I Am Cute Dresses: 25 Simple Designs to Sew

I already had the Japanese version of this book but admit I longed for an English translation (especially for the pattern diagrams as I am not a native "metric speaker"!). The dresses are simply shaped and made up of very basic pattern pieces. That is good because they allow for fairly easy resizing (so don't let the size range in the book scare you off) and work great for personalization of a garment. Mix fabrics, add embellishments like embroidery and applique, that all works well on these sort of shapes. To those negative commenters, I really don't understand why you are giving this book such a low rating. First, did you look at any reviews or even online images for the book and dresses before you bought this book? I cannot imagine buying a sewing book without at least doing a little research to know what the projects are like to see if I would even want to make them. If you want more fitted, tailored clothing, look for books that contain such. That you chose a book that doesn't have the sort of clothing projects you want isn't the book's fault nor the author's. Second, if you are at least an intermediate sewist resizing the patterns to make them larger is quite do-able (I am at the high end of the sizes in this book and expect to have to resize some patterns but because the shapes are so basic it will not be a difficult task). If resizing scares you, just use some cheap materials and give it a shot--you may be pleasantly surprised! If you won't consider resizing at all or simply cannot do it, I would question if perhaps an introductory sewing book might be a better step for where your skills are at right now? The book works. The photos are good, the patterns are well laid out and explained. I haven't come across any errors. Those are the criteria I think should be used when rating a book like this. If you are unsure if this book and the dress styles are right for you, though, do a little research at your local bookstore or online to get a better feel for what these dresses are like. :)

This is a book of patterns that will be very fast to work up for an advanced to intermediate sewer and frustrating to a beginner. To use this book correctly you will need to know how to take your own measurements, use book diagrams to draw the pattern on paper, slash/pivot to alter, insert a zipper, make bias tape, button hole. The patterns were written for the Japanese audience with intermediate skills between bust of 35-36 inches and hip of 38-39 inches but the metric measures will be a lot more exact to calculate changes. You will need to use the diagrams for each dress and plot each piece out on your own pattern paper which is the norm outside the US. Assembly is straightforward and there is enough guidance to suit. It will be mysterious and frustrating to a beginner though because of what it assumes you already know. It tells you what to do but not exactly how or the steps between cut and sew like press, the direction to sew seams together, or how to stabilize lacy overlays.

I love the designs. At the moment I'm liking the shapeless, cotton type dresses (I live in TX and it's summer - need I say more). What really took me by surprise is THERE ARE NO PATTERNS!!! I assumed this book would be like Yoshiko Tsukiori books where printed patterns all all tucked in envelope at the back. Nope. Get out your tape measure and figure it out yourself. This book belongs in the hands of skilled seamstresses or those who have taken pattern making classes. If you're old school like me, try books by the author I mentioned above. The description of this book wasn't very clear on this point. Apparently "basic template" is code for NO PATTERNS!! Buyer beware.

This book is such an inspiration. Every dress is tasteful, classy and feminine. One may get the impression that these are loose, oversized type dresses that the rounder type figure can use. But if you are not normal weight I don’t think you could use a lot of them. But there are one or two dresses there that could work for the rounder shape. worth the price of the book to see(ok for the Romanesque figure). it is the one with pintucks. It is poetry. Absolutely beautiful. A dress to wear almost anywhere and for any occasion. I am not experienced enough to do these from these illustrations so I am going to take them to a dress maker to draw the patterns for me. These are all sleeveless except one and another with cap sleeve. If you want to look like a million get this book!

I have to admit that my expectations were high, and I have been a little disappointed. Ok, the pictures are great, and there is no pattern included because all the dresses are composed by few easy parts. For sure these projects will be great for beginners, and for sure you will spend few time on your sewing machine to make one of them. But I just want to say that I haven't found any impressive project in here.

Yet another awesome dress book patterns. Love the lines of this way of dressing. The sky is the limit on what a materials to use. Therein lies my problem of trying to decide, where to begin :).

This book isnt for the novice sewing bods but for the more experienced enthusiastic have a go types ☺ the patterns are very pretty and the books packed with lovely simple designs. The sizes are a bit small but your asked to add seam allowances so I added on at this stage. The instructions are breif and to the point which i liked. A lovely book.

Also, ich kann die negativen Rezensionen nicht verstehen. Durch die Buchvorschau kann man sich die Kleider vorher anschauen und da die Buchvorschau zu diesem Buch recht umfangreich ist, bekommt man einen sehr guten Eindruck über den Stil der Kleider. Mir gefallen fast alle ausserordentlich gut - sonst hätte ich das Buch auch nicht bestellt. Mir gefallen aber besonders auch die Schnitte - in meinen Augen bestens geeignet für Übergrösse, da man mit den Schnitten Problemzonen umspielen kann. In meinem Fall den Bauch. Es gibt viele Schnitte, die entweder eine Art Empire-Naht oder eine tiefe Hüftnaht haben, also nicht Taillenbetont sind. Das muss man mögen oder brauchen. Ansonsten gefällt mir besonders gut, dass viele Schnitte "historisch" wirken - also entweder an Kleider der 20er (mit den tiefen Hüftnähten), 40er (Uniform) der 50er (Neckholder), der 60er (Etui ohne Taillie) oder 70er (Hippiekleid) erinnern. Mir persönlich gefallen auch fast alle im Buch gewählten Stoffe. Diese Kleider hätte ich so auch gerne in meinem Kleiderschrank. Es stimmt, dass es keine herausnehmbaren Schnittmuster gibt. Ja. Aber die Autorin erklärt auch warum: Jede soll die Kleider den eigenen Körpermaßen anpassen. Dazu gibt die Autorin zu jedem Kleid einen Schnittüberblick und markiert in den Schnitten die Nähte, die entsprechend der eigenen Maße angepasst werden müssten (gekennzeichnet durch einen Stern). Noch mehr: sie gibt auch eine Formel an, mit der man die eigenen Maße auf die benötigte Nahtlänge umrechnen kann. Ich persönlich erhoffe mir durch den Stil der Schnitte, dass ich sie auf Übergrösse zoomen kann. Das wurde an anderer Stelle (Rezension) auch als positiv hervorgehoben. Die Schnitte scheinen dazu bestens geeigent, gerade weil sie nicht besonders figurbetont sind. Bis jetzt bin ich bestens mit dem Buch zufrieden, werde aber ggf. berichten, wenn sich die Schnitte tatsächlich nicht an die eigenen Körpermasse anpassen lassen. Ach so, es stimmt, dass die schriftlichen Ausführungen nicht besonders lang sind, aber die Schnitte sind ,wie der Titel schon sagt, sehr simpel und wer noch nicht einmal weiss, wie man einen Reissverschluss einnäht, der legt sich eben einen Grundlagenbuch von z. B. Burda daneben. Alles wird gut ;) .

Si, merita, molto carino. Chiaro e semplice nelle spiegazioni pure illustrate. Anche se non si é pratici con l' inglese é comprensibilissimo

It’s a good book but would have been better if it came with paper patterns.

ci sono venticinque modelli di vestiti. piuttosto semplici, che danno buoni spunti anche per eventuali esplorazioni personali. può andare bene anche per principianti perchè i cartamodelli partono da forme molto semplici (rettangoli, trapezi), per arrivare ad abiti carini senza dover gestire elementi di alta sartoria e di alta difficoltà. le misure sono un pochino più abbondanti di quelle a cui queste "ragazzine" giapponesi ci hanno abituato, tuttavia i modelli sono nella maggior parte così schematici che credo non sia difficile modificare ampliando le taglie ove necessario.