A Sushi Cat Dress for the Literary Sewing Circle

I've made my project for the Literary Sewing Circle! I had this one in mind all along, but wasn't sure if it was actually going to work out or just look TOO over the top ;)

I like it! I was inspired by Ruth and Oliver's trip to "The Liver", when they visit Arigato Sushi to get some help deciphering the letters that were tucked into Nao's lunchbox. Also by the presence of both Pesto and Chibi in both Ruth and Nao's lives, cats who are important to them.

My favourite motif

I bought this Michael Miller Katamaki quilting cotton at the thrift store quite a while ago. There was a 3m. piece of it, and it was so cute I couldn't pass it up. Because the print is so huge, I needed a really simple design with not many seams at all to avoid excessive pattern matching woes.


I found the perfect pattern when I made my first Liesl & Co Terrace Dress earlier this year. This pattern is simple, an a-line shift with pockets and sleeve variations. I loved the way it fit me the first time I made it -- the shape of it is just right. So this time I made it longer (just below knee length) and added the longer sleeve option.

I had a bit of fuss over the sleeves, though. First I tried it with just the cut on dropped sleeve; it looked okay but the proportions didn't seem quite right. So I cut the longer sleeve; even with shortening it, it came almost to my wrist. It was too long and overwhelming. I just kept folding it under and testing until I came to the right length, about two inches below my elbow. At this length the sleeve fits the style of the dress and the proportions are right. I really like it.

I made the simple sash belt with this version, both because a larger one would have pattern clashed, and also because I was running out of fabric. I was able to squeeze this sash in along the edges of fabric I had left, and I have just a few small chunks of "Katamaki" left now. I'm going to repurpose them for some little pouches, since I can't bear to waste any of this entertaining fabric.

Even up to finishing it, I had in mind that if it turned out to be too overwhelming I could just cut it up for quilting or something like that. But as it turns out, once I got the length of both dress and sleeve right, and put it together with shoes and the perfect necklace, I really love it.

And of course, with a print like this, I had to find the perfect photo location. I went down to the General Store, home of Mr. Kim's Sushi & Rolls. (I love their veg sushi!)

They kindly gave me permission to take photos in the store. It's a fun place, a mix of convenience store, sushi bar, and gift shop. Their Korean and Japanese bowls, cups and decorative goods are lovely -- here I am admiring a tea tin. They also sell pretty chopsticks so I had to buy some to match my dress while eating sushi.

I was really pleased with this dress, and also by finishing off a photo session with some delicious avocado-cucumber sushi. What could be better? Well, probably not being so distracted looking over your photos that you put a huge blob of wasabi on one piece of sushi and then pop it down...just saying. Couldn't see much for a minute with my eyes watering, haha!

I definitely recommend this pattern! I've made it twice now and love both dresses. It's an easy sew, with nice finishing, and it is great for prints. Just like in my last version, though, I did raise the pocket placement by over 2". So check that before you sew any pieces down! Otherwise, excellent and reliable pattern. I love it.

If you've made your project already, don't forget to link it up in our final Literary Sewing Circle post!

Literary Sewing Circle: Finale & Project Link Up!

Today is already our final day of the Literary Sewing Circle focusing on A Tale for the Time Being! I hope you've had the chance to read the book, and both the first and second inspiration posts, and are getting lots of ideas for a project of your own.

The project linkup will be added to the bottom of this post: as soon as you are done your project, just pop a link to your post into the linkup and we will all be able to visit your blog/instagram etc. and explore your creation -- remember, it can be sewn, or knitted, crocheted, embroidered... any textile art that you practice.

Photo by Gabriel Gabriel on Unsplash

Today's post also gives us the chance to talk about our reading experience a little more. If you haven't yet had a chance, check out our first discussion post for some specific questions and feedback from readers -- also take a look at our feature on Ruth Ozeki and how her writing reflects her Buddhist approach to life, and see if it raises any questions for you.

Did you enjoy this novel? Did you have a favourite character? Was there a theme which particularly resonated? What part of it stood out for you as your inspiration for your project? Was there anything you didn't like about this novel? Had you heard of it prior to this readalong? Did you recognize any of the character quirks in the story? What did you think of the mix of narratives? How about the idea of time as a fluid concept? Do you think that the role of writing and storytelling was important in this story?

Photo by Tomas Sobek on Unsplash

Here are some of my thoughts on this novel.

I read it first in 2013, when it was published. I loved it then, and I've really enjoyed rereading it and digging right into it looking for deeper themes and details. 

As I shared in all the previous posts, there are so many things I love about this book. Both the storylines, of Ruth and Nao, are so compelling. Each of them is dealing with elements of their lives that they aren't thrilled with, though I think we can agree that Nao's reality is a bit harsher. As Sara pointed out in the last book discussion, they are both facing compromises that have been or must be made, not always by their choice.

And I find the settings so similar even if they are half a globe apart. Though Nao is in a busy, crowded city, she's still isolated and alone. She's quite literally isolated, as if she isn't even there, by her cruel classmates in their final ploy to harass her. And both of her parents are absorbed by their own concerns and distress, leaving her to manage the emotional distress she faces all alone. I just realized that both Ruth and Nao have absent mothers, and perhaps a strong need for that mothering that they are missing.

And of course, the life of Jiko is such a rich vein. The way she represents the best of Japanese culture, history, and religious thought, as opposed to all the terrible, shallow and dangerous currents that Nao moves through in daily life, is so powerful. Jiko is calm, a rock in the centre of this tumultous sea. There are so many of these contrasts in the story -- between Jiko's life and Nao's school experience, or their cramped apartment and Jiko's large empty temple in the countryside -- between the quiet, sparsely populated BC island where Ruth lives (but where you know everyone) and Nao's frenetic city where you know no-one -- between middle aged Ruth and teen Nao -- so many more contrasts to highlight the themes of the book.

I also love the scientific themes in the book. From Oliver's trees to Cassie's barnacles, from the discussion of the ocean gyres and the effects of plastic pollution all the way to theoretical physics and concepts of time, there is so much to think about and talk about and make a reader dizzy! I hope you were inspired to think and create while reading this book, like I was.

Now as to my project, I have a lot of ideas! I just hope I have enough time. I might try to do two projects because I just can't decide on one. But as I am also a Time Being and a busy one, I'm not sure about that ;) 

I am going to start with a dress made from a fabric I mentioned in a previous post, a Michael Miller Katamaki print that I picked up at Goodwill quite a while ago. It's a pretty big print but I want to see if it will work! I'm inspired by the presence of many cats in this novel, and by the visit to Arigato Sushi in "The Liver". After that, if I finish it, I want to try one of the pieces from one of the many Japanese pattern books I've been sharing over the last month. Or maybe a Waffle Patterns Snowball Dress! If you are currently making plans, please feel free to share them in the comments, too -- I'd love to see them. 

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

What project have you made, inspired by your reading of A Tale for the Time Being? Share a link to your project post here! Links are open until NOV 15 so you have a full month of sewing time to finish and share.

Don't forget that any finished project shared by the deadline will be eligible for a draw for a 30 Euro coupon from our sponsor, Waffle Patterns! (approx. 3 patterns) Get your projects in! 

Literary Sewing Circle: Halfway Point!

It's hard to believe that we are already halfway through our Literary Sewing Circle round for this fall! Today's the day for some serious book talk! How are you doing with the book? Have you started it yet? Finished it? Do you have any reactions you'd like to share? 

Here are a few questions to ponder today and for the next while -- whether you have begun reading, or you've only read blurbs & author interviews so far and still have something to say, join in! Although there might be a few spoilers in the questions and discussion below so if you haven't got too far yet you might want to come back to this post.

I'll add some of my own thoughts and you can reply to them or add your own impressions. If you want to hear other takes on a part of the book that you are curious about, leave your own questions in the comments, too. I hope you are all enjoying it so far!

1. What was the first thing that drew you to this book? Was it the setting? The historical context? The concept?

I first read this book when it was newly published because I was already a big fan of this author. The fact that it seemed more complex than her earlier novels was also a draw -- plus I do love Japanese settings. And lots of philosophical talk in my novels. So this was a win all around. When I first read it I knew right away that this one was a award contender with staying power.

2. Do you enjoy the narrative switching between Nao and Ruth? Do you prefer one over the other?

I really did like it. Naoko's story was tough -- so much difficulty and struggle in her life at the point that she was writing her diary. So it was a kind of relief to switch over to Ruth, who was reading Nao's story right along with us, and see how she was interpreting it and dealing with it too. 

I feel like the core of the book is Nao, and Ruth's story is kind of like a commentary alongside of it. Though the way the two lives intermingled more and more was also interesting! How Ruth's reading influenced Nao's writing, even from the future/past. The shifty nature of time was a great inclusion.

3. Nao writes a diary, trying to communicate with an imagined future reader, and Ruth is a writer, trying to do the same thing in a different context. What do you think the focus on reading and writing is saying about communication between people in our lives?

As I just noted, the interplay between Nao's writing and Ruth's reading was fascinating for me. How can writing from the "past" influence our daily life, and vice versa? The idea that time is malleable was so interesting. In this context, I think that the writing element also shows the isolation of both characters, the way in which communication comes at one remove for both of them, in many ways. 

I do feel that reading somebody's writing is the closest we can get to being truly inside their heads, and maybe that's why I love fiction and diaries so very much. Reading helps us understand and empathize with others and with differing experiences and life views. 

4. There are many references to physics, ecology, and environmental issues in this book. How does this reflect the way the characters live in their world? Did you engage with this element at all? 

I loved this element! Like I've said, I do enjoy thoughtful writing, and I also appreciate frank discussion of the issues we are all facing in our environment. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is real, and it's affecting us all. It's explained a little more in this novel, alongside of ecological issues thanks to Oliver's work, and the symbolic presence of an alien species to BC, the Japanese Jungle Crow. 

The discussion of time as a concept also resonates both with Buddhism and with physics. I love physics, and have often seen discussions of spirituality alongside the weirder aspects of physics. It makes you think, and wonder about the solidity of our perceptions. Of course, this is also an important concept in the plot of this book -- how can Ruth shift time and affect Nao, in ways that we don't expect that we can influence the past in the same way we can clearly influence the future -- it all comes down to the questioning of the reality of time as an arrow, and the perception of daily or dream life. 

5. There is quite a bit of focus on death in this book: whether suicide, war, old age, or other reasons, there's a lot of discussion about it. What role does this theme play? Do you think it's connected to the Buddhist content of the story?

There really is a lot of discussion of death, and suicide, and being or not being. This is integral to this story of Time Beings, though, I think -- the whole point of the questioning of time and of the Buddhist content is that we are all only really alive NOW in this moment. And the impermanence of life means that there will someday be no more Now for us. 

I did appreciate Ozeki's explanation of suicide and its differing meanings in the West and in Japan -- a different cultural context for it results in vastly different understandings of how and why it happens. 

I feel like only by understanding and accepting death can the characters truly appreciate life, and in Jiko's death, both Nao and her father are restored to a committment to living. 

6. What do you think about the role of dreams in this novel? How much influence do you think dreams have on 'real life', and why does Ozeki play with this concept frequently in the story?

I both liked and didn't like the reliance on dreams. Nothing is more boring that listening to someone else recount their dreams to you, in a social context, and Ozeki skirts that line a bit here, at least for me. 

That said, at least the reader is experiencing the dream alongside the character, and not listening to them tell someone else about it! 

The final dream is a bit discombobulating, and one of the elements that most divides people who read this book! I understand that Ruth's influence on Nao's present by moving into Ruth's past is kind of the point, a play on the themes of the book, but I felt a little conflicted about whether or not I really bought it. Again, it's another expression of the malleability of time and reality, and so within the confines of this particular story, I think it does fit. 

7. Is there a particular character that you found especially compelling? Any themes or symbols that really resonate with you? 

Aside from the main characters, I really loved Jiko -- she is so clearly a wise woman, inspiring to Nao and to readers. Her words and her sanguine approach to life were appealing. Perhaps we all wish we had an old grandmother like this to guide us, or maybe we hope to be like her ourselves some day.

But some of the side characters were also charming, like Jiko's fellow nun who does all the support work in their temple. And Ruth's mother was also one of those lovely characters for me. 

There were a lot of images and symbols in the story that resonated as well. Water, tides, the ocean, currents -- they reflect the shifting nature of reality in the larger story. The Japanese Jungle Crow, out of place but meaningful. Trees & Nature. Writing. Time itself. This book feels like it contains endless ripples of themes and images to discuss.

8. Is there anything specific  in the book that has sparked an idea for a project yet? Are you mulling over any ideas?

There are some sentence-level images that really resonate with me, like the idea that handwriting expresses the soul much more than a screen (when Ruth first finds the diary) or Nao's description of the gingko trees at the temple. I'll be looking more closely at some of these images in our next inspiration post. 

Right now I have an idea or two based on the setting and on some of the descriptions of both British Columbia and Japan. And I have some suitable fabrics to use too -- just have to decide on something. My project will most likely be a dress, knowing me.  I have to narrow down my multiple ideas! 

Literary Sewing Circle: Author Feature

photo by Latrippi  via Flickr

Today we'll be looking at the author of our current Literary Sewing Circle pick. Ruth Ozeki is a multi-talented author, film-maker, and Zen Buddhist priest.

 She's also a part time university instructor. As shared on her academic bio for Smith College:

Ruth Ozeki is an award-winning author, filmmaker and Zen Buddhist priest whose novels have garnered international critical acclaim for their ability to integrate issues of science, technology, environmental politics, philosophy and global pop culture into unique hybrid narrative forms. Her best-selling novel A Tale for the Time Being (2013) won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and was shortlisted for the 2013 Man Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award; it has been translated and published in more than 35 countries. Her earlier novels, My Year of Meats (1998) and All Over Creation (2003), were both New York Times Notable Books.

Her earlier novels -- My Year of Meats and All Over Creation -- are both concerned with the environment, with identity, with community, just like this latest novel. My Year of Meats was my first introduction to her writing, and I really loved it. So I'm happy to share this latest novel with you, too. 

Interviews:

Ruth Ozeki on books in life and in her fiction

Ruth Ozeki talking about author interviews and A Tale for the Time Being

Ruth talks about libraries with the Public Library Association in the US

And there is a wonderfully thought-provoking talk that you can listen to that Ruth Ozeki gave as part of her work at Smith College, all about the connections between Buddhism and autobiographical writing. It's nearly an hour & a half, so get a cup of tea ready and settle in!





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Now, there is something else about this author that I think we sewists might be particularly interested in. Ozeki is not only a writer, filmmaker and intellectual, she's also an ordained Buddhist priest. As part of that process, she was required to sew her ordination robes herself,  by hand. She talks a bit about this in this article:

Confessions of a Zen Novelist

In this article, she refers to sewing her Rakusu. This is a miniature version of the Buddha's robe, a bib-like piece sewn by students as they are preparing for the ceremony in which they'll receive their Bodhisavatta precepts: more on this here, including a nice clear photo of a Rakusu.

The Brooklyn Zen Centre has shared an interesting article on the sewing of the Rakusu, including a lovely quote about the importance of sewing in Buddhism from Tomoe Katagiri,  a well-known Zen Buddhist sewing teacher. And then you can read a full-length interview with Katagiri all about her life as a Buddhist sewing teacher. It is really moving; one stitch at a time, just like life, that's Zen stitching.

The next item that Ozeki sewed was her Okesa, her ordination robe. What is an Okesa exactly? You can find out here.

Once again, the Brooklyn Zen Centre has a nice set of photos of an Okesa that the students there sewed as a group for one of their priests.

If you are particularly interested in the theory behind the importance of the role of sewing in Buddhist practice, you can find a discussion in a forum which talks about the process of sewing okesa -- a comment notes that sewing is zazen, too! I think many of us could agree with that.

And you can even find an online copy of Tomoe Katagiri's book on Buddhist sewing, which covers the why and wherefores of fabric sourcing, colours to be used, designs and techniques, how and why to sew and to wear these items, and the purpose of it all. If you are really keen on finding out more about sewing as a Buddhist practice, this is a great read. But please note that these items are only to be sewn with the permission of a Zen teacher, in the steps involved in one's serious Buddhist study.

I hope that this gives you a little more to think about as we keep reading. We can continue to consider our own sewing and its place in our lives as we read.

Literary Sewing Circle: Inspiration!

It's the first week of this round of the Literary Sewing Circle and time for some inspiration! Have you got your hands on a copy? Have you started reading yet? 

I thought I'd start us off with the most obvious inspiration -- the setting! This book has two primary settings, Tokyo and a small island on the BC coast. 

Let's start with Japan. If you take that as your source of inspiration, you can go in many directions. 

You might think about using Japanese fabrics to make your project. Nani Iro, Lecien fabrics, Kobayashi, Echino, NekoNeko -- there are many brands, lines, or shops that specialize in Japanese fabrics. Here are few lovely ones.

Probably the best known source for Japanese fabric is Miss Matabi. Lots of choice and great shipping rates too. There are a wide variety of designs to choose from, from cute to elegant to colourful.

 There are also some wonderful Japanese shops, like FabricTales. Gorgeous fabrics shipped from Japan from traditional to modern, florals to "japanesque" designs. She even sells fabric cords. I'm coveting some of that!

Then there is our own Canadian online shop FabricSpark, who sells a line of Japanese fabrics along with all the other wonderful things she stocks.

If you don't want to include Japanese themes just in your fabric choices, you could think about incorporating some Japanese inspired techniques into your project, like Shibori

photo by Agistadler via Flickr

or Sashiko

or even fabric origami! There is a whole book on this, and lots more out there online.

There are many Japanese patterns you could use also. Any of the very popular Japanese Pattern Books are a good start! There are also Japanese pattern magazines, though those will likely be easier to use if you can read Japanese.

Or of course you could take a look at the patterns by Japanese pattern designer, and our Literary Sewing Circle sponsor, Yuki from Waffle Patterns. Don't forget, anyone who posts a finished project by our due date of November 15 will be entered into a draw to win a 30 Euro voucher from Waffle!

There are lots of patterns at Waffle that match with this book, from fabulous outerwear to delicate daily tops and either slim or wide leg pant options too.

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There are also other areas to explore for your inspiration. If you are caught by the elements of the story that take place in B.C., you might want to use a pattern from a company based in BC as well. Of course there is Helen's Closet to inspire you. I can imagine her Suki Robe in a soft Japanese cotton lawn for summer!

You could explore In House Patterns from BC too -- her soft bow blouse would mix well with some luscious printed Japanese fabric.

You might want to make a jacket for hiking in the rainy outdoors, as the characters Ruth and Oliver find themselves doing often. A good choice might be the Minoru Jacket by Sewaholic, also a BC pattern company!

And of course, for lots of outdoor suitable clothing especially for men, check out BC based Thread Theory

If you just want to get your fabric from BC, you can always take a look at Blackbird Fabrics -- who, incidentally, has some nice Japanese non-stretch denim in right now!

Do you have any ideas yet? Are your plans jumping to mind or are you waiting until you've read the book to the end before you decide what to make? I hope lots of ideas are sparking for you already. If you have any favourite shops, fabrics or patterns that I've missed in this post, feel free to share them in the comments!