Ribbon Blouse 

Size: 47cm (length at back center)

This blouse looks cool in a salt shrink processed cotton lawn fabric. A simple design is enhanced by a ribbon at the hem. The featured fabric, KUPLAN KUKKA (Bubble flower) from Kuiskaus, is a series created by Sawako Ura, a designer residing in Finland. The ribbon at the hem adds an accent to a refreshing fabric with a layer of bubbles in water.

Design & Work:Anriko


Fabric shown for this sample:kuiskaus JG31000-2 (D)


Materials:
□ Fabric: 106cm wide x 150cm

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We interviewed Anriko about her creation:
Kokka Fabric (KF): What did you think of the fabric you used for this project?
Using this cotton lawn with a salt shrink treatment, I decided to make a cool-looking blouse that is perfect for the upcoming season starting early summer. In order to utilize the short and subdued repeated color and patterns, I tried to create the shape with a design focus.

KF: Can you tell us any special elements or ideas that you incorporated into this creation?
While the pattern is quite simple, by tying the ribbon at the hem, it creates a tuck effect. The shoulder line is not shapely so that it has a loose-looking feminine neckline. Just like the hem line, the neckline also represents this year’s trend. The V-neckline requires some technique, but this pattern without a facing is made simple by having a transition in the center of the body.

KF: What are some tips for making this blouse?
The areas with the salt shrinking treatment and without the treatment repeat themselves. Try not to be nervous when cutting and sewing. Let the fabric be natural and follow the flow.

KF: How should we wear this blouse in everyday situations?
By tying the ribbon, it creates a clean and slimmed-down trendy short length blouse. Wide-leg pants, another trendy item still popular since last year, will go perfectly with this blouse. Why not try matching this wrinkle-free blouse with a resort-like maxi-length skirt for your summer travel?

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

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tayutou

Daily lives as motifs

Ayumi Toda (aka fabrica uka) engages herself in all aspects of creation from textile design to production. Retaining the world of fabrica uka, tayutou is born as a textile to be enjoyed for home sewing projects.
“There is a variety of ‘things’ and ‘happenings’ in our lives. You may think they exist in a same manner all the time, but they may change and come and go without you knowing like a floating air. tayutou incorporates these everyday ‘things’ and ‘happenings’ as motifs. These motifs then become moyou (patterns) and return back into the daily lives in a variety of forms.” (Ayumi Toda)
Designed by Toda who is also a hand craft artist of small items, the series feature a whole lineup of easy-to-use and stylish small patterned fabrics in six different designs including a matching tone solids. Three selected designs are highlighted here.

rootcrop JG50800-800 Cotton Linen Canvas
kokka-fabric.com JG50800-800_1kokka-fabric.com JG50800-800_2

Root vegetables, a type of crop that absorbs nutrients from the ground has a unique look in cross section. Sometimes it looks humorous and sometimes it looks full of energy. Looking at the surface makes you feel enriched.
The design represents a fresh yet somewhat gentle feel of root vegetables that are fun to watch and tasty to eat.
An organic line connects the motifs to add a softer design flow. Take advantage of this linear look to create a fluffy skirt or a bag.

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Drawstring Bag

Size: 〈Drawstring Bag Large〉about 55cm (l) about 42cm (w) (handle not
included)
〈Drawstring Bag Small〉about 43cm (l) about 32cm (w) (handle not
included)
 

Today’s featured project, drawstring bag, uses River Rocks from the 3min., a fabric that made its cool debut at a 2016 collection event in June. Depending on how you use the design, the large motif could change the look of a bag, which makes it interesting. For instructions, large and small bags are featured.

Design & Work:Kokka Fabric


Fabric shown for this sample:
JGA20030-2(B)


Materials:
〈Drawstring Bag Large〉
□ Outer fabric: 106cm wide x 70cm
□ Herringbone tape: 2cm wide x 80cm
□ Handle tape: 5cm wide x 160cm
□ Round rope (medium) 100cm

〈Drawstring Bag Small〉
□ Outer fabric: 106cm wide x 50cm
□ Herringbone tape: 2cm wide x 60cm
□ Handle tape: 5cm wide x 130cm
□ Round rope (medium) 80cm

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

The natural whisper is turned into textiles

A fantastic series of fabrics have arrived from Finland! The series, Kuiskaus, a Finnish word for a whisper, is designed by Sawako Ura, a successful freelance textile designer working in Helsinki. “In Finland, nature exists as if it were a part of everyday life. The whisper that I encountered in Finland through nature is represented in the form of textile. I hope you will enjoy the breath of nature that can be heard through these textiles.” (Sawako Ura)

“LUMITUISKU” (Snow Bank) JG31000-1 80 Lawn Salt Shrinking Cotton 100%
kokka-fabric.com JG31000-1_1kokka-fabric.com JG31000-1_2

The snow that keeps falling silently and getting deep.
The design describes a scene of Finland’s long winter where the snow gets deeper and deeper. The soft white flakes silently get collected as if flower petals were accumulated. With this image in mind, the texture of this cotton is dimensional with a slight indentation in a gauze fabric like softness.

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Tunic with a transition

Size: M

The featured project is a tunic top using Shizuku from the Ao series, a double gauze fabric that is also suitable for adults. A high-waisted transition from upper body to a lower body creates such a lovely look.

Design & Work: Kokka Fabric


Fabric shown for this sample:
AO H11300-300 (A)


Materials:
□ Outer Fabric: 110cm wide x 200cm

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