knittingmag.com 15CAST ON WITH...JAPANESE KNITTING AND CROCHET
BOOKS IN ENGLISH
FROM TUTTLE PUBLISHINGAvailable now, translated by Gayle Roehm- The Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible
- 250 Japanese Knitting Stitches
- Japanese Knitting by michiyo
- Keiko Okamoto’s Japanese Knitting Stitches
- Wonder Crochet
- 1000 Japanese Knitting and Crochet Stitches
- 280 Japanese Lace Stitches
Available now, other translators - Japanese Knitting Stitches from Tokyo’s Kazekobo Studio
- Easy Knitted Fingerless Gloves
- 150 Favorite Crochet Motifs from Tokyo’s Kazekobo Studio
- Amazing Japanese Crochet Stitches by Keiko Okamoto
- Japanese Wonder Knitting
- Adorable Knitted Animals
Coming soon, other translators - Small Knits by Kazekobo
- Amigurumi Bible
- Modern Japanese Crochet
Hatta, who designs under the name Kazekobo, and michiyo have
also published several with Brooklyn Tweed. Sachiko Uemura has
pretty shawls – no sizing needed. Finally, some Japanese publishers
have started including multi-sized patterns in their magazines. Not
every pattern, but you may find two or even four sizes – especially
from michiyo. After all, not every Japanese woman is the same size.
Many of the designs are in beautiful yarns that just aren’t available
here. Do you have any advice for readers on that subject?
We tend to learn Yarn Substitution 101 as we gain our knitting
skills, so in many cases you’ll draw on your own experience. In
the translated books, we provide yarn info (weight, putup, fibre
content) so you can find something similar. For non-translated
patterns, ask for the name of the yarn in the Ravelry group. Some
patterns will also have links in the pattern listings.
What is your favourite thing about Japanese knitting designs?
I’m kind of knitterly schizophrenic – I love the detailed intricate stitch
designs, but I also love the designers whose work is a bit avant-garde
and constructed in an unusual way.Is there anything you find challenging about them?
So far, I haven’t run into anything that I couldn’t figure out. Once
in a while, a really complex chart has me swatching multiple times,
cussing and swilling wine, before it yields its secrets.What are you working on now and next?
I just finished a Knit Stars segment on the Japanese Knitting
Stitch Bible patterns, which you can find on knitstars.com.
I’m in the process of proofreading a new lace stitch dictionary,
280 Japanese Lace Stitches. It’ll be out some time this year.
I have (rather reluctantly) entered the virtual teaching realm,
and have been offering classes at Virtual Vogue Knitting and
Stitches at Home.gayleroehm.com