Monthly Archives: June 2016

Soft Animals

Popular motifs for zakka general merchandise are all featured

The idea behind this series is introducing a fabric that has a versatile pattern perfect for creating not just clothing, but small items like a face mask. Thinking that keen crafter moms may want to make matching pieces, popular motifs for zakka general merchandise like black cats and French bulldogs are featured.

French Bulldog P39600-600 Double Gauze
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The very popular French bulldog is adorned with a cute pair of glasses. While soft color tones will be great for a face mask, dark hues will look cute in clothing.

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TOTE Bag with a Mini Pouch

Bag 32.5cm (l – center of the panel) 44cm (w) 14cm (d)
Mini pouch 7cm (each side)

The featured project in Törten’s CINEMA is a large tote bag that will be useful for a weekend trip. “Like a piece of painting, this fabric is fun just looking at it. While using a large surface of the fabric, I also came up with the idea to use a remnant, making a matching mini pouch.” (by Yui Tamaki, designer) A tiny triangle pouch is a great item to make when left with a remnant. Learn the process so that you can make it next time you have extra remnant.

Design & Work:Yui Tamak


Fabric shown for this sample: Törten CINEMA JG49200-1 (A)


Materials:
□ Fabric (Bag outer panel, pocket outer fabric, pouch main fabric): 110cm wide × 100cm
(Bag gusset outer fabric, lining fabric) (#11 Canvas): 92cm wide × 110cm
□ Fusible interfacing (thick): 50cmx100cm
□ Rope: 160cm (1.5cm diameter)
□ Code: 0.3cm wide x 30cm
□ Magnetic clasps (hook type): 1 pair (1.8cm diameter)
□ Plastic eyelets: 4 pairs (5cm outer diameter, 2.5cm inner diameter)
□ Zipper 1 piece (10cm)

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We interviewed Yui about her creation:
Kokka Fabric (KF): What did you think of the fabric you used for this project?
Like a piece of painting, this fabric is fun just looking at it. As it is named CINEMA, the feel of the design inspired me to make a large bag that is suitable for a weekend trip.
While using a large surface of the fabric, I also came up with a cute idea to use a remnant, making a matching mini pouch.

KF: Can you tell us any special elements or ideas that you incorporated into this creation?
Roomy side pockets can easily fit a picnic blanket or a pair of flip flops. This bag is also perfect as a diaper bag. As for a mini pouch, it is useful as a coin purse, pill case or carrying accessories.

KF:What are some tips for making this bag?
You may find it difficult to sew together the gusset and the main bag along the bottom curve. If you pin it well or baste it beforehand and sew slowly, then you will be fine. This creates a bag with a cute form on the side. Even if you are not good at sewing a curve, I encourage you to try it.

KF:How should we use this bag in everyday situations?
It is perfect to take when going to the beach or to the park. It goes well with a simple and casual style coordination.

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

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TSUMIKI 2016 Spring Summer Collection

‘Reading the wind’

TSUMIKI is a series that proposes non-conventional high quality fabrics to cherish the texture through a combination of special treatment and materials, like combined wooden blocks creating new shapes. The theme for the 2016 spring summer collection is “Reading the Wind.”
Spring wind that is not visible to your eyes, yet kindly wraps around you with a soft touch.
Calm and smooth flow, feeling a sign of presence to strike a rhythm…
Using a variety of processes such as salt shrinkage, punching and pearl treatment to express the various faces of the spring wind, a textile that dances to the winds is born.

Salt Shrinkage Treatment  Checkered PG104-1   Wavy Borde PG104-2 Buckingham
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Starting with the initial selection of the thread, this original fabric was woven and processed with a salt shrinkage treatment to express the unique design with indented surfaces.
Carefully created roll by roll with a soft touch by a Japanese craftperson, spring like gentle see-through feel adds a new look to a traditional clothing.
The checkered pattern with distinctive indented surfaces enhance the charm of the salt shrinkage treatment. What makes the wavy border attractive is the soft line that reminds you of a flow of the wind.

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Soft and Fluffy Gathered Bag

Size: 24cm (l) 24cm (w)

The featured bag makes the best use of the softness of the fluffy double gauze fabric, Fuwari fuwari from the naniIRO series.
“I took advantage of the softness of the double gauze fabric combined with a domett interlining to create gathering that delivers the fabric’s texture and beautiful patterns. Though the size is smaller, it is sized to fit a Japanese paperback. With a wallet and handkerchief inside, it is perfect for a quick walk or an outing.” (by rocco*)

Design & Work:rocco*


Fabric shown for this sample:naniIRO Fuwari fuwari JG10410 (A) Hikari No Sono


Materials:
□ Fabric: 80cm×80cm
□ Fusible interfacing (thin): 80cmx50cm
□ Domett Interlining (thin): 60cmx50cm
□ Button: Two pieces (1.3cm diameter)

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We interviewed rocco* about her creation:
Kokka Fabric (KF): What did you think of the fabric you used for this project?
The fabric, Fuwari fuwari*Hikari No Sono from Hiromi Ito’s naniIRO series, is so stylish with its color gradation and patterns. I thought that making something dimensional would make it more attractive, so I got the urge to make a bag, though double gauze fabric is not normally recommended for this types of item. Once I started, I realized that this fabric was more solid with less skewing than other type of double gauze. It was easy to sew, making my work easier. I took advantage of the softness of the double gauze fabric combined with a domett interlining to create gathering that delivers the fabric’s texture and beautiful patterns.

KF: Can you tell us any special elements or ideas that you incorporated into this creation?

I maximized the use of the gradation of colors and pattern along with the soft texture of double gauze fabric. The fabric is placed to accentuate the contrast of the colors. The soft texture is even enhanced by combining it with domett interlining and gathering, while giving more strength to a frail gauze fabric.
The subdued yet glamorous design is one of a kind, perfect for the naniIRO series that is celebrating its 15th anniversary. The top opening is treated as part of the lining fabric, rather than using a bias binding tape and will not require stitches around the opening. The handles will be added later after turning the bag inside out. At first, it may look difficult to make, but it is constructed with these easy-to-follow steps.

KF: What are some tips for making this bag?
Pre-washing or soaking in water and ironing and aligning the edge will prevent skewing of the fabric. When sewing, use needles for knit sewing to prevent damage to the fabric. The bag’s character, gathering of the fabric and domett interlining, can be best created by making it somewhat irregular rather than making it perfect. In this way the color gradation will appear more rich and interesting.

KF: How should we use this bag in everyday situations?
Going into an early summer season, I think it will look stylish when combined with a white-colored wardrobe. The bag is small, but big enough to hold a Japanese paperback. With a wallet and handkerchief inside, it is perfect for a quick walk or an outing.

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

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