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What Should I Make With These Fabrics?

April 23, 2018 By Chie

What should I make with these fabrics?

My sister recently gave me a handful of kimono obi fabric. She knows that I upcycle kimonos and thought I could use some more material. In addition to a few rolls of silk kimono, she also gave me a few obi’s. These obi’s are beautiful – they are delicately embroidered and deliciously thick.

The problems are

1. They are quite narrow in width, about 3 cm.
2. Not long enough for a most garment sewing.

Mustard butterfly obi and gold medallion patterned obi

Ideas

In order to incorporate this fabric to garment, I have to either make a small item like mini skirt or incorporate partially. Perhaps a pencil dress, using obi as a statement fabric in the center, and from side to back use stretch knit to compensate for a good fit?

Yellow floral patterned obi and bright orange obi

Inspiration

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (via Pinterest)

Let me know your thoughts!

April Free Sewing Workshop

April 4, 2018 By Chie

Hey guys! Do you live in Tokyo? Are you visiting Japan? Come to my studio in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa for a free sewing workshop! Stop over to chat, learn, and talk about sewing. This is my attempt to get to know other sewists in the community, talk about sewing and having small business and just having fun.

Date: 4/14/2018 (Sat) 1-3pm (Please RSVP)

We can work on the following things together:

Sewing techniques

How to install zippers
Using a serger
Try out an industrial sewing machine
Pressing tips

For brides

Make a veil
Hair accessories
Come up with a plan for making your own wedding dress

For moms

Baby items such as bibs, onesies, dresses
Kids clothes

Where

Vivat Veritas studio in Kiyosumi Shirakawa (Oedo line or Hanzomon line), Tokyo. The details will be provided upon reservation.

How to RSVP

Email me with the following information:
1. Number of people attending (Feel free to bring your friends!)
2. What you would like to work on or learn.

Note:

Please refrain from bringing children.
Please bring your own materials(fabric, patterns, etc) to work on. I have an industrial sewing machine, serger, scissors, rotary cutter, rulers and other sewing equipment ready here.

Exploring the backstreets of Omotesando

April 2, 2018 By Chie

The weather is absolutely gorgeous right now in Tokyo. Cherry blossom trees are in full bloom, and people are out and about, enjoying much needed Vitamin D! I went out with a friend to explore Omotesando the other day and wanted to show some shops I discovered. I had never really gone into those small backstreets, which are set off from the main avenue (similar to Fifth avenue in NYC, with high end brand shops). I was pleasantly surprised to find tons of stuff which had previously not been on my radar.

Dominique Angel Bakery
5-7-14 Jingumae, Shibuya (東京都渋谷区神宮前5-7-14)

This place, located in the narrow street off the main Omotesando street, is a child’s dream. Even though we visited there on a weekday afternoon, people were lining up to get in. They have a “cookie shot” which is a cup made out of rich cookie covered with chocolate with almond milk poured in. I can imagine my girls going crazy with the thought of drinking milk and eating the cup too. They also have a chiffon cake in a big balloon, called “zero gravity chiffon cake.” You have to pop the balloon to eat it. The other stuff I wanted to try were fronzen s’mores, and Paris Tokyo. More menu here. The café is pretty spacious and has upstairs seating too.

Maison Miyavie
5-3-12 Jingumae, Shibuya　（東京都渋谷区神宮前5-3-12）

I always enjoy a free gallery! I could not help but step into a strange house with mirrored slide door and multiple golden triangle decorations in the window. It’s a showroom of Koichiro Kimura. He designs furnitures out of recyclable polyethylene. The gallery is both first and second floors, and the entire place is decorated with white ceramic pyramids.