There isn’t much information to be found about the author Tomoko Nakamichi. I searched on the internet, but I could only find the same information that’s also written in the Pattern Magic -books: She was a professor at Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo and now delivers lectures and holds courses both in Japan and internationally. All the garments in the pictures are actually in half-scale. Nakamichi created them with trial-and-error approach and they served to help her students understand better how patterns work. Basics Pattern Magic is the cult pattern-cutting book from Japan. Taking inspiration from nature, from geometric shapes and from the street, this book harnesses the sheer… There’s a dress with a group of knots in the front. What a great idea! The knots create an interesting texture. I made a different version by inserting the knots on the shoulders of a bodice and added some gathering, too. Gathered bodice with knots It’s difficult to say which one is my favorite. Each book has designs that I like. However I’ve done most variations on the pieces from book number 2, so I guess this means that it’s the most inspirational for me. What is Pattern Magic? Here’s a picture of a vanishing tie I made with some changes to the pattern. I think this way the pattern became more simple. I added stripes as well. Vanishing tie with stripes

by cutting and opening out the pattern, but a flare that is subtly concealed on the underside of the fabric. Making a pattern Íor the kakurenbo design with a drawing is easier than you think. These are really beautiful transformation, I love the nyokittos and the jungle flower. I don’t have any of the books neither have I tried any of these before. I’m now inspired to try some through your tutorials. Great job there Hello, did you ever try sewing the crater sleeve? I’ve been struggling to get the shape right and i was wondering if you’ve done it. This series of booksis ideal for intermediate & advanced fashion designer/dressmaker. In the series, Tomoko Nakamichi has written4books, 3 which usewoven fabrics and one of which usesstretch fabrics. I would be lying if I said these books are good for a beginner as you need some knowledge of pattern cutting and sewing to be able to use and understand the processes required to make the designs. That said, they'realso greatbooks if you would just like some design inspiration for a collection or for fashion illustrations.

The first book teaches how to insert knots, twists, cubes, holes, craters etc into your basic bodice. A version of the bamboo-bodice is in this book, too. Some techniques are surprising, as you literally attach the element with tape or pins on the garment and use style-lines to melt it into the pattern. In this new addition to the Pattern Magic series from Japan, Tomoko Nakamichi teaches you how to sculpt with fabric, creating beautiful shapes, waves and… A basicjabot-style frill A gorgeousdecorativeeffectfor the front of a blouse. The connectionbetweenthe sectionthat is visiblefrom the front and the sectionconcealedunderneathis important. Take the pieces of a three-dimensional garment apart and flatten them, to get individual pattern pieces.

The first Pattern Magic book in Japanese was published in 2005. The English edition came out later, in 2010, published by Laurence King Publishing Ltd. Nowadays you can find Pattern Magic also in German, Spanish and French. Currently there are three books on woven fabrics and one on stretch fabrics. The Author All the projects include step-by-step instructions with diagrams and lots of photos. Some are more difficult than others to understand, depending on your experience. Personally, I often use the books as inspiration, even just by looking at the pictures. How about you? Do you have the Pattern Magic -books? Have you made, or planned, any garments with the patterns? Links:I’ve tried almost every design in this book and then I made my own versions of some of them by changing You can create a garment by cutting, moving and reassemblingthe piecesof a pattern, just like the pieces of. a pazzle.

Pattern Magic Books By:Tomoko Nakamichi ​ Inspired by nature and geometry,this Japanese series of Pattern Magic books offers fashion designers & dressmakers the chance to be more playful with pattern cutting. Each design comeswith step by step written and photographed instructions making these intriguing designs possible. ​ As you can see, the second book has inspired quite a few designs for me! And to be honest, now that I was leafing through it, I started planning a couple of new ones, too… Here you can find garments inspired by the various geometrical shapes: circle, triangle and square. There’s a chapter on accordion-technique, with examples of that being inserted both in a sleeve and into a bodice. I’ve done a few designs using this technique and I love the way it creates really sculptural shapes. Here’s one. Accordion-sculptureFfareconceafed in a curve Thisdesignmakesyou wonderhow the flarehas beenconcealed. The foldedand layeredlook that hasso much depth is structurallybeautifuland exciting.With that ideain mind, I beganby drawing somecomplexcuryes. I first discovered these books during a sewing course. One of the fellow-students had brought the first two books with her in class and we were all leafing through them, amazed by the designs. Of course I then had to get the books myself, too.