One of my sewing New Years resolutions was to make an item out of every Japanese sewing book that I own. How hard can that be? Well, I hadn't realised I owned 12 of them - and that's not counting drafting magazines such as Cotton Time. The speed I make things there is now way I can make 12 things and still fit everything else in.

Well, out of those 12 book I have already made things from three of them

- the reversible top from Unique clothes anyway you wish

 - the heartbreak blouse from Simple Chic

 -the frankendress from Feminine Wardrobe an Simple Chic

So in my books I'm counting it that I have 9 left to make.

Here's the first - a draped front top from the book Kimono Remake.

Unfortunately its not my most successful project. This book is one of those where you draft the pattern yourself - and they only give instructions for one size.  It's also unusual in that it contains  patterns for recycling kimonos - so all the pattern pieces are below a certain width to take advantage of the strips of fabric from a kimono.

I did make a toile and when I couldn't get that over my head I remade it adding an extra centimetre to each of the body panel seams. This has still given a fit that is quite snug in the body but at the same time ill-fitting! Plus I think the fabric was a mistake - again it was just a cheapy from East Street market - and boy does it look cheap! 

I'm afraid its just iphone photos - therefore rubbish. Plus I can't smile and work a camera at the same time. On this front view you can see how badly it sits along the sides - various lumps and bumps become apparent.

The arms are a bit of a disaster too

I couldn't get the rolled hem on the fabric to sit flat  - the fabric is too thick.

All in all, not a great start.  Perhaps it would work in a thinner, drapier fabric - but I don't think it is for me.