Sewing Happiness

Starred review from April 1, 2016

When Ishida lost her high-stress job, she felt that her life was set adrift. Faced with a diagnosis of Graves' disease, she chose to regroup and focus on sewing--a hobby she enjoyed but had little time for as an adult. As she dove into a variety of sewing projects, she found herself healing both physically and emotionally. Each of the four sections of the book opens with a heartfelt essay about the role of sewing and creativity in Ishida's life. In a world of Pinterest-perfect styling and overposed, overedited sewing blog photos, Ishida's honesty is refreshing, and her thoughtful musings on the importance of "taking a break"--whether to sew, enjoy family, or simply appreciate our lives--are a delight. The minimalist style will be familiar to fans of Japanese sewing books, and the author's openness to working with fabrics besides cotton (she includes patterns for wool, linen, jersey knits, and even leather or faux leather) will inspire sewists to try something new. Standout designs include a classic dopp kit sewn from wool felt, a pair of knit yoga pants that takes the intimidation out of sewing with knits and constructing custom-fit pants, and a child's dress that replicates Ishida's first project, a dress for her daughter. The instructions are thorough, the tips and advice are generous, and the overall presentation is thoughtful. VERDICT It's unusual to see so much of the author's personality in a sewing book, and Ishida's appealing warmth makes this lovely collection a standout.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2016
Part sewing-pattern collection, part one woman's personal tale of her self-help journey, this book aims to be as inspirational as it is useful. Ishida recounts her experience of burning out in her corporate job, being diagnosed with a thyroid disease, and taking the nonmedicinal treatments she self-prescribed to recover her health. Each chapter covers a season in her life and includes four or five sewing patterns that relate to what she was going through during the first year of her recovery or to that time of the year. Ishida also struggles with body image and relates the role this has played in her life as an individual, a mother, and someone who confronted the shape of her body in order to make her own clothing. The patterns included are minimalist in design, and the whole book has an earthy, nature-inspired feel. Patterns here take the form of written instructions with measurements and hand-drawn diagrams, which will work well for those with more experience sewing or who prefer a less defined workflow than traditional printed patterns.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)