Cotton Sateen Kid’s Skirt

Size: 100－130cm Skirt length: 38.5cm

Today’s project is a kid’s skirt made with a lovely fawn design fabric from petit bonheur, a series that is filled with lines of tiny motifs. A circular wrap skirt that creates a cascading beautiful drape is even prettier in this shiny cotton sateen fabric. A regular contributor of children’s clothing in this column, Yuka Yonekura is here again to introduce her new creation.

Design & work creation：Yuka Yonekura （Francesca*amam label）

Fabric shown for this sample: P33500-500 (D)

Materials:
□ Fabric (Main fabric: Skirt) 1.10m x 110cm wide
(Belt) Linen (solid color) 85cm x 14cm

We interviewed Yuka about her creation:
Kokka Fabric (KF): What did you think of the fabric you used for this project?
It has such a lovely design that I instantly thought of making a skirt for fall.

KF: Can you tell us any special elements or ideas that you incorporated into this creation?
The fabric is soft, yet has some thickness. To incorporate these characteristics, I came up with a circular wrap skirt. The beautiful drape makes it special. Another feature is that I used a different fabric for the belt. Solid color fabric adds a mature finish to the skirt.

KF: What are some tips for making this skirt?
This fabric is very easy to sew. You can make this skirt easily.

KF: How should we wear this skirt in everyday situations?

Color coordination is easy with this fabric. Wear something in a solid color for the top as an accent and it will make you look very stylish.

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

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Clutch Bag

Size: (when opened) 29cm (l) x 25cm (w)

The border fabric with changing designs in one is perfect for making a bag. We are featuring a stunningly cute clutch bag made from Feminine Border with polka dots and stripe design. Yui Tamaki, who previously introduced a lovely Pumps Shaped Small Case has returned with her new creation.

Design & work creation：Yui Tamaki

Fabric shown for this sample:P33300-300 (C)

Materials:
□ Fabric: 110cm (wide) x 60cm
□ Fusible interfacing (heavy weight) : 30cm x 60cm
□ Zipper: Once piece (24cm)
□ Snap: One set (1.0cm diameter)
□ Button: Two pieces (0.8cm diameter)
□ Decorative belt: One pair

We interviewed Yui about her creation:
Kokka Fabric (KF): What did you think of the fabric you used for this project?
Creating a design combination from this fabric is easy as three different patterns are already included in one fabric. I came up with a cute accent by using the deepest color diagonal stripe as a decorative piece.

KF: Can you tell us any special elements or ideas that you incorporated into this creation?
The artificial leather belt generates a cohesive look. With a snap attached to the belt, it is easy to open and close.

KF: What are some tips for making this bag?
To keep the zipper aligned, I recommend basting it first. It is easy to make as the bag is flat and requires only straight line stitches. You can add your creativity to make an arranged version.

KF: How should we use this bag in everyday situations?
You may carry it like a clutch bag or use it as a convenient case with large capacity.

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

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petit bonheur

A fabric that brings you a small bit of happiness

The name of this series, petit bonheur, is a French expression, meaning a small bit of happiness.
This time we are featuring a lovely fabric with lined-up small motifs created by a French designer. Cotton sateen material is perfect for making clothes. A “not-too-cute, yet a little twisted” design will be stylish for grown-up’s outfit. A small pattern with an aligned identical motif is suitable for small items. Why not deliver a small bit of happiness through clothing and small cases?

faon　P33500-500 60Sateen

The design motif of faon is polka dots with fawn. Small polka dots are combined with large dots and a fawn design inside. The different color ribbons on the single-color fawn create a design accent. A little girl’s dress will look really cute in this fabric.

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Inspiration file58
Goldfish made by needle felting

Looking back to summer, there were various handicraft events in various places. At one of the events the Handmade Japan Festival aka. HMJ, I found goldfish, a familiar sight in the summer, which were created by Hikaru Yahagi, the would-be goldfish artist. They were so striking among many creations.

In her booth, there were some extremely large goldfish whose entire length were supposedly 1m. I was abashed to use a dainty word like ‘gold fish’ to describe a creature with such an overwhelming presence! It looked like a napoleon fish. Its transparent fish scales and tail fluke were faithfully depicted.

“I have been a goldfish enthusiast since I was in primary school. Now I only create gold fish using by beads and needle felting.” (Yahagi)

Goldfish brings to mind goldfish scooping at summer festival. When I was a child, going to a festival, I begged my parents to let me try goldfish scooping. I was permitted try it once or twice, but it was not easy to catch the fish so eventually a goldfish vendor gave me one or two goldfish for pity’s sake….. Do you have a memory like that?

“I guess that goldfish scooping maybe the very first opportunity for Japanese children to encounter goldfish.” says Yahagi. She reluctantly admits that goldfish scooping at festivals is decreasing, as most parents refuse to bring goldfish back with their children.

“It’s a pity to know that emblematic strength of goldfish in Japanese culture is declining. The goldfish has always played an important role in teaching children both the preciousness of life and Japanese culture. So I created an opportunity for children to meet goldfish in different way from goldfish scooping.” (Yahagi)

Yahagi holds workshops on how to make goldfish crafts. In her booth, with napoleon fish-grade-goldfish, there were many goldfish straps and barrettes which children can ware.

For further information about Yahagi’s creation, please go to her blog:
http://g1n5g0y2o.blog24.fc2.com

Lighthearted Quilt : Blossom Heart Quilts for Kokka

I’m Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts, an Aussie ex-pat sewing it up in Chiba, Japan for a few years while my husband does his science thing. I have loved the opportunity to really enjoy the amazing delights that the Japanese fabric industry has to offer, like Kokka’s scientist fabric! So I am thrilled to be here today to share some of that beautiful Japanese fabric and how much fun I have playing with it.

When I opened up the parcel full of these beautiful fabrics, I admit I was a little scared of trying to mix them together with such a gorgeous variety of colours and prints! I normally work within a tight palette of colours, but when I took a step back, I could see the cohesion.

I wanted to create some space and movement, which automatically brings flying geese blocks to mind. The cuts of fabric I was sent were perfect to whip up 5″x10″ blocks, with some inverse blocks to create tails for some print geese using a lighter-saturated print.

I pieced the scraps together for the back, roughly in colour groups, and got to quilting.

By straight-line quilting 1/4″ from each seam and randomly spread out in between, I created trails up and down the quilt to keep the eye moving around from each beautiful Lighthearted print to the next.

Happy hunting!
Alyce

Blossom Heart Quilts
Blossom Heart Quilts patterns

Photo credit: Frances Arikawa

This post was written by Alyce Blyth and coordinated by Frances Arikawa.
Lighthearted is a quilting cotton collection that will be shown at Quilt Market in Houston on October 25th 2014. If you would like to be able to purchase prints from the Lighthearted collection locally, please be sure to let your favourite fabric store know. If you are a store owner planning to visit Quilt Market do come and say hi at booth no. 656, 756.

kokka-fabric.com/en

have fun with kokka fabric!

Cotton Sateen Kid’s Skirt

Clutch Bag

petit bonheur

Inspiration file58
Goldfish made by needle felting

Lighthearted Quilt : Blossom Heart Quilts for Kokka