Make your own sommelier apron

My FAVORITE source for oddball crafts books is Kinokuniya Book Store in Little Tokyo, where I just picked up “Book of Aprons for Men” by Ryuichiro Shimazaki. How could I resist? It’s illustrated with German photographer August Sander’s photos of workers in aprons and includes, among others, patterns for a garcon -- or waiter -- apron, a black sommelier apron, a cook’s jacket and apron, and a sakaya apron, which I believe is a sake master’s apron. There’s also a walking apron (which would replace a fanny pack), camper, painter and gardening aprons, etc. -- all with scale drawings of the pattern pieces and enough detailed drawings that you could figure out how to make one with or without knowing Japanese. A very handsome book with elegant photographs and drawings.

Kinokuniya Book Store, 123 Astronaut E.S. Onizuka St., Los Angeles; (213) 687-4480; www.kinokuniya.com.

-- S. Irene Virbila