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Don't you just love receiving a surprise parcel in the post? Particularly when they contain Japanese sewing books. Laurence King sent me these lovely books a few weeks ago and I thought you'd like to join me in drooling over the pictures (not literally, that would be hideous), with the pretty colours, covetable hairstyles, rabbit-in-the-headlights facial expressions and great line in clogs.
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Above images from Feminine Wardrobe by Jinko Matsumoto
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Above images from Stylish Dress Book by Yoshiko Tsukiori
These are slimline paperbacks, with simple construction instructions, annotated diagrams, and a pull-out sheet in the back with full-scale patterns in four sizes (xs, s, m, l) to trace off.
Now, while I love a good smock (in fact, I'm wearing a smock-style blouse as I type this), and while they look just darling on these cute-as-a-dolly models, I do believe that if I wore one of these dresses I would look even more teeny-tiny than usual. Yet I really do love these designs - particularly that bow-front dress, the black embroidered peasant top, and the blue utility smock in the last image. What do you think? Shorten the hemlines and maybe the sleeves a little? They're just so cute!