A long time ago, when this blog was just a gleam in my eye, I had coffee with a writer friend who was an expert in the blogging world (at least more of an expert than I was or am). I confided in her that I used to maintain a blog that had petered out, but I loved it and wanted to maybe-sort-of-kind-of begin another one. I bounced around some ideas with her (“Sewing? That sounds like too much work,” she declared). After much hemming and hawing, I was no closer to figuring out what sort of blog felt right, but she told me this: “Whatever you decide to do, eventually you’ll start getting free stuff.” I slapped her knee lightly, snorted and said pshaw.
Well, here we are three years later, and she was right. The lovely folks at Tuttle sent me not one, but TWO copies of this rather hipster book of sewing patterns to give away. It’s called She Wears the Pants. I’m not sure how I feel about the title, but I do know that I’m definitely going to sew up a bevy of outfits from this when I eke out valuable moments for myself in the next few weeks.
Compared to most Japanese sewing books, this one is dark and moody and dramatic, but I like it despite my penchant for light and airy. The photography is simple as always, and the light is beautiful. I usually try to have an accompanying sewn project to share with my book giveaways so I can provide a more rounded out review of instructions and such, but I’m going to have to just show you my fave spreads this time:
The Oval coat is oh-so-chic, and must become part of my Fall wardrobe!
I love the shape of the mini dress on the right so much…
Again, I’m a sucker for the boxy shape on the right.
This outfit that’s also on the cover looks so comfy. I need to add another striped shirt to my collection of three dozen striped shirts, no?
There are a few quirky projects too, like this one called the belt stole:
It’s fun, right?
To win a copy of this book, I have a question that requires some thought. What’s something that people are surprised to find out about you? For some reason, folks are often taken by surprise that I’m from Los Angeles. So many people think I’m from Hawaii. I also have absolutely no sense of direction and this seems to throw people off too. Before smart phones, I used to build in at least an hour to get anywhere new because I would inevitably get lost. It’s part of the reason I’m constantly early to events, meetings, etc.
I love finding out unexpected hobbies/characteristics/origins about people. Like Rosey Grier’s passion for needlepoint. Or K’s skateboarding interest. Or the fact that M used to work for a big corporation by day and lived in a hostel by night for a few years (this was by choice – he said the people were way more interesting).
So. What’s surprising about you?
The giveaway will be open until next Thursday, May 28th, and I’ll announce the TWO winners the next day! Enter away, international folks. Good luck!
P.S. In case you were wondering, the winners of the Little Kunoichi giveaway were Kristi A., Maki, Sophie, Karen and Anne.
My very favorite thing about myself is that I was adopted! I love being chosen 🙂
The thing that people seem to be most surprised about me is that I am not straight. I just look like your average colleague, mum at school or woman you meet at crafty gatherings. I am not sure at all what they think queer women look like but it obviously isn’t me.
As my personality is more introvert than extrovert and therefore not much of a risk taker people are often surprised that i ran off to South Africa for a brief while.
Whats surprising ?! Well the fact that I make my own clothes. Please pick me for this lovely book 😉 thanks for hosting the giveaway .
Hi! People seem to find it surprising that I used to work in ‘the square mile’, the City of London, as an archaeologist. Not sure why, but there we are! The designs in the book are intriguing and exciting! Jen
Hi Jennifer,
Funny to find out I’m not the only one! 🙂
What a great give-away, can’t wait to make the nr 3 mini-dress!
It surprises everyone when I tell them I have a degree in archaelogy, I’ve had some hilarious reactions on that!
Actually, the thing about me that surprises people is my creative me 🙂 I work as a nurse, but I looooooove being creative when sewing and crocheting. When I tell people I made f.e. my skirt myself, the don’t believe that I do things like that 😀
This sewing book looks like a really great book for me, I would love to win one of them!
Kind regards, Lobke (from the Netherlands)
It looks like a great book. People usually think that its exciting that I work at a farmers market.
i love love love this book!
People are suprised when they hear that i studied fashion because i’m not a “hip” person.
Also that i’m quite a strict mommy! People think i’m always nice 😉
People are surprised when I telll them I sew… LOL
Oh, that’s an easy one. People are surprised how nice I am! Now before you think “does she look/act like a bitch?”. No it’s because, especially when I was working, well dressed and professional looking. Anyway, we all have stereotypes in our heads, right? I worked with a lot of techies. I remembered one time sitting beside one of my (biker) guys and said “What a tough day it was yesterday. I went home and had a beer. You know God loves us because beer was created (or something like that).” Anyway this guy stared at me and said “I’d thought you’d be a white wine person!” I laughed. I don’t drink white wine. I drink red! Ha!
Another time, after a social Christmas party, one of the guys on the soccer team said to my husband “I had a nice chat with your wife. She’s really nice!” My husband relayed this to me laughing “why would I marry anyone who isn’t nice?”
There you go!
The surprising thing about me is that I am a recently retired OR nurse. I have done everything from open hearts, kidney transplants, total joints, and all the in between stuff. My sewing, knitting, and crafting was a way to cope with the stress when I got home. I also used to run and even did the Marine Corps Marathon but now I just do yoga, swim and bike ride. Much easier on this old body.
I work on a total joint unit! Very cool that you used to work in the OR!
People are surprised to find out that I am an avid mystery reader. I read every scandinavian mystery I can get my hands on!
I’m very clumsy, uncoortinated, can’t dance at all and I (almost) fall down the stairs just about once a week, but I’m really good at stiltwalking.
Something else: I have a very quiet speaking voice and rarely get truly angry, so when it does happen (like, every five years or so) I can give people a huge scare because I’ll just explode and start shouting really loudly. I had singing classes as a kid and still know how to produce a lot of volume!
People are always surprised that I’m from southern California (San Bernardino); people have always asked if I’m from the east coast. They’re also surprised by all the things I sew and cook.
This book looks fantastic! People are surprised that I have 9 siblings – and grew up in So. Cal – not the most normal combination:)
Now that I’m a part-time working mom of two, who dresses up for work and down for being at home with the kids (my favorite REAL work), most people are surprised to find out that I grew up as part of a very large hippie community. It’s was a very different lifestyle than the one my kids are experiencing today, but I think it’s why sewing is my go-to, happy place.
Funny you should mention the commune- I used to live on one as a teenager. I miss it sometimes. I live nearby and visit every so often.
Haha, I’m a belly dancer! Kind of weird I guess but sooo fun!
I think some things that are surprising about me is that I have (Inactive) tuberculosis, no gall bladder (removed due to gall stones) and I speak Spanish.
I’ve always wondered about this book! I think people are surprised when I tell them I’m an extreme introvert. And that I used to do a lot of adrenaline sports.
People are surprised by the fact that I can and did ride a motorcycle. A big one! Haven’t since I was pregnant, but maybe one day when my daughter is a little older I’ll get back on 🙂
So excited to have won a copy of your book, thanks again! People are surprised that pre-children I used to be an immigration lawyer, I gave up when I had my first daughter 9 years ago and now I spend all my time sewing!
I think people are surprised if they find out I have a tattoo. I am a total rule follower, non-rebel and a tattoo seems sort of uncharacteristic. But it’s just a little flower that my sister designed so it’s special to me.
Wow I want to make so many of the pieces that you showed from the book!
People are surprised that I’m not a vegetarian…a guess I give off an unintentional hippie vibe?
It’s a nice idea to go “behind the scene”! I guess we all have our fixed pictures in our minds and are often taken by surprise when we notice that there’s more to it than what we see at first sight …
Probably because I look like an average western european woman, people are surprised when I tell them that I was born in Kongo, that I speak five languages, that I am a bee-keeper, that I am a sewer and that I have an infinity of ideas and an exploding imagination for community-minded projects to promote a more sustainable lifestyle.
I’ve loved reading everyone’s comments, and I would love to win this book! I feel a bit boring really, people are most surprised when they find out that I sew (and/or knit).
Most people don’t know that I spent 6 of my growing up years in the UK.
I am rather quiet and overwhelmed in groups of people, so they are shocked to hear i played rugby for 8 years. I love tackling!
Mmm, I think they get surprised by how old I am. I have a small build that is deceptive and can sound like an occassional airhead. Which makes it doubly odd when they hear I’m an accountant. Great giveaway by the way:) I have this in Japanese and aah, its just too hard to figure out.
Most people don’t know about me is that I have a French surname, even though I was born and raised in Portugal. My family on my father’s side came to Portugal in the early 20th century. So when I have to give my full name, immediately I get asked “Are you French? Do you speak French?” And people are very surprised that the answer is no. Also some people are very surprised that I studied Japanese for a year and that I sew my kids clothes.
These comments are fun to read! I am think people are often surprised to hear that I played ice hockey in high school as I am very petite and not athletic. I also met my husband while performing with a youth circus!
What a lovely book!
I often surprise people with having a twin sister that looks just like me, and talks just like me. It could be a bit confusing, yes! She is one size smaller than me and that’s perfect ’cause she can wear things I have sewn if it turns out to be too tight to me 😉
The odd thing about me as a patient in critical care I am known as the woman with nine lives who as of 2014 has used up six of those lives. I just say God isn’t finished with me yet.
People are surprised to hear that our four year old son has blood cancer. It is what life has dealt us, he looks like an ordinary child, going to kindergarden and play with other kids and all, but he spends a lot of time in hospital too. we hope he’ll be free of it one day.
People who get to know me are surprised by how “weird” I am. I used to make rock climbing gear, I speak French, used to live on a commune, and my current hobbies (besides sewing) include traveling, singing, and print-making. But to my life life feels interesting and normal- I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I have lived in the US for 10 years (this Friday!) and I meet so many people who can’t even hear my Australian accent, so when I tell them I’m from Australia, they are totally stunned :).
I’m not maternal at all and I’ve never wanted children and didnt even play with dolls as a child so people are suprised to learn that my favourite job that I’ve ever had was working with children doing arts and crafts with them at after school clubs. It was so much fun; but no babies for me! 🙂
I think people are most surprised that I have 4 kids and that the oldest is 19 years old 🙂
I guess, quite often people are surprised to hear that I sew…
People are always surprised that I am a doctor! Apparently I don’t look like one!!!
People are most surprised that I sew and always ask, “How do you find the time?”
What a great question! People are always surprised that I am an introvert because I fake being social most of the time. I’d much rather spend my time solo (sewing!) than hob-nobbing or volunteering at school.
People are surprised to find out my degree is in chemistry. My whole working career has been in customer service. lol!
Hello – Fun looking book – I think people in my professional setting are surprised when they find out I play guitar – I guess I look more like the symphony type (although I do also play clarinet – they are not surprised by this!)
I wear the pants, and can’t wait to work on these…. pshaw!
That I learned to swim at the ripe old age of 33 🙂
There usually isn’t too much about me to surprise… I’m a pretty traditional make-the-grade, tow-the-line, follow-the-rules, do-your-best sort of person. One thing that does surprise people is that I learned to sew and cook at age 9 and did most of the cooking for my family after that age. And I bought my first TV last year at age 45. I don’t know that that is anything to brag about. 🙂
I have loved reading the comments. I work in health care as well, as a respiratory therapist – a profession which most people have never heard of. I am always in awe of the amazing details people share with me about their lives, or the life of their loved one. It always surprises and delights me when people think back to funny or quirky little stories during moments of crisis or grief.
Probably the most surprising thing about me, is that I moved from rural Nova Scotia, Canada to Rwanda by myself at age 21 to teach high school biology.
People are surprised to find out I love mountain bike! <<3
I think people are surprised that I’m from Ohio, even though I’m Asian and live in SoCal. Plus people are also surprised that I sew since it might be considered a “lost art”.
I have loved reading these comments!
Had to give this one some thought. Maybe I haven’t met many ‘new’ people lately, or been very social, as it took a while for something to come to mind! Mustn’t have surprised anyone in a long time!
Many people surprised to know I experience depression. I think I manage to put on a happy face quite a bit of the time. Thankfully, with medication and now only occasional visits to my lovely, cheery doctor, it’s pretty much in check.
I’ll enjoy checking out this book if I win 😉
People are often surprised when they find out that I study Maths (Number Theory to be exact). I guess I don’t look smart enough 🙁 Maybe I should let my hair be as messy as it could be and wear big glasses with black frame.
I love this book so much. The striped shirt looks comfy yet stylish at the same time. I’d love to win a copy 🙂 Thank you for the giveaway!
That almost all my clothes are handmade or repurposed hand me downs or thrift finds!
For the last ten years I’ve hardly sewn anything, however, now I’ve got a new purpose besides just focusing on my career. People are surprised to find out that the reason why I have decided to be a part of the Slow Fashion Movement is because of how other women across the globe aren’t paid adequately and have to suffer for our North American throw away fashion movement. Making my own clothes takes me back to my high school and University days when I had to sew my own clothes, as it was more economical. Also, they’re surprised to know that I made our sons’s clothes for the first 7 years of their lives. I would be thrilled to own a copy of this book.
People don’t know that I’m actually into sewing, because my ideas never eventuate. One day soon, my fabric stash and machine will come to life and morph into wearable items for my daughter and myself. I’d love this book to get me going. Thanks 🙂
Someone I’ve known for a few years was very surprised to find out that I’m an introvert. And generally, everyone who finds out I learned mandarin chinese as a first language for four years is surprised, as I am terrible at it now!
ohh!! Am i too late?? I just sewn my daughter Smilla a cape for pretend play ( she loves beeing a hunter ) and so, so enjoyed sewing something different than straight seams (i’m much more into quilting these days). So this book will be the perfect opportunity to dive into clothes making for me. Everything i see here looks very very stylish!
Now to your question: First: most people who know me just from the Internet or the telephone are really puzzled about me in real life beeing so small in persona. I’m just 1,61 m (i use the Google translator for measuring it in ft: 5ft 3 25⁄32in).
And friends who finds out that i’m on the internet and making stuff by myself (i’m a feisty girl) an no one who knows me can imagine that i’m sitting still long enough to create something so complex as a quilt.
Thats it! no big surprises over here
Greetings and all
Marit
Not too late, Marit 🙂 Love your response!
Hi, just got here admiring that Tova shirt.
People either are surprised that I’m engineer or that I’m good at crafty things.
Now im going to continue reading this blog.
Thanks
Damiana
I think that people are surprised when they find out I have tattoos. Most people look at me and see a crafty, minivan-driving, conservative mom which I guess doesn’t translate into someone with tattoos…until I roll up my sleeves 🙂
People are usually surprised that I love watching professional bicycle racing. My July is set aside every year to watch the Tour de France.
Haha! Love this question! People are constantly surprised by my age. I’m working so I can’t be in high school but most think I’m not a day over 21 and that might be pushing it. They are shocked to find out I’m six years older than that. I know this is something I will appreciate someday…
people are suprise that i like cars world rally championships. many years ago i was spectator on many polish, european and world championships. and I’m a girl. that was best time ever.
I’m fairly straightforward and so don’t hold many surprises, but most people seem surprised that I can’t swim. I’ve tried numerous times to learn but I just keep sinking!
This book looks lovely. I’ve been admiring It popping up here and there on the blogosphere!
When I lived in the US everyone assumed I was an American and was surprised that I am actually from Germany. In Germany people are surprised (and a bit appalled) that I chose to be a stay at home mom.
Thank you for the great giveaway, Sanae! I have actually had my eye on this lovely book. Now for your thought provoking question – I suppose people are always surprised to find out that I speak six languages.