Sweet Book Week Reflection

I would usually highlight a Japanese book for book week, but this year, I went in a saree. We have a large population of Indian students at our school and I wanted them to know I see them, and that their culture and language are respected and valued in our school too. The number of Indian parents who took the time to thank me for wearing their dress made the hours of practice putting it on worth it. 

What I do at school as a teacher is more than just my passion for Japanese. How are you seeing and recognising the various languages and cultures represented in your school, workplace or community?

The book, Amma’s Sari by Sandhya Parappukkaran, also perfectly encapsulates why I wear my yukata and kimono etc, as often as I can. Such a simple yet moving book for people who are representing one culture while living in another. 

My other Book Week posts will no doubt be late this year, since I've been swamped at work and quite overwhelmed with life at the moment, but reflecting on this beautiful saree and the choice I made to wear it gives me hope of a brighter future. 

Mass Production: Colouring Shorts

Here is a little something I did back in June but didn't get around to blogging about. Mass production on shorts. 

I had picked up the material in Spotlight on sale a while ago, thinking to make something for our newest nephew. Our neighbours also had new grand-babies added to them in the last year, so I figured, while I was at it, I may as well make them some too.

The next thing you know, I'm also making shorts for their older grand-sons, and my sister's nephew on her husband's side. I mean, why make one, or three, when you can make six pairs of shorts all in one go? Right?  

Since Archie is still under two, I let Hugo, Sophie and Rachel decorate his for him before I sewed them together. The kids had a stack of fun decorating the little monsters and talking about what they thought Archie would like.

It took me back to 2018 when they were colouring in a pair of shorts for Hugo to wear to kindy. 

Sycamore shorts pattern for the win again. Clicking back through the archive, turns out my first batch of mass production Sycamore Shorts was in 2014, so that makes 10 years of shorts making for people. Almost can't believe it. 

Japanese Fabric Sewing Part 2

Continuing to catalogue my sewing adventures so I can look back and see the work I've done, here is another dress that I made with some Japanese fabric from our April Travels. I was (and still am) very actively trying to sew fabric that I buy, rather than let it languish in my "stash". And also trying to be intentional about what I buy, and how I make it, so that it does indeed become something great that I will wear again and again, and not just add to the current insurmountable waste problem the world has. 

Small rant over, onto the dress. 

Just using the self drafted pattern that I've used before here, this dress is fun and perfect for being a crazy Japanese teacher. (Side note; I honestly thought I had made more dresses with this pattern, but I think I'm remembering wrong... time to make another?)

I sewed it in less than a week so I could wear it for Bento Day at school, which means I must have made it in May. Productive month!

My only regret was that when I laid out the pattern, I didn't realise I could cut the pockets out of another section and end up with a strip of material for a waist tie/belt. As it is, I have the exceptional pockets and a slightly obscurely shaped leftover bit of fabric, which isn't the end of the world since I'll surely use it up for some other project. Slowly, slowly I get better about achieving minimal waste. 

Japanese Fabric Sewing

When we were in Japan in April, I not only got to buy some cool kimono related things, but also visit the famous Fabric Town in Nippori. My Mum has told me that on one of her shopping trips in this area she came away with 12 kilos of fabric, and while I was much more restrained, I did come away with some very nice pieces to make things with. 

This is the first thing I made, actually back in May. The fabric is a beautiful 100% cotton with such a delightful frog and lillypad print that I couldn't let it go. As soon as I got it I knew I would make another Cypress Dress with it. 

I had enough material for sleeves and pockets, but not enough buttons for everything in one colour, so I did blue and red alternating, rather than going to buy more. 

It's incredibly hard to photograph oneself in a dress, but I absolutely love this one.