Shambala are offering whipup readers the chance to win one of three copies of each of these books. For more information on these two books go to the Make Good Books website and read where I reviewed these books here – These are the first books in the Make Good: crafts + life series of Japanese craft books translated into English and published through Shambhala.
Shambala are also offering this project for download right here – one of the projects from Linen Wool Cotton – this floor mat pattern. Download PDF here.
To enter – leave a comment here in the next 48 hours – letting us know your favourite Japanese inspired project.
Patchwork Style: 35 Simple Projects for a Cozy and Colorful Life (Make Good: Crafts + Life)
Linen, Wool, Cotton: 25 Simple Projects to Sew with Natural Fabrics (Make Good: Crafts + Life)
Thank you everyone for entering – winners have been contacted – here they are:
amy:
i think sashiko is my number one inspiration of japanese craft stuff, but really, it’s the entire package. i love the simplicity of the books themselves, and the projects inside them. i have several japanese amigurami books, and a japanese embroidery book (i’d have more, but they’re so pricey!), and i love the designs and the formatting of the books themselves.
Deanna:
I love the Patchwork Style book and have been dying to get one – its not available in Australia apparantly! Im very new to sewing and there are a few projects i want to make – especially a super-size floor mat that is patchworked (im pretty sire there is a more achievable sized one in the book!). I love these titles and hope to see more published soon!
Kym:
How could I choose just one? The Japanese children’s clothes patterns are so stylish and toys are irresistably cute. I love the simplicity of zakka, with just a little piece of lace or embroidery turning a plain object into something wonderful. What’s not to love about Japanese craft?
klaudia:
Thank you for the giveaway, sounds lovely! I have a lot of favourite Japanese inspired projects, depending what am I about to make..most recently it’s aprons…so cool and simple and stylish…I would also love to have a go at tunics..but that’s a thought for the future:)
dawn:
I’ve been a huge fan of Japanese craft books for a few years now. My kids can’t get enough of the cute felt animals but I love the simplicity of embroidered linen projects.
Cindy Ericsson:
I hand-sewed a great Japanese-inspired tank last summer using a lovely blue and white batik fabric. I cut out the pieces by copying a very plain tank. Once I’d sewn the side seams and the straps, I adjusted the fit around the neck by sewing box pleats. I wore it to one of my husband’s work functions — he thought I’d bought it in a shop!
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My favourite Japanese inspired project was a sashiko quilt I made in 2000.
I have to say, I love the little booties on the cover of the soon-to-be-released “Felting for Baby.” Could there be a cuter baby shower gift? I am imagining the pink ones wrapped in bright pink crepe paper peeking out of a simple brown box tied with twine. Amazing!
What a great giveaway! I love the styling in japanese sewing books. My favourite projects would have to be the gorgeous tunics and smocks found in a multitude of japanese sewing books. So sweet!
I love the smocks and aprons in Japanese craft books. All that beautiful linen they use!
oh gosh!
so hard to choose one but i love the felting and little girls clothing books
For me, it is the obi. I love the obi!
I love the felt craft books and the use of natural materials in these books.
i think sashiko is my number one inspiration of japanese craft stuff, but really, it’s the entire package. i love the simplicity of the books themselves, and the projects inside them. i have several japanese amigurami books, and a japanese embroidery book (i’d have more, but they’re so pricey!), and i love the designs and the formatting of the books themselves.
I’m pretty much obsessed with Sewing Pochee magazine and Cotton Time Magazine. My favorite Japanese craft so far though has been a purse I made for my mom for her birthday. I blogged about it here: http://honeybeehill.com/2009/04/12/happy-birthday-sullivan-and-some-other-news/
I love all the purses in the Patchwork Style book. I’ve wanted it for years and the only thing that’s kept me from buying it is the book not being in English. Guess I can’t use that excuse anymore!
I made a zakka book cover that i’m delighted by.
I loves me a good Zakka bag.
I love the patchwork style changebook!
the styling, the simplicity, it’s all a life I dream of but rarely come close to with little ones running around!
I like the sarong apron!
They Mary Jane Slippers in the Linen Wool Cotton book are so cute!! I love them!! I love these books. Keep up the good work!!
Love all the projects in Girly Style Wardrobe. But mostly love the use of crochet trim. Simple, old-fashioned and sweet.
I love all the projects, but especially the clothing for children, simple and stylish.
I love the apron in Patchwork Style. I also love Japanese baby and kids pattern books–the simple clean lines and use of natural fibers are amazing. Thanks for sponsoring this giveaway!!
I’ve been making clothes for my daughters for about 3 years, using Japanese patterns. I’d love to start making some things for myself–I particularly like the look of layering cottons with linen.
This is hard! I love the tunics, the bags and sashiko. I couldn’t choose just one!
I love all of the little felted purses. Just getting into the patchwork totes, as well. I’m so excited to get these books!
I am inspired by zakka projects that involve patchwork. I would love to try out one soon =)
I love the Patchwork Style book and have been dying to get one – its not available in Australia apparantly! Im very new to sewing and there are a few projects i want to make – especially a super-size floor mat that is patchworked (im pretty sire there is a more achievable sized one in the book!). I love these titles and hope to see more published soon!
these are beautiful books! i love to make bags and children’s clothing…
I’ve been interested in those books. I don’t know if I really have a favorite Japanese inspired project, frankly I’ve just recently been introduced to various fabrics, books, etc. I love the look of what I have seen though!
I love everything patchwork but I am especially liking the fabric baskets featured in a lot of the japanese craft books.
I love Japanese-inspired fabrics
I have Patchwork Style in Japanese and my favorite projects from this book are the things made of log cabin squares.
I love the simple kimono dress or even the Apron Dress on the cover of Linen Wool Cotton.
Thank you for hosting this great giveaway.
I have to say the Obi!! Definitley the Obi.. I am a craft freak! Thanks for the chance to win!!
The bags are sensational…so as the apron dress..Love these items.
My favorite japanese inspired project was a natural linen apron I made recently for a friend’s birthday. I put a self made black and white check bias tape edge and pocket and added a few antique lace doilies and a spot of red stitching. It was hard to give up! I am so glad to see japanese sewing books in english, I am really intimidated to try to decipher a japanese pattern book, and I look forward to more being published.
Thanks for the giveaway!! I enjoy the quilting and bag making of the Japanese talents.
That’s a tough choice! I love the women’s clothing books I have, but I’ve been dying to get my hands on a copy of Patchwork Style. So cute!
I have just started to collect Japanese fabric but love the pillow in the patchwork style book!
My favorite Japanese projects are the stuffed toys. I have several books with these and they are so cute and clever!
when i first discovered japanese crafting, i was obsessed with linen aprons to wear over everyday clothes. i was inspired to just make one up myself…and loved it. wore it everyday for about 3 months! since then, i’ve enjoyed plenty of japanese craft books…but would love to see on in english!
I love the simple lines and soft colour combinations in Japanese craft books. I started with amiguri.. which is fun .. but I’m ready to move over to something more ‘functional’. I’m really inspired these days by the cute Japanese cotton dresses.. the kind of tunic shaped ones. I definitely want to sew one this summer!
I’ve been lusting after these books for so long, and was so excited when I heard they were being translated into English. I adore patchwork and natural fibers, and the projects in these books look so gorgeous.
Thank you for hosting another fantastic giveaway!
I love so many of the Japanese crafts. The children’s clothes, the bags the quilts….I could go on and on.
I really dig amigurumi. So cute!
How could I choose just one? The Japanese children’s clothes patterns are so stylish and toys are irresistably cute. I love the simplicity of zakka, with just a little piece of lace or embroidery turning a plain object into something wonderful. What’s not to love about Japanese craft?
Hmm. I think it would have to be the felt food. The velcro sushi rolls, over the top cakes and pastries… yum.
I love linen cushions with a Japanese aesthetic
My favourite Japanese-inspired craft so far is amigurumi (crochet toys). I went through a stage where I was absolutely obsessed with them!
My favorites are Japanese sewing projects – I love all types from simple linen to colorful patchworks!
I love all the clothes. Simple lines, lots of linens, I always find something inspiring to make!
i really like the clothing for children, simple and stylish.
I love everything from Japan, the fabric is so cute, bags, toys, everything!
I love little fabric baskets and house slippers!
I’m really inspired right now by sashiko stitch patterns and I think I will be incorporating some of them into a wedding quilt I’m making for my sister.
the tunics!!!
I love the yarns and knitting patterns from Habu Textiles. I know less about Japanese sewing projects, but I’ve seen many bags that I would like to make.
I would have to say amigurumi has inspired me. Those cute crocheted animals made me want to crochet again, which snowballed into crafting ventures in just about everything!
To be honest I have never done anything Japanese inspired. I like Japanese culture, for the most part, though. One day I will make some of the clothes.
I’m making a quilt out of an old kimono that I bought in Japan (for only 300 yen!! Bargain!). But I’m so afraid that it’s not going to turn out right that it’s going reaaaaaaally slowly.
I love making kimono jackets.
I am addicted to Japanese craft books, my favourite project are some little baby booties I made for my friends baby, they were inspired by some booties from a cute Japanese baby book i have in my collection. They are my most viewed item on flickr and 57 people have favourited them.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/90959196@N00/432434341/
too hard to pick! i am a sucker for the baby stuff…
its all about the OBI for me!
My favourite Japanese inspired project from one of the two books is the patchwork quilt in Patchwork Style. I like the simple detail of the little red tufts strategically placed on the squares, they bring out the other details on what is a large and busy patchwork project.
A favourite Japanese inspired project not in the two books is here on this blog posting,
http://gingerbreadsnowflakes.com/node/14
it’s based on Japanese ornaments called Temari and it’s how to make them.
I just loved the booties on the cover. Besides that, I love japanese style sewing, especially the three-dimensional clothing, which look a bit inspired by architecture rather than sewing.
I love the japanese style linen dresses. all clean lines.
My favourite japanese book is one whith lots of small purses and bags, victorian style. Lots of crazy patchwork, beads, lace and such. I don’t know the name or ISBN of the book, since it’s at my mom’s right now…
~*Ullis*~
I am addicted to the Japanese magazine called Pochée, all the clothes and accessories are so gorgeous and simple. The whole linen and cotton esthetic is simply irresistible.
A Japanese cloth-bound book case, as described in Kojiro Ikegami’s Japanese Bookbinding. It’s a wraparound case with flaps that you close with bone clasps, which are exquisite. You are supposed to make the case to fit the dimensions of the book. I imagined a whole library with a cloth case for each and every book – what if you had hundreds? It’s like something out of Borges’ Labyrinth.
Mine turned out a little wonky because I was so eager to get it done that I rushed through and didn’t measure properly.
Another, much easier, Japanese inspired project is one I found on the internet to make “a letter that is its own envelope” (Google that phrase and it will come up). It’s very sweet, especially if you seal it with a little molten sealing wax and a metal stamp. I have no idea whether this is in the traditional origami repertoire, but it looks gorgeous. Maybe a jazzing up of the old aerograms we used to send to relatives overseas? I use them all the time. They’re so simple to make.
Thank you for the giveaway, sounds lovely!
I have a lot of favourite Japanese inspired projects, depending what am I about to make..most recently it’s aprons…so cool and simple and stylish…I would also love to have a go at tunics..but that’s a thought for the future:)
For me, the jumper on the cover. Thanks for the giveaway.
i love all the little stuffies…the japanese style is so adorable.
I love the children clothes and fabric. I have a bunch of amigurumi patterns favorited on ravelry but I still have to get to make one :P
Ooohh, Japanese craft projects… too difficult to pick just one; what I love most about them in general is the attention to detail and the way they manage to make everything feel special. I’d love to try something from Patchwork Style, I have been collecting fabrics for a cot quilt and I’m sure the book has plenty of inspiration for such a project!
I’m lucky that there is a Kinokuniya book store near me. I have bought many Japanese craft books. My favorite project so far has been a beading project from “Beadweaving Brilliance” called Striped Choker. I made the necklace and a matching pair of earrings for a friend’s birthday. I have been a bookseller for 20 years and have always loved Shambala. I’m happy to see them working in this area.
My favorite project is a pattern for a long shirt dress. It should be the perfect thing for summer!
I have a book of needle-felted pastries that I bought at Kinokuniya in New York … they’re adorable!
I love the patchwork kitchen mat! Soulemama made a beautiful one.
I love their clean, simple lines and patterns. Very nicely designed.
Hard to pick one favorite. I love Japanese patterns for doll clothes (Blythe and BJDs), plus Japanese felt food patterns and dollhouse mini patterns. The Make Good Books sound inspiring.
I never got on the Japanese Craft Book Train and now that they’re in English I have no excuse.
I love the shoes…. and aprons… and bags… and quilts…and the photos
I love the mary jane slippers and I can’t help but love the log cabin quilting projects. Both books look amazing!
Patchwork Style is on my “Most Coveted” list at the moment! I had it in my hand at B&N last week, but reluctantly set it down due to the fact that I’m knee-deep in learning to knit, and knew I couldn’t give the Patchwork my undivided attention for a bit. But it has haunted me ever since! So glad they translated these!!
I love how many Japanese designs are done in simple colors and fabrics that allow the beauty of cotton tape for example, or pin tucks, or embroidery to really stand out. You really see the details when the rest of the piece is so simple.
I love the clean lines of Japanese patterns, and I’m especially intrigued with how that is combined with patchwork. So ingenious!
Love all the japanese crafting books….and to have an english translation is even better! I love the look of the apron on the cover of the Linen Wool Cotton book.
Great giveaway – thank you!
All that linen made to look so gorgeous and simply beautiful! ~H
My favorite Japanese craftbooks are my embroidery books. They add the cutest details to simple projects.
I love both these books…crossing my fingers!
Probably sashiko. But every project visible on the covers of these books looks like something I’d love to do! Thanks for the giveaway!
I love using origami to make decorations for parties.
sarahbcrawford(at)gmail(dot)com
I love the children’s clothing!
I loved those books in Japanese and now they are in English. So fun!
I’ve been a huge fan of Japanese craft books for a few years now. My kids can’t get enough of the cute felt animals but I love the simplicity of embroidered linen projects.
I’m all about making that patchwork fan-shaped bag!
I love all the Japanese projects with yo-yo’s. They’re so cute.
My favorite project is a quilt I made with all Japanese fabrics. It turned out gorgeous.
I love little handbags adorned with patchwork. What a great giveaway!
I have been making Kimono inspired jackets for years using hand dyed and printed fabrics.
I just enjoy finding inspiration to make things for my kids, and with a new little girl, now I have a reason to make the truly adorable things I’ve found like a bunny eared capelet for babies.
Wow, thanks for the giveaway. I LOVE all of the Japanese craft books and magazines…I occasionally treat myself to Cotton Time or Cotton Friend. I love all the smocks/aprons, etc., as well as the fabric bowls/baskets. Heck, I love ‘em all!
Natural linen, simple lines, clean honed down ideas in fashion and accessories “simply” amaze me.
my faves are the little flower draw string bags by Kumiko Sudo. I made them for gift bags and they were a hit.
I love japanese amigurumi books. But lately my hands have been itching for some zakka projects… These two books look perfect.
My favorite thing is cute felt dolls! I made an onigiri-type doll that was so easy and so adorable. Japanese crafts and Japanese-inspired crafts are the best.
These books both look so cute and useful! I’m definitely going to use the floor mat pattern this week.
I love the patchwork style book
It is so much like many of the japanese craft books but, the conversion to english makes the project much easier.
There are some DARLING purses in those books – I love making them!
I have the original Favorite Felt Sweets in Japanese and I am in love with all the photos. The linen aprons were always a fave of mine as well, but the clean Japanese lines are so gorgeous.
I can’t say I have a favorite japanese pattern, as each pattern or book I see I love everything in it.!! I am so glad they are being translated into English. I can read the charts for knitting and crocheting, but am kinda lost when it comes to sewing. Thanks a bunch!!
I actually have two favorites: (1) the Japanese Knot Bag which I love and apparently so do a number of my family/friends as I’ve ended up making tons of them. 2) The sashiko technique which I’ve used for a number of projects. I love the indigo color with white which has also made for some nice gifts for men as the sashiko seems to be non-gender dependent.
Such lovely books. I like the tissue holders – particularly the scrappy ones.
I am another sashiko fan, but I prefer it with a modern zakka-style. Like this apron
http://domesticali.typepad.com/domesticali/2008/01/simplicity.html
I would love to make a purse in patchwotk style. So exciting !
Oh, these are lovely books and I can’t wait for the next two either.
My favourite japanese inspired project is a wall quilt that my mother made–it’s a pebble walkway.
Fingers crossed.
Cool!! One of my best friends is always showing me her Japanese books. I will have to suggest these but would love to have me own copy.
I made a origami inspired teeny purse with hippos on it recently, I really enjoy the way the geometric look turned out.
Although they aren’t sewn, my favourite Japanese patterns are called tawashi and are these little scrubbies made by either knitting or crocheting up cotton or acrylic yarn. They are splendid for washing up and are super fun to make.
room shoes! they’re so cozy and when they’re made from linen they’re not too heavy for spring and fall even here in texas.
My favourite Japanese sewing project that I’ve done so far would have to be slippers: simple and so comfy!
I hand-sewed a great Japanese-inspired tank last summer using a lovely blue and white batik fabric. I cut out the pieces by copying a very plain tank. Once I’d sewn the side seams and the straps, I adjusted the fit around the neck by sewing box pleats. I wore it to one of my husband’s work functions — he thought I’d bought it in a shop!
I love the jumper in the Linen Wool Cotton book.
I’m not sure that I have a favorite – but I love the cuteness in Japanese prints! Thanks for the entry!
My favorite Japanese inspired crafts are patchwork bags. I have several favorite patterns from my collection of Japanese craft books.
Have to say I recently made a small bag that look slike a horse chestnut. It took me about an hour to discover what pieces related to which part of the bag but eventually it all came together and looks lovely, I did mine in floral so it didn’t look like a nut!!
Love these zakka books!!
I’ve only just started patchwork because of a desire to create more of a “home” for my children. The project I really want to tackle is matching patchwork totes for myself and my 4 year old daughter. I’m slowly collecting japanese inspired fabrics when I have extra money to splurge and I can’t wait to take her out for a girly afternoon once I make them (hopefully they turn out ok lol!!)
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