echino 2016 Collection 2

Introducing stylish color combinations with gold and silver!

Continued from our last column, echino 2016 collection is here again with small to mid-size designs. The echino-like animal motifs such as birds, impala and fox make the fabric look attractive.

flag JG96400-401 Cotton Linen Canvas
kokka-fabric.com JG96400-401_1kokka-fabric.com JG96400_401_2

flag features the birds fluttering their favorite banners. It is an interesting textile that can create a completely different personality depending on the color combination. It is hard to choose which one to pick.

Continue reading

echino 2016 Collection 

Bold yet light. It is a simple beauty.

echino is a collection that treats the ‘fabric” as a place to tell a story. Last year, it celebrated its 10th anniversary. As 2016 starts the collection’s 11th year, a new design featuring silver and gold has been added while maintaining echino’s characteristic colors.
Bold yet light. This is a collection that delivers echino’s new character.

wandervogel JG96400-400 Cotton Linen Canvas
kokka-fabric.com JG96400-400_1kokka-fabric.com JG96400-400_2kokka-fabric.com JG96400-400_3kokka-fabric.com JG96400-400_4

“This design was drawn as a main image for the 2016 fabric collection. Like a migrant bird, ‘wandervogel,’ it was created as if we were following a light and refreshing wind. Bold composition and graphical motifs, combined with a large pattern presents echino’s charm through a distinct color palette. A subtle silver “migrant bird” is featured as an accent. What makes this fabric most fun is to show the pattern to its maximum width.” (by Etsuko Furuya, echino Designer)
Continue reading

Pouch with a spring-loaded clasp

Size: 11.5cm (l) 12cm (w) 6cm (d)

This is a petit-size pouch perfect for girls who are starting to get interested in carrying purses. A striped border fabric, Candy Creek, features a warm story of candy selling kitties, the tabby and the bicolor. Taking an idea from the artwork on the fabric, this pouch will be great as a candy case. The project is developed by an idea-filled fabric handcraft artist, Mioko Sugino.

Design & Work: Mioko Sugino


Fabric shown for this sample:candy creek P38700-700 (D)


Materials:
□ Fabric (Opening fabric (polka dot print)): 20cm×10cm
    (Side): 40cm×10cm
    (Bottom, Handle (solid)): 30cm×20cm
    (Lining fabric (stripe)): 20cm×40cm
□ Metal spring-loaded clasp: 12cm(l) x 1

cs141_1cs141_2

We interviewed Mioko about her creation:
Kokka Fabric (KF): What did you think of the fabric you used for this project?
The colorful and cute motifs of candy and kitties are perfect for items for small children. The border design in a loop makes it look like a scene from a picture book. The fabric was cut in such a way that different scenes will appear on the front and back of the pouch.

KF: Can you tell us any special elements or ideas that you incorporated into this creation?
An easy to carry handle will also become a determining element when coordinating the colors.
In order to show a pretty design, a different fabric is used for the top where the fabric is gathered.

KF: What are some tips for making this pouch?
You may find it slightly difficult to press down and sew the seam of the opening for the clasp as it is narrow. Try to sew it little by little.

cs141_h9b
You may also sew by hand or substitute the stitch with craft adhesive tape.

KF: How should we use this pouch in everyday situations?
I find many small children favoring to carry purses when going out.
Carrying a bag filled with a favorite mascot and sweets will make your walk so much fun.
It will be stylish for moms to carry a matching pouch made in different fabrics.

KF: Thank you very much, Mioko! Here are sewing instructions along with step by step photos from her. Enjoy crafting!

Continue reading

Big Tote

Size: about 40cm (l) x about 44cm (w) x about 8cm (d) ※handles excluded

The featured project is a big tote bag made with a sport themed fabric. The design is filled all over with comical characters enjoying soccer and it reminds you of American comic magazines. With transition panels and outside pockets like a pair of jeans, the bag will also look cool in a simple denim fabric.

Design & Work: Kokka Fabric


Fabric shown for this sample:
P38600-600


Materials:
□ Outer fabric 110cm wide x 90cm
□ Lining fabric 110cm wide x 50cm
□ Fusible interfacing (medium thickness) 90cm wide x 100cm

cs140_bigtote

Click here for Sewing Instructions (PDF format / A4 size)
button_tt

Notebook Cover

Size: 26.5cm (l) 19cm (w) (B5 size)

Here is a suggestion for those who are so preoccupied with using smartphones – why not enjoy writing in a notebook once in a while?
Taking a moment from a busy everyday life to write a journal of the day’s happenings on a blank page of a notebook paper will provide you with a somber feeling. The featured project, a notebook cover, will make such “notebook life” a very special one. By putting additional pockets on the back and sleeve, you can have your secret pad. The selected fabric is Lolo, the Black Cat’s Going for a walk, from the PUSH PIN* x KOKKA collection. A popular handcraft artist, Kanae Nakayama who is full of ideas, is introducing her creation.

Design & Work:Kanae Nakayama


Fabric shown for this sample:HG2303-1 (B)


Materials:
□ Fabric (Outer fabric a, b, c): 70cm×30cm
(Outer fabric d (gingham check)): 20cm×30cm
(Pocket, Back fabric (stripe)): 20cm x 50cm
(Lining fabric (polka dot)): 40cm x 30cm

cs139_notecover_1cs139_notecover_2

We interviewed Kanae about her creation:
Kokka Fabric (KF): What did you think of the fabric you used for this project?
I thought the girls in elementary school would love this design.
When coming up with the design and fabric combination, I was thinking of creating an item that would look cute when taking it out from a girls’ backpack.”

KF: Can you tell us any special elements or ideas that you incorporated into this creation?
The back has a pocket for pens and a ruler.

cs139_co_1

Inside of the left flap features divided pockets.
cs139_co_2

A business card size pocket at the top and a post card size pocket at the bottom.

KF: What are some tips for making this cover?
A pocket fabric is placed on the back (stripe) fabric and both seams are folded inward together. When doing so, you may find a bit of tension as the fabrics are layered at the pocket opening. Try to loosen the pocket fabric a little bit so that the finish will look nice and clean.

KF: How should we use this cover in everyday situations?
I suggest using the cover for a correspondence notebook, an essential notebook between a teacher and parents at an elementary school. It is your one and only notebook and you can keep the letters in a pocket. By adding this cover to a regular notebook, something simple becomes something very special.

KF: Thank you very much, Kanae! Here are sewing instructions along with step by step photos from her. Enjoy crafting!

Continue reading