Ondori Basic Knit Full Color Illustrated
Ondorisha Publishers Ltd.
ISBN 0-87040-745-7
Regular readers may recall that I’ve been on the lookout for a Japanese knit book which includes the symbols used, explained with the handy step-by-step images I’ve seen used in Natural Taste. What if I told you there is indeed such a book, it’s readily available at a low price, and printed in English? Not to mention, sitting right under my nose at the local Japanese bookstore? While browsing through a sale table at Hakubundo, I came across Basic Knit. I’ve seen it before, but this was the first time I had the presence of mind to check and see if it included a symbol chart. Yep. It covers the basics as well, with the same clearly illustrated diagrams and helpful notes I expect from a Japanese knit publication. The section on grafting is particularly helpful for me, as it shows where the needles are (something lacking in most illustrations for grafting that I’ve seen). Overall, a good basic Japanese learn-to-knit book (in English!).
There is also a book on learning to both knit and crochet; however, I haven’t had a chance to go through this one yet.
For more on Japanese craft books and links with information on the symbols used, etc., please check out my earlier post on Japanese Craft Books.
Natural Taste
Lady Boutique Series no. 2416
ISBN 4-8347-2416-6
Barcode 1: 9784834724165
Barcode 2: 1929476009050
www.boutique-sha.co.jp
As usual, it gives the kawaiiiiii meter a good whack. The patterns look to be in the beginner/intermediate range, and are mostly bags and little containers, with a few accessories to wear (motif scarf, shrug, hats). The tipping point for me was that this book also has a few pages in the back, showing each crochet symbol accompanied by illustrations showing you how to do the stitch(es) the symbol stands for (I am on the lookout for a Japanese knitting book that does the same – if you know of one, please let me know in the comments).
This is another Hakubundo purchase ($16.25). UPDATE 04/2008: Natural Taste is now available at Kpixie.com! The listing includes photos of all the projects.
For more on Japanese craft books and links with information on the symbols used, etc., please check out my earlier post on Japanese Craft Books.
You have probably noticed by now that I have a special place in my heart for crafty projects with a domestic bent. Occasionally I wonder if I take it too far…and then something like this happens: I walk into Hakubundo just to look around, and find these books. It’s an excuse to call amigurumi practical! As with all the other Japanese craft books I’ve found, all the patterns are charted and have schematics – these combine the chart and schematic in a way that’s just brilliant – very visual and intuitive. Added bonus? They didn’t cost too much – about $8.00 US each at Hakubundo. Hakubundo does mail order over the telephone and their staff is fluent in both English and Japanese.
Magic Scrubber Part 2
ISBN 4-8347-6402-8
Barcode 1: 9784834764024
Barcode 2: 1929476005007
www.boutique-sha.co.jp
back cover
turtle scrubbies (click on image for larger view)
whale scrubbies (click on image for larger view)
slipper scrubbies (click on image for larger view)
Hakubundo didn’t have the full series, just Part 2 and Part 7. I thought Part 2 was adorable, and then I picked up Part 7 and one of my back teeth fell out.
Magic Scrubber Part 7
ISBN 4-8347-6420-6
Barcode 1: 9784834764208
Barcode 2: 19294760040000
www.boutique-sha.co.jp
back cover
puppets or scrubbies? (click on image for larger view)
Wildlife Scrubbers: elephant, giraffe, hippo, alligator
(click on image for larger view)
For more on Japanese craft books and links with information on the symbols used, etc., please check out my earlier post on Japanese Craft Books.
For those of you coming over from Crafting Japanese, I’m reposting my info about Japanese craft books from my old blog here, with a few edits.
edited June 06 to add:
**additional post: More Japanese Craft Book Fun
edited Feb/July 06 to add:
**Check out Crafting Japanese for more on Japanese craft books, including bookstores, language tools, and loads of photos and links. Crafting Japanese’s Help Page includes links to Japanese knitting chart symbols translated into English, a link to a crochet symbols chart (European, in my experience this has been accurate), and a Japanese-English knitting dictionary. My Little Mochi has made a list of commonly found words on pattern pieces (stuffies) available as a free download. Make Write has a list of craft terms and a fun blog post about Googling them. For additional translation help, I recommend finding someone literate in Japanese through a nearby university or a forum like Craftster or Craigslist. If you are one of the hundreds who have come through here via a search for “free amigurumi patterns”, I have a short list of patterns, most of which are free.**
Amigurumi means “knit and wrap” in Japanese. Nuigurumi means “stuffed animal” but the more literal translation is “sew and wrap” (but it would not be used for, say, making a pillow – it’s assumed that you are talking about a toy). “Ami” = knit, “Nui” = sew, “gurumi” = to wrap. “Kagi” is crochet. “Bari” is added on to mean “needle” as in “ami-bari” = knitting needles and “kagi-bari” = crochet hook.
bendi de kyuuto na komonotachi (many useful and cute things)
Ondori
ISBN 4-277-17164-8
Barcode 4943309171643
www.diakeito.co.jp
I don’t know how useful many of the projects in this book are, besides being cute. As usual, though, the projects are so clearly diagrammed that being completely illiterate in Japanese isn’t a problem.
cheesai nuigurumi (small stuffies)
“Petit boutique series”
ISBN 4-8347-6348-X
Two barcodes given:
9784834763485
1929476004000
scottie dog
lion and hippo
elephant and giraffe
babies!
My Lovable Dogs (The Dogs Which I Love)
ISBN: 4-89396-792-4
barcode: 9784893967923
barcode: 1929476009333
This is intended for those with experience making stuffies. The patterns are for realistic dog stuffies, so there are more pattern pieces, more sewing, and some internal structure features that allow the head to turn. Patterns are also included for a t-shirt and raincoat to fit the stuffies. The instructions are step-by-step photographs, and diagrams for how to lay the pattern pieces out on the fabric are included. The patterns are printed at actual size in a pullout.
First-Time Stuffed Animals (rabbit, cat, dog, and bear)
ISBN 529-03901-3
barcode:9784529039017
barcode:1929477006904
This is a beginners book for stuffies, with a minimum of pattern pieces and instructions that are written (in Japanese), illustrated, and photographed every step of the way. Even if you can’t read Japanese, that’s fine – I can’t, and these patterns are easy to follow. The materials needed are photographed too, so you can just take the book to the store with you when you purchase your supplies. All patterns are included at actual size in the book; you can either trace or photocopy them to transfer them to fabric.
Felt Mascots by Keiko Matsuda
ISBN: 4-8347-5476-6
barcode: 9784834754766
barcode: 1929476008008
All the projects are made of felt, and are a great introduction to handsewing. The patterns are easy to follow, and ideas for how to use them (decorations for handbags, mobile phones, etc.) are included in the photos. All patterns are included at actual size; you can either trace or photocopy them.
Babies Soft Cloth Toys and Cloth Books, 0-3 years old
ISBN: 4-8347-2097-7
barcode: 9784834720976
barcode: 1929476009005
This book makes my ovaries and back teeth ache. Just adorable. Most of the projects are for portable items, great for travel or going to the park. The patterns are printed at actual size in a pullout. Too sweet.
Stuffed Amigurumi Animals
ISBN 4-529-03140-3
barcode: 9784529031400
barcode: 1925077007907
barcode: 4955275157781
Takamori Tomoko 1998
66 pages
printed in Japan
A rough translation of the title is “Stuffed Amigurumi Animal: from mini mascot to huggable unique bear, true size big picture presentation.” All the patterns in this book are crochet. “True size big picture presentation” = the photos in the book show the finished stuffies at actual size, ranging from weeny palm of the hand to about 2 apples high.
I bought all of these at Hakubundo by Ala Moana. The webpage has a typo in the address; it is the Pan Am building, as in the defunct airline.
Hakubundo
Pan Am Building
1600 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite 121
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
Phone: (808) 947-5503 / Fax: (808) 947-5602
The staff is Japanese/English bilingual, and most of the staff I’ve dealt with speak English as a first language. I usually walk over, so I don’t know how parking is – there’s a paid parking lot in the building and some metered street parking in the area. It’s on some of the bus lines that go to/from Waikiki and Ala Moana Center. The stock changes frequently, which is great if you are always on the lookout for something new, not so great if you saw something there a month ago and want to buy it now.
