Stitch, wear, play 20 charming patterns for boys & girls

Japanese sewing books are increasingly popular with American audiences, particularly with sewists who gravitate toward simple shapes with delicate details. In this collection, London-based sewist Nakamura, who studied fashion in Japan, combines Eastern and Western design to great effect. Fans of Japanese sewing books will recognize the boxy, simplistic silhouettes, even when they're rendered in traditionally English Liberty-style prints. The garments range from simple play clothes, including shorts and tops, to party dresses suitable for dressy occasions. Step-by-step instructions with line drawings are provided for each garment, and an overview of specialized techniques, such as binding an armhole and making box pleats, is included. VERDICT These aren't necessarily the sort of clothes that children will gravitate to, but sewists interested in trying Japanese-style sewing on a smaller scale will appreciate these trendy looks for kids. © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.