Sewing Happiness: A Year of Simple Projects for Living Well

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.