I got two "learn to" books. One for knitting and one for crochet. It has the symbols and directions on how to knit (or crochet) them. Great reference books, for sure:
Then I thought I would get the other book by the same author as the Heirloom knitting book (who is a musician that studied in Europe, and fell in love with the traditional knitting). This book is mostly gloves and mittens with a couple of hats and scarves. It's just as beautiful as his other book.
I thought I would give a crochet book a try, and I find them even easier to read than the knitting (crochet in symbol format makes so much more sense than written directions!)
Wanna see a couple of beauties?
The problem is going to be finding the beautiful yarn to make them (anyone know of a good silk crochet thread?)
I've heard great things about the stitch dictionaries, and I wasn't disappointed:
The lace patterns in the book are lovely!!!
Now for the two books that are just drop dead gorgeous!
The Aran book was basically bought site unseen. They didn't have a cover image and I bought it purely based on the poor translation thru Babelfish. It is by far the best purchase of the group!
So here I am full of new books to look thru, but I'm still taking a break from the knitting/crocheting/gaming... and now even the closet clean up. I've got to let this inflamation settle down and I think I've got to truely rest it. Good thing I've got some new books to drool over!!!
Oh, I almost forgot, I did start my new UFO/WIP... only 24 listed so far...
Happy Knitting!
Added: I've received all sorts of emails and comments about these books. For ordering info, please check the follow up blog entry. I've listed each book with a direct link to Amazon.jp for ordering.
Oh, no! A whole new category of books for me to explore/buy. Thanks for the review. I can hardly wait to get some of those knitting books. Have you tried Habu for the yarns?
ReplyDeleteOh no, indeed! Habu is dangerous!!!! Thanks so much for the suggestion!!!
ReplyDeleteOh that stitch dictionary is veeerrrrry tempting....have fun!
ReplyDeletePS That crochet is really amazing, too-- I've never seen such drapey, fluid fabric from crochet before. And of course I love that color, so that helps too.
ReplyDeleteOhhh, what have YOU to done to me! I love these Japanese knitting books! Now I will have to order them...Just starting on the KAL with the yarn bought & I am raring to go on it..Really though, thanks for the book info..didn't know about them
ReplyDeleteOooh - I definitely have to get the glove/mitten book. Thanks for the recommendations!
ReplyDeleteKate: they had a lot of very tempting stitch dictionaries... okay, they had a lot of tempting books! I will say that the crochet was much more appealing!!!
ReplyDeleteCarissa: hey, no picking faves yet, I'm not even halfway done!!
knittinannie: yep, the books are just lovely. I highly recommend the aran and guernsey book (let me know if you want ISBN numbers... makes searching for them on amazon.jp much easier!
nanette: that's so funny, I thought of you when I got the book!
Please post the ISBN numbers for the Aran, Guernsey book and the Crochet Lace book. I tried finding them on Amazon jp. but no luck.
ReplyDeletePat, if you look my entry following this blog, you'll not only see the ISBN number's but direct links to the proper page for each book listed:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.knittingpark.com/2006/01/some-info-on-japanese-books.html
YOu may curse me rather than thank me for this, however for the best source I've found for silks check out Treenway silks. I buy them primarily at weaving conferences when I can handle the yarns and see the colors, but you can order from them and have any weight silk yarn (from thread to something very heavy) dyed - either solid or variegated.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.treenwaysilks.com/index.html
HELP! I have perused the Yesasia.com site for an hour & could not get to see any of these books..I put in the Isbn numbers & got no where..what is the secert to finding these books on that site?
ReplyDeleteI couldn't find anything on the yesasia site either. That's why I used Amazon.jp. if you go to the following entry, I have links to the books there (and the comment that I couldn't find anything on the yesasia site). Not only that, but you'll get the books faster and cheaper from the Amazon.jp site.
ReplyDeleteI love to look at Japanese knitting books but just haven't quite figured them out. Can someone recommend a beginners TELL ALL book with the symbols. I want to knit the crossed in translation sweater, but the pattern scares me to death. I have purchased several pattern books but I need something that a 1st grader could use.
ReplyDeleteHelp please....monab
Monab: I delibrately ordered 2 books to help me translate: the Clear & Simple Knit symbols is a great resource. It's designed for children learning to knit or crochet. If you go to my other blog entry about these books (which I've linked to several times in these comments) you'll see a little red book. Each knitting symbol has illustrations on how to work the stitch. Simple and Clear indeed!
ReplyDeleteaif ( From Thai ) Sajeejun
ReplyDeleteI Love turning Japanese So goodbooks but I dot'no Sopping
in Thailand ขอโทษนะคะคือว่าไม่เก่งภาษาเลยไม่รู้ว่าถ้าพิมพ์เป็นภาษาไทยแล้วคนทำเว็บไซค์นี้จะอ่านออกหรือเปล่าอย่างไงก็ดีพี่ๆที่เก่งภาษาพอที่จะแปลได้ช่วยแปลให้หน่อยนะคะ ^-^ จะขอบคุณมาก ๆ เลย คืออยากชมเค้าว่าเป็นเว็บที่มีหนังสือของชาวญี่ปุน ในการทักนิทติ้งที่มี เทคนิก ดีกว่าหนังสือในประเทศไทยของเราสะอีกนะคะ อยากได้มากเก็บไว้บ้างจะพยายามศึกษาเรียนรู้มากๆแต่คงยากน่าดูหรือชีวิตนี้ไม่มีทางได้แน่เลย ~.~ เศร้าแต่อยากได้จริงๆนะคะ แต่ภาษาอังกฤษที่จะสือสารกับเค้าหนูยังทำไม่ได้เลยแล้วจะบอกเค้ายังไง แต่อย่างไงก็จะยังติดตามและรักการถักนิทติ้งต่อไปนะคะ