縫い代: seam allowance
実物大の型紙付き: full-sized pattern pieces enclosed (this is sometimes written on the cover of a book or magazine)
表: right side (also written in hiragana as おもて)
裏: wrong side (also written in hiragana as うら)
布地の裁ち方: fabric cutting diagram
脇: underarm
肩: shoulder
ウエスト: waist
材料: materials (materials list)
仕上がり線: finished (sewing) line; for example, this is the main line on a pattern, to which one would add a seam allowance
ゴムテープ: elastic (also called 平ゴム)
ファスナー： zipper
布: fabric
バイアス布: bias fabric
幅： width (usually used for fabric width, e.g. 110cm幅250cm means that you need two-and-a-half meters of 110 cm width fabric)
縫う: sew
袋縫い: French seam
切り込む: clip (like for the seam allowance of a curve)
丈: length (like for a skirt)
中心: center
後ろ: back
前: front
接着芯: interfacing (中厚: medium weight, 厚手: heavy weight, 薄手: leightweight)
結ぶ： to tie (in a knot, or a bow)
革ひも: leather tie
ぐし縫い: running stitch, quilting stitch
しつけ： baste (しつけ糸 is basting thread, thick and easy to run through fabric, usually sold in hanks in Japan)
見返し: facing
押さえミシン: topstitch
まつり縫い： hem stitch
手縫い： handstitch
型紙： pattern
ボタン： button
麻： linen
木綿： cotton
ロックミシン： serger, or part to be serged/zig-zag stitched
袖： sleeve
糸： thread
レース: lace
テープメーカー： bias tape maker (usually written with the respective size, 12 mm, 25 mm, etc.
前後： front and back (i.e. 前後スカート, which, when written on the pattern piece, means you cut two pieces)
ギャザー： gather (usually written between two points to show where to gather fabric)
返し口： the space to leave open for turning to the right side (usually slipstitched after turning)
２５番刺しゅう糸： fancy way of saying 6-strand embroidery floss (DMC no. 25)
胸囲： chest measurement
わ： fold (usually written to show where to fold and sew, or where to place the pattern piece on the fabric fold for cutting)
布目線： grainline (usually accompanied by a line/arrows on the paper pattern)
ダーツ： dart(s)
フリル： frill
***Please note that this list is far from comprehensive, but will give you a start. This French blog about sewing with Japanese patterns does a much better job. In the right side column, you will find a link to a .pdf of Japanese-English translations of sewing terms, complete with diagrams.
35 responses so far ↓
WeeBit Wonky // October 7, 2007 at 9:24 pm |
Thank you thank you thank you SOOOO much for posting the Japanese Sewing Terms! I am working with the book ‘Machine Made Patchwork’ and needed the clarification.
~ Robyn
Austin TX
Jennifer // October 29, 2007 at 6:51 pm |
Many thanks for this invaluable tool! I have so much love for the two pattern books I purchased but have been so disheartened – and questioned my sewing ability – when trying to decipher the instructions with graphics only.
THANK YOU!
mikamika // November 4, 2007 at 3:46 am |
Wow, this is very invaluable tool!
I am a Japanese living in the US.
“Baste” means stitching temporary, doesn’t it? If it does so, “baste” is “しつけ（縫い)”.
“ぐし縫い” has the same meaning of “なみ縫い”, and it means simple stitching like hand quilting stitch.
Anyway, thank you for the translation. It is very useful for me.:-)
movinghands // November 4, 2007 at 11:31 pm |
Thanks for the comment, mikamika! I wasn’t thinking when i labeled that “baste”. I use しつけ、しつけ糸 all the time, but don’t know what I wrote that when I meant “running stitch”. I will correct it. Thanks!!
kara // November 5, 2007 at 7:30 pm |
Thank you for taking the time to put this together. It is such a help to those of us learning to sew in Japanese!
alison // January 2, 2008 at 5:28 am |
Hi, I’m having trouble viewing the japanese terms…I was wondering if you know if there’s a setting my computer has to be on to view them or something? I see little squares instead of japanese terms! I could really use this! I just ordered my first japanese pattern book & I’m really excited to get sewing! Thanks!
kamiyra // January 4, 2008 at 7:04 am |
Love! Settings>Control Panel>Regional and Language Settings, then click the “Install files for Eastern Languages” checkbox in the Language tab and say ok. If you’re on anything else… sorry, I haven’t tried it on any of the other computers yet, so I don’t know. ^^;;
kamiyra // January 4, 2008 at 7:05 am |
Oh my. That didn’t work. I guess it was too long? Two, then. Sorry about this!
alison: If you’re on Windows, head to Start>Settings>Control Panel>Regional and Language Settings, then click the “Install files for Eastern Languages” checkbox in the Language tab and say ok. If you’re on anything else… sorry, I haven’t tried it on any of the other computers yet, so I don’t know. ^^;;
kamiyra // January 4, 2008 at 7:05 am |
Love! <3 I’ve been managing pretty well, but most dictionaries don’t really do sewing terms, even if you can usually eventually puzzle it out. (表: “surface, front, outdoors.” …I guess that means the right side of the fabric? ^^;;) I should just make myself a comprehensive list of everything that shows up in my book. xP Though I think I’ll scanlate it instead. :3
Ha Nguyen // January 11, 2008 at 9:26 pm |
A million thank you’s for this very helpful post! I’ve been a fan of yours for some time and love to see your beautiful creations. Thanks for sharing!
charlotte // January 12, 2008 at 5:18 am |
oh how fantastic – you know what would be great too – would be the romaji so we can also learn to say it in Japanese! I am rubbish at reading Kanji !!
lunemalo // April 24, 2008 at 12:32 pm |
Oh my God, I can’t believe it !! That’s IS so generous of you… Now I can’t give any more excuse not to sew at least one of those nice japanese dresses/skirts/pants… Thank you.
Jeannine // May 26, 2008 at 4:20 pm |
Hi, why am I not seeing the japanese symbols. I would love to be able to view your list and reference your blog. Can you help me out. I am trying to sew kids clothes. BTW, I have opened a Flickr group called Japanese Sewing. You can post pictures of all of your japanese sewing projects. Just in case you are interested.
Thanks
Jeannine
movinghands // May 26, 2008 at 9:46 pm |
Jeannine, I think you might need to download the Japanese language/font support from the Microsoft website.
juliette // June 3, 2008 at 3:55 am |
this has helped a ton, I am working on nani iro.
Els // June 11, 2008 at 9:20 am |
Thanks a lot for the translation list. I will print it out and put it in my books “Pattern Magic”
willow // June 18, 2008 at 8:11 pm |
I came back, hoping to find out what スレキ is.
After a few days of going over it in my head …スレキ…. スレキ…what could it be (my only guess was “slack” but that clearly wasn’t right) I googled the word and found this page
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~ki5k-trs/page299.html
….aha! スレキ…. Slick! As in lining! Aha!
kirsten // July 7, 2008 at 11:25 pm |
fantastic!
now, i am just wondering if you would also do the same for the setsuko torii handknit works book for me… :)
Judy // July 23, 2008 at 1:26 pm |
Wow I’m so glad I found your blog.. I’m working on some Yoko Saito pieces..her books give very good pictures..but sometimes I really need to know just exactly what some of the items needed are..this should help..if not I know where to come back to..I have a picture posted of a purse I made from one of her books on my blog
chris // August 16, 2008 at 5:52 am |
Hi there,
Just wanted to say thanks for the japanese -english sewing translations. I ‘ve been buying Tsushin quilting magazine for some time but I’ve been too afraid to tackle any of the patterns. Your help has given me the courage to give something a go. Now which fab design to do ,I love so many. Found your blog through Medallion Quilt-Along I’m making it as well.
Kind Regards
Chris (australia)
Simone // August 26, 2008 at 1:18 pm |
Thank you so much. I started working with Japanese patterns, and just thought:” I wonder if some brilliant person already put together a glossary of terms.” Really appreciate all your work.
Kelly // September 13, 2008 at 12:52 am |
Thank you so much for posting these terms! I didn’t think to look up sewing terms until after I had already cut out the Japanese pattern I’m working on. Luckily, it’s a simple jumpers, so with what little Japanese I can read already, I got everything right, but I’m planning to do some more complicated things in the future and these terms are going to be super helpful!
suansee // September 19, 2008 at 6:14 am |
Thank you thank you thank you. I am now a forever fan since i fell in love with Yoko Saito’s quilting in your blog. Manage to get stock from the local Kinokuniya branch. Absolute eye candy but that’s not enough for a crazy crafter . I could simply kiss you for this posting! Have a super day!!
Greyhaunt // September 29, 2008 at 10:52 pm |
I am working with doll clothing patterns from japan and was desperate for something like this – thank you so much for the time and effort you’ve made to help others! Now I can finally start working with those patterns with confidence!
Peggy // September 30, 2008 at 2:44 pm |
I’m so glad to have found you! I’ve bought several Japanese books to make doggie Kimonos. I can’t figure out heads nor tails of what to do. I’ve never seen anything like the patterns all printed one on top of the other. I can’t figure out where to even begin. Hopefully your info will help.
Bibi // December 9, 2008 at 9:38 pm |
Hello ..
I just wanted to say I’m sooo glad I found this website!! Helps me lots!!
I have other question, I’m going to Belgium soon, does anyone know a good shop that sells Japanese sewing books there??
Many many thanks~’
Carolyn // January 16, 2009 at 1:20 am |
Many Many Many thanks.
Joanna // May 10, 2009 at 8:04 am |
this list is amazing! i have pattern magic and was struggling in some areas… in fact… still am… How are you guys typing in Japanese?
movinghands // May 10, 2009 at 9:56 am |
Joanna, you are welcome! I use a Japanese computer, so it has been a long time since I needed software to type Japanese. Maybe someone who visits this page could answer your question? I know that the Japanese language support download from Microsoft allows someone to at least read the characters. Happy sewing–Pattern Magic is a fun book.
Kristine // May 27, 2009 at 7:02 pm |
I got your woderful informations from ETSY.
Thanks to share with us.
Many Japanese craft book buyers struggling with the books.
Thank you so much!!
MaryB // June 9, 2009 at 6:03 am |
Thank you very, very much. Now I can tackle that old Japanese pattern magazine with some hope of success. I bought it because the pictures were so pretty, but then couldn’t make use of it.
One more time, thanks.
Bea // July 16, 2009 at 5:19 pm |
Hi! Coming late to the party, but I just wanted to add that グログランリボン means grossgrain ribbon! Took me about half an hour to figure it out, but yay!
Pam // July 20, 2009 at 11:48 am |
Thanks for the translations! I’ve been sewing from Lady Boutique and Mrs. Stylebook for a couple of years now. The only thing that stumps me is the type fabric that’s being used for the garments. It’s not always easy to tell from the illustrations. Most of the time I’ve done OK, but a few garments I’ve messed up because what I thought was a pattern for a knit-fabric garment was actually made for a woven fabric or vice versa. Or I’ve gotten the hand of the fabric wrong like using too stiff a fabric when I should have used one with a softer hand or drape. Would you happen to have translations for the various fabric types, such as knits (interlock, jersey, etc.), wovens (pique, broadcloth, poplin, etc.), also lightweight fabrics versus heavyweight fabrics? And what is the translation for a stretch fabric, like stretch poplin or stretch linen? I think that would be of great help to all of us who “sew Japanese”.
leanne // September 8, 2009 at 2:43 pm |
hi. thanks for all your helpful translations. I’m a quilter and also a foreigner living in Southern Japan in Amakusa. I envy all your stories about material shopping. I’m stuck ordering everything of the internet.
I have been collecting scraps from Nani Iro’s Gauze as well as the far far away collection. Soon I will try and make a quilt for my bed. People are never too old to love unicorns and frogs!
http://www.gaijincreations.blogspot.com
Elly // November 9, 2009 at 11:37 am |
Thank you for taking the time to do this page. I love Japanese patchwork and have a couple of magazines and books. This list will be very helpful.
So thank you…