For two years, I've been obsessed with the Drape Drape books by Hisako Sato, a graduate of the Bunka Fashion College in Japan. Each time I see another blog seamstress in one of these creations I just want them more. Because of my already straining book shelves of twenty sewing books, my still slow-moving stash of projects and fabrics, and my less than bountiful cache of disposable income I haven't bought one for myself. However, while I work through my other projects I keep track of the finished projects from all books, I guess to torture myself? Until I give up and buy them, I thought my research shouldn't go to waste. I put together a list of sewing bloggers around the world that have succeeded in creating gorgeous pieces from these books, along with links to those particular posts on their blogs.
Meggipeg projects from all three books (Australia)
Ancien-Nouveau from Book 2 (Sweden)
Sew Well from Book 2 and 3 (USA)
Lula Louise from Book 2 and 3 (USA)
Handmade by Carolyn from Book 1 (Australia)
Tessuti used all three books (Australia)
Jorth from Book 1 and 2 (Australia)
Fehr Trade from Book 2 (England)
Tangerine Samuri from Book 1 (USA)
Fashion Incubator sewed from all three books (USA)
Nikkishell from Book 1 (Australia)
Sew Smitten from Book 1 and 2 (England)
The Slapdash Sewist from Book 1 (USA)
Sewing In Athens from Book 1 (Greece)
Made By Meg from Book 1 (USA)
Sew Busy Lizzy from Book 2 and 3 (Australia)
Cation Designs from Book 1 (USA)
The Surly Seamstress from Book 2 and 3 (New Zealand)
The Material Girl from Book 1 (England)
Dixie DIY from Book 1 (USA)
Yes, Patterns from Book 2 and 3 (France)
The Sew Convert from Book 1 (Singapore)
J. Kaori Sews from Book 2 (USA)
Duck Bucket Sewing from Book 2 (USA)
Alabama Chanin tried out the #13 one piece tunic from Book 3 (USA)
Ariation made gorgeous bridesmaid dresses by adapting dress #2 from Book 2 (Trinidad & Tobago)
Pins And Brushes from Book 3 (Italy)
Needle And Ted from Book 2 (England)
F.Y.I. Here is the size chart used in all three books converted from metric to imperial:
Size
|
S
|
M
|
L
|
XL
|
Height
|
153
|
158
|
163
|
168
|
Bust
|
78
|
82
|
86
|
90
|
Waist
|
58
|
62
|
66
|
70
|
Hip
|
84
|
88
|
92
|
96
|
Size
|
S
|
M
|
L
|
XL
|
Height
|
5’
|
5’ 2”
|
5’ 4”
|
5’ 5”
|
Bust
|
31
|
32
|
34
|
35
|
Waist
|
23
|
24
|
26
|
28
|
Hip
|
33
|
35
|
36
|
38
|
For informational purposes here are the lists of contents from all three volumes. Noticed that the project titles are less than descriptive so I linked the finished projects I've found online to the name and correct volume so you can make an informed decision about which book you want. Luckily, the books are no longer hard to find and the English-language versions are now available from many online sellers outside of Japan. Therefore, it's now possible to price around and get the best deal.
no.2 gather drape cape jacket/vest here and gather drape pants
no.7 gather two-pattern tuck drape dressno.8 drape drape all-in-one
no.9 loose drape blouse
no.10 tuck drape dress
no.11 loose flare drape dress here
no.12 drawstring-detail drape tank-top here
no.13 loose drape top
no.14 tuck drape tunic blouse
no.15 loose drape tunic blouse
no.16 drape drape dress with gathered sleeves
no.17 goddess drape drape dress here
no.1 two-pattern gather drape bolero
no.3 three-pattern drape vest here
no.5 one-pattern drape skirt
no.8 two-pattern gather drape blouse here
no.9 three-pattern tuck drape pants
no.10 four-pattern tuck drape blouse
no.11 one-pattern drape dress
no.12 two-pattern tuck drape pants
no.13 two-pattern gather twist drape skirt
no.14 four-pattern gather drape skirt
Drape Drape 3
no.1 one-piece twist drape dress here
no.4 three-piece tuck drape pantsno.5 four-piece drape blouse
no.6 two-piece drape on drape dress
no.7 two-piece tuck drape blouse
no.8 three-piece tuck drape pants
no.9 three-piece twist gather drape dress and here
no.10 three-piece tuck drape skirt
no.11 three-piece string drape dress
no.12 three-piece gather drape wrap dress here and here
no.13 one-piece boatneck tunic
no.14 eight-piece twist collar tuck drape dress here
no.15 one-piece gather bare top drape dress
If you know of any from countries I haven't listed, please let me know in the comments. I am updating this as I find them. Thanks!
Thank for posting such great information.
ReplyDeleteWow, great resource - thanks!
ReplyDeleteah! You missed mine. :) I made Top no4 from Drape Drape 2: http://www.fehrtrade.com/gallery/711/asymmetric-drape-drape-tee
ReplyDeleteoh, and you also missed another, too! http://thematerialgirl.co.uk/drape-drape--nebula-dress (book 1, dress 3)
ReplyDeleteThanks Melissa, added them!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lot of research you did on this! Great info!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great compendium! I'm going to have to look through all these for inspiration. I made #5 from book 1, http://theslapdashsewist.blogspot.com/2009/10/birthday-dress-2009-drape-drape-5.html. (I made a couple from book 2 as well, but never posted about them.)
ReplyDeleteTrena, you're up there too. In fact, your green dress was the very first Drape Drape piece I ever saw and how I became obsessed with them in the first place! I still think your version is the best No. 5 dress I've seen.
ReplyDeleteVest 3 from drape drape 2. http://duckbucket.blogspot.ca/2014/03/see-my-vest.html?m=1
ReplyDeleteI've just heard about these books. Unfortunately, I exceed the dimensions on the pattern chart--I'm 5'7" and my full bust measurement is 44". Has anyone altered these patterns for larger sizing?
ReplyDeleteHy, I'm Sara from Italy. Great research!! Thanks... Here are my Drape Drape works:
ReplyDeletehttp://spilliepennelli.blogspot.it/2015/08/drape-drapesolo-per-veri-duri.html
http://spilliepennelli.blogspot.it/2015/03/no12-three-piece-gather-drape-wrap-dress.html
Kisses,
Sara
Thanks Sara, you have been added!
ReplyDeleteGreat resource. Do you know of anyone who has explained how to get the twist in 1 Piece Drape dress from book # 3?
ReplyDelete