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March 24, 2006
Knitting lace and new books
I started another project. Even though I have more than enough some very nice things on the needles already (I put up a list on the left side bar), I really have no self control wanted to know what it is like to knit with lace weight yarn. So I started the Inky-dinky Spider Stole.
Did you notice the swatch? I figured it was a good idea to make one, to get used to the yarn and the way the charts are written. After I got that out of the way, I started the top border, which is almost finished now. Then I have to pick up stitches along the edge and the real fun can begin!
Some time ago, Yuki showed some pictures of a Japanese knitting book on her blog. I had been thinking about that book ever since, especially after seeing more pictures here (scroll down a bit). I finally broke down and ordered it from Yesasia.com, along with two needle felting books. I placed the order on March 2nd and the books arrived two days ago on March 22th. Yippeee!
Don't they look lovely? On the left is the knitting book. It has 7 patterns for mittens, 3 patterns for gloves, 3 hats and 3 scarfs. Although the book is in Japanese, the intructions are very clear. They use lots of schematics and charts, similar to the pattern (scroll down to the charts) for the Herringbone Gloves. There are also step-by-step pictures of cast-ons etc. It's such a wonderful book!
Just one example (which Yuki also showed):
Lovely red and with Norwegian gloves. Someone stop me from starting yet another project!
The other two books are about needle felting. This is a technique to felt wool fleece without using water and soap, using a felting needle. You can make lovely things using this technique, as these books show. I don't have much experience with it, but I'm going to try anyway.
This is just an example of one of the dogs in the book. It has instructions for 20 dog breeds, complete with which colors of fleece you need and how to mix them using hand carders. The pictures in this book are just so very lovely, it makes me want to make them all.
The instructions are pretty clear, as the picture above shows. This also goes for the second book on needle felting. This one has some more animals, like cats and birds. These are more toy-like, instead of miniature real animals like the dogs book. I especially adore this beautiful black cat:
Here are the links to these books on Yesasia.com, in case you want to try them yourself:
the knitting book
the needle felt dog book
the one with the hedgehog on the cover
Like you need another hobby, right? ;-)
Posted by saartje at March 24, 2006 11:42 AM
Comments
A friend just made a hat out of the knitting book and gifted it to my son, she actually made a second one for her in the meantime. You can see it on my blog here: http://myblog.de/juju/art/3117241
I admire people willing to figure it all out just from charts and photos. I still need to find the courage.
Posted by: julia at March 24, 2006 12:48 PM
Oh,you just had to show those gorgeous gloves!! I haven't even attempted gloves yet, and want to do those. So if I get stuck I can email you and you will help me :-)
the felted pets are nice too. I used to be in the teddybear world(designing. making and sellnig) and some of the girls that did the felted ones, they airbrushed the faces, and what gorgous animals they made.
Posted by: sherry at March 24, 2006 1:14 PM
I so want to make those gloves! What is the yarn for the Spider shawl? I like the deepness of the color.
Posted by: Janet at March 24, 2006 2:10 PM
ack, the gloves are gorgeous. thanks for the yes asia tip!
the spider stole is going to be abolutely beautiful. can't wait to see more!
Posted by: kris at March 24, 2006 4:14 PM
Well, thanks to your recommendation the book on knitting is on order (I actually received an e-mail at work from my wife asking me to get going to your Web site to have a looksee)! We'll see if not being able to read Japanese will have any ill-effects in trying to reproduce some of those patterns.
They all look like great books, though. Elegant design, great photographs, and fun/challenging projects.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: dan at March 24, 2006 7:01 PM
I love the osumashi kuro neko (the black cat). I lived in Japan for 8 years and the bookstores and yarn stores were massive. I really wish I had gotten into knitting while I was living there. I can't wait to see your finished projects.
Posted by: Jaichan at March 24, 2006 7:39 PM
I had previously looked at that Japanese knitting book on Amazon and decided I could live without it. Now that I've seen the gloves I have to go buy it. We can make the Norwegian gloves at the same time!
Posted by: Nanette at March 24, 2006 9:44 PM
absolutly cute gloves and pet maybe i bourgh this books but i nee to thinking about..i'v got a lot of books ..;-) the hedghog is too cute wow!
Posted by: monique/Engalnd at March 24, 2006 11:14 PM
OMG! The Norwegian gloves look terrific!... But there's no chance I could knit something so complicated from a book in Japanese... *sigh*
Black cat is adorable, must learn how to felt one day (if I can find one spare day... ^^).
Posted by: Joanna at March 25, 2006 12:02 AM
I just bought that glove book too! (and posted pictures on my blog, also of the herringbone-like gloves, heehee :) ) I won't be able to start knitting from the book for a while though so I am still just dreaming over the beautiful pictures.
Also, thanks for sharing the needle felting books! I started needle felting last month (made a little sheep so far) and haven't been able to find any books for inspiration.
Posted by: Marie at March 25, 2006 1:00 AM
thanks saartje for the link to yesasia: i bought some japanese crafting books last year on a trip to singapore and I love them. I have been looking at amazon.co.jp and Kinokuniya to order some more. After seeing that yesasia has free worldwide shipping with orders over 39 dollars ... i suppose books will be sent this way very soon!
Posted by: ecritures at March 25, 2006 8:14 AM
de-lurking to thank you for adding to my penchant for japanese craft books. The "handmade felt" series kills me, and the beads! The Beads!
Be careful. It's a rabbit hole. (but I'm going to order the glove book. I must have the glove book!)
Posted by: julia fc at March 26, 2006 12:38 AM
Wat een waardevolle aanvulling..... al die mooie boeken!
Posted by: Berthi at March 27, 2006 11:19 AM
Wow, I really love the red/white mittens. Its such a "sierlijk" (how do you say that in english?) motive! And the spiderstole will be lovely, the yarn looks perfect for it. And what's your opinion about laceknitting sofar? I'm trying and trying, but frogging is my middlename when you talk about laceknitting....
Posted by: ajoursteek at March 27, 2006 4:13 PM
