busy enjoying watching them grow. 🙂
a while back i acquired a wing back armchair which i love. the one skill i would now love to have is how i can upholster it.
I would love to be fluent, or at least able to make decent conversation, in a number of different languages. In my dreams I live in a series of foreign countries long enough to soak up the local linguistics. In real life, well, I’ll start with a conversational Italian class and go from there!
If I had the time and resources, I’d like to be fluent in another language. Thanks for the chance to win (or should I say gracias)!
I would love to learn sign language. I speak Spanish and English, but I think sign language or Portuguese (I speak just a little of that) would be fun to learn. I was in Bellingham shopping on Friday! If you’re ever up with time for a little coffee, I would love to meet! 🙂 (I live in Ferndale, which is just 10 minutes from Bellingham).
I didn’t realize Ferndale is so close to Bellingham, Kristi! My geography is spotty in general, but I’m embarrassed to say that I’m pretty clueless outside of Seattle. Yes, let’s definitely meet up for coffee if I’m ever in your neck of the woods again!
I would like to learn to use my husband’s DSLR. I’ve tried so hard to learn the basic terminology (ASO, f/, aperture, etc.) and still can’t understand how all the features work together to produce beautiful pictures. That way I could start documenting some of the things I’ve created and eventually I’d like to be able to take pictures of him with the kids instead of him be the main photographer.
Looks like a sweet book!
I’d love to have a gift for learning languages. We have friends who can switch between 4-5 languages. My husband picks up languags so easily (he’s not afraid to mess up a little grammar). We hope to move our family abroad for a few years and my biggest fear is not understanding people after my husband and kids pick up a new tongue!
I’d love to become a more practiced yogi and do all of the cool arm balances and inversions that seem like one can defy gravity. The time, though! Thanks for the giveaway!
The sensible me would do some strategic business development program. The not so sensible me would learn pattern making 🙂 .
I’d like to learn French. My kiddies are in French-immersion and make fun of me when I try (halfheartedly because I remember nothing of my high school French!) to speak with them 🙂
I would like to learn how to spin, as in from sheep to ball of wool. Bonus points if I get a spinning wheel some day! (City living is interfering with my dreams lol!) None of the skills on my “someday” list are as smart and practical as yours, unless of course I end up being the only one in the area who can knit socks after the zombie apocalypse 😉
I would like to become fluent in Korean! I started learning the language but have put it on hold for awhile now and not knowing anyone to speak it with definitely hinders progress.
I really like K’s sweater. It looks super comfy but also pretty chic. It’s inspiring me even more to get one of my Japanese patterns cut out this weekend!
I would love to learn glass blowing, so I could make terrariums and vases. I’d also love to learn how to dye silk to make patterns on my textiles before sewing.
I definitely want to spend more time giving the clothes I make a more polished look…which I seem to fail (on the inside anyways)… But unrelated to crafts…. I’m not too sure..gardening ?! My thumb is the opposite of green!
i always thought I would want to learn to throw pottery until I discovered during my first class that I have negative natural talent for it and don’t really like the wet clay or mess. I would love to learn to knit as a new skill, and really master garment seeing to improve on a current skill.
I would love to be able to make music (well), particularly singing, guitar and/or piano.
I would like to learn to draw. I never felt good with a pencil in my hand, and always felt good with fabric and scissors but yet, there are things I can not express with fabric! I would like to have another way to express them.
If the drawing class is full I want to learn to paint with watercolors.:)
I’d love to know more (anything) about investing too! I’d also love to learn woodworking. It would be so fun to build furniture.
I would like to perfect sewing and food preserving.
It would be wonderful to live and travel around the world and really engage with people and share those stories and adventures through writing. So I guess I would need to work on my writing, language and people skills!
Ooh, what a great giveaway, and as usual I love your questions.
So, the top of my list is learn persian. It probably sounds odd, and begs the question why? But no speaial reason there. I like the sound of the language and love Iranian movies, plus we have a few common words here and there and I am always curious about them.
Oh very cool! Looks like a great book. I have a couple I guess. On the crafty side, I’d love to learn how to knit, like REALLY knit. To make sweaters, socks, lace shawls, gorgeous stuff that feels so far away from my current basic skill set. But as far as a brand new useful skill, I’d pick midwifery/medicine. Not sure I could handle the emotional part of it but medicine has always been fascinating to me…think I’ve mentioned that here before maybe? 😉
I would love to learn how to sing better! I’m envious of those that have such good voices. Also is love to learn French.
Thanks for the giveaway! This book looks awesome.
Carpentry would be my choice. I spent hours in my dad’s shop, watching him as he worked, tinkering alongside him. It would be a strange combination of overcoming the fear of sharp, high-powered tools and committing to that permanence that comes with a cut made in wood. I can fudge as a seamstress working with textiles. Not so in the world of wood.
What an interesting question! This makes me think of my aunt. When she turned 50 (13 years ago) she started learning computer, ballroom dancing, Chinese, and violin. As for me, there are so many things I wish I have the time to learn. I want to learn sewing formerly, since my self-taught skills seem to plateau. I wish to continue my piano lessons. I played electone (do you know what this is?) to grade 9, and switched to piano (went up to grade 4). Also I wish to learn French and Mandarin Chinese. And golf…. Maybe I have to prioritise or wait till I retire.
I would love to restart my college art degree, and learn how to watercolour properly, I had to drop out 45 years ago, and have regretted it ever since, or learn how to draft patterns.
I would love to learn how to paint landscape and I would love to learn Japanese too. Well, if time is unlimited, I think that I would also learn some other languages and knitting and crocheting and gardening, etc…. I have some many hobbies, I really think I should stop working… !
i would love to learn so many things…but for this answer i will say watercolor painting (I love yours!) and calligraphy.
I’ve always wanted to learn to play the cello!
I so love that sweatshirt/cardigan/jacket (it really covers a lot of bases, doesn’t it?). I’m betting that K will get a lot of wear from that! Would love to sew from that book while my littlest is still little enough:)
Ah Bellingham! My husband worked in downtown Bellingham for four years while we lived just outside of Vancouver. It was a pretty long daily commute for him, but as an American living in Canada, his options were limited. I loved spending the occasional day hanging out in Bellingham visiting the fun paper and stamp stores (remember the Paper Zone?). Glad you had a fun trip there!
And secret wished-for talents? I’ve always wished I could play either the cello or oboe. Sadly, I don’t have the time or focus to learn either well anymore, but sometimes wish my parents had started me on one of those instruments rather than piano.
Hello! I would love to learn how to paint. I remember school art classes as rushed and horrible. I am sure I have little talent, but if would love to have that freedom to try in peace and quiet…
Lovely creation Sanae! It looks so cozy. I think I would like to learn lots of new things. I love to learn new skills!. Thinking big I would like to train my voice and sing , learn to play the piano. Also I would love to come back to university, but this time I would do a fashion design degree!. I don’t know how feasible this could be with two very young kids, but you never know. Once I meet an 80 years old man that just had graduate as a jewellery designer and made amazing pieces of jewellery. Then he taught me that never is late to do what you really want to do in life.
I would like to become fluent in French, I dabble in it but have yet to be actually able to hold a conversation.
So professional! It fits perfectly and looks special.
I would like to learn to knit, but I am also curious about carpentry. It’s good skills to have.
I would like to learn to play the cello and/or mandolin and have the time, resources and knowledge to have a really awesome veggie garden. Thanks for sharing the sewing book love:)
It’s probably about time I learned French properly, or Hungarian – the latter for the hell of it as it’s such a cool language.
I would really love to become a carpenter – I love the smell of wood and to stroke wooden things, but I have never done any woodwork .
Thank you for your lovely blog, I spent really relaxing and inspiring time reading it.
I would like to learn more about running a business. And by more I mean anything.
I would love to learn to be a more patient mother. i am in awe of mothers who seem to have that.
Something for skill i would love to be able to play the piano.
Sewing from a Japanese pattern book would be a new step for me. I’m afraid I’ve forgotten the Japanese I learned at school !
Oh I’d love to win the book, so here we go:
I would love to learn how to ski. Oh i dont know the term in english, i mean skiing. I’d love to ski down the mountains like James Bond. So this is it. My dream skill: Skiing!
Greetings and hugs
Marit
Woodworking! Imagine being able to make your own furniture… shelves and benches, sewing tables, fabric cutting tables…
For me, I wish I had the time and resources to perfect all the languages I have learned (and largely forgotten). these would be Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish. On top of that, I really want to learn French!