Otome No Sewing Best Collection - Review

 Hello everyone! So today a super exciting package came in the post. I opened it up, and inside was this book! 

Otome No Sewing is a series of books published by Boutique Sha, containing patterns and tutorials specifically for lolita fashion. This one in particular is a compilation of certain pieces from Volumes 4 to 7, which are all out of print, so it's good they've been partly released here. I specifically bought this one because there was a cape pattern I really, really wanted, but I was pleasantly surprised by all the other fantastic patterns in here! Let's get right in!

The first patterns are classic lolita themed, including an A-line JSK, an Edwardian (?) inspired walking skirt, a blouse and fake collar, a bolero, and several accessories, including a headbow, a choker and a bonnet. I think my favourite pattern here is the blouse, and I love the way you can mix and match with the collar. I'm also excited to see a bolero pattern. The A-line JSK is nice too, even if the skirt isn't very full (but that can be easily fixed by altering the pattern, I think.) I'm not so sure about the bonnet, though..... it's a bit small for my tastes, but that's a me problem. 

The next patterns are more Gothic. They include a jumperskirt with tiered ruffles, a lovely trumpet sleeve blouse, a skirt with a lace panel, a rectangle headdress, a headbow and cape (one of two cape patterns in this book), and even a stuffed animal bag! I'd been wanting one of those lately. I think this is the best overall coord collection in the book, though maybe I'm biased because I'm a gothic lolita. Anyway, there's a lot of different styles you could get out of these patterns!

Selected patterns in this book have step by step tutorials. This one's for the blouse, and includes diagrams and written instructions in Japanese. I like that they've used contrasting thread and fabric colours to show you where to sew.

These patterns are sweeter than the past two. There's a skirt and wrist cuffs on the right, and an adorable fully shirred JSK. Aww, just look at the little ruffles in the skirt! I've heard fully shirred items are super comfy, so this'll definitely be something for me. Oh, and another bonnet. 

These patterns are more casual. There's a nice salopette and a sailor dress, and tutorials for a hairclip and a beret. Neither of the main items are my style, but they do look very, very cute. I will use the beret pattern, though!

There's the cape I was talking about! It's part of an ouji set. I just love the brown tartan. And the striped JSK on the right has nice construction and button detailing. If I made it, I'd probably alter the pattern to have the bodice end at the waist. I think it's a sensory thing - I just don't feel comfortable in items that end below my waist, but that's just me. I adore the accompanying black blouse the model is wearing, though, and luckily there's a pattern for it!

Then you have another fully shirred OP and a nice, long JSK made of gobelin. I think the JSK would be perfect for winter - I've already decided to make one in black velvet when the weather gets colder again. The OP is cute, too.

Extra patterns include an adorable sleepwear set. I was so delighted to find it! I'd been racking my brains over how I could find, or make, cute lolita sleepwear, and now I can make it. There's also a pattern for long bloomers and a petticoat. The latter would have been really useful to me two months ago, when I was struggling to make a petti from scratch! 

Last in the book are some accessory tutorials, for bow clips and a large folded headbow (not pictured), and another dodgy bonnet! I'm not sure if any of the bonnets here are for me. I might just draft my own. 

After that you get to the patterns and the tutorials. There's pages and pages - each item in the book has a little label denoting the page number its pattern is located on. Select patterns also have life size paper patterns, useful if you hate drafting. I should note that each pattern has different size options for small, medium and large. There's a chart in a foreword telling you lots of measurements for each size. I can post that if anyone wants it. Unfortunately, the large size isn't very big, but I think you could alter the patterns to fit plus sizes if you had experience. 

Overall, I'm delighted with this book! I know I'm going to get lots of use (and lots of lovely items) out of it too. It's very user friendly, even to someone with limited literacy in Japanese. I'd absolutely recommend it to anyone who's interested in handmade lolita.