Wow!!

** Thanks for all of the emails and offers to swap - I am constantly amazed by how nice complete strangers are to me - knitting bloggers and crafty girls in general RULE!! I would really like to do a bunch of small swaps so that we can 'share the love' so to speak - maybe say by limiting the amount to around $15. $10 would be cool too, but so many mags here cost around $10 new anyway and then once you add some candy - boom, you've spent $15. So after I take stock of things that I might need.....damn who am I kidding - they are all things I WANT not need, I will try to contact as many of you as possible over the next couple of months.

KNITTING NEWS

So what have I been knitting??!! Well, I have started on the Cabled Zipped Jacket (see pic below) from Debbie Bliss's Cotton Knits. It is for my nephew, Jack who actually turned five yesterday. Happy Birthday Jack!! Um, I know that you didn't get a present from me but I promise that it is coming. It takes a while for Aunty Kath to finish a project sometimes.

Last night I also started my first pair of socks in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino - that yarn is sooo soft!! I am nervous about turning the heel, but excited at the same time. I am using the cabled socks pattern (see pic below) from Debbie Bliss's Simple Living book.

AND, I couldn't resist a really short trip to my LYS (Yuzawaya) last night. I was on strict orders from myself NOT to buy anything. Those orders were nearly disobeyed - I got as far as standing in line for the register, but it was going to take too long - thank goodness. I put the book back and went directly home. It was hard. So you know how I was going on about new books coming out in September - well some are already out and I particularly liked this one:

That's not a very good image, but it was the only one I could find on the Internet. I WILL buy this one for sure and when I do I will post some images of the designs.

FINALLY, I want to share with you some Japanese crafty links that I have discovered lately (it's very quiet at work at the moment). Most of them are in Japanese, but don't despair you can still look at the pics. These links should be especially useful for crafters in Japan, but some ship overseas)

* Tsukuro.com - this is a website that sells beads, parts for earrings, cellphone straps, all sorts of cord, watchfaces if you feel like making a watch, nail art products etc. Good if you live in a rural part of Japan and don't have access to massive craft stores like my very own LYS - Yuzawaya. Will ship overseas.

* Bettsy's Outlet Yarn - family run online store that sells leftovers from garment manufacturers. There are some very cheap, interesting and high quality yarns. Yarn is sold in 100g skeins for prices between 300 to 600 yen - YASUI!! They will also send out free samples of their yarn, which I already have in my hot little hand.

* Amoo Japan! - collection of Japanese knitting links. Many of them are personal websites of people displaying and selling their knitting.

If you buy something from this website, the owner will send you some free acrylic washing sponges Check out the cute crocheted animals!!!

Man this site features crocheted hamburgers AND french fries, sandwiches and cakes! Holy smokes!

Check out the winners of this competition!! It was a mother and child competition where the child draws a picture and the mother creates a knitted garment based on the picture. Damn, those mothers ARE talented.

That's it for now!!!

Comments

[devbear]

hey... I want that magazine! will they have it at basically all japanese bookstores? maruzen? kinokuniya? anywhere? i have trouble finding specific issues though amidst the huge proliferation of Japanese magazines. (by the way... i'm headed back to the US at the end of this month).

[Liz]

maybe you should have a knitalong. I don't have a blog, but I do enjoy reading yours. :) BTW, when are you going to post some new pics of your finished projects? And when's the next secret earring swap?

[joy]

thanks for the great links! those mom's are incredibly talented...

[molly]

those are some great links! i am just getting my bearings in japan but have yet to find any knitting magazines maybe because my bookstore is pretty small. can you give me a few magazine titles so i can try to narrow down the search?

[freecia]

I love those socks! The Cashmerino yarn is the sooooftest and machine washable, too. In my book that makes it the ultimate yarn even if it is pricy.

Those are great links! I've been looking for the DIY cell phone strap attachments for ages.
Can I chime in and say I think it'd be super nice of you to review/post which knitting books you like. There's an incredible plethora of Japanese knitting books and having an isbn would help those of us who don't read Japanese and aren't up to speed on the stock/new releases. A pic, isbn, and small review would be most helpful. I'd be able to print it out and take it to Kinokuniya and ask them for it.

You so rock pinku.

[kat]

Will try to organize some Japanese knitting magazine/book information over the weekend for those interested. Title, publication date, maybe a short review, photo of the cover and some designs, ISBN, etc.

You will find some knitting books at most major bookstores - kinokuniya/parco/book 1st, etc. I found the best selection at the big Book 1st store in Shibuya here in Tokyo.

You can also buy some of them from Amazon Japan.

[kat]

Ooh, I have also picked up a ton of second hand mags in good condition for about 100 yen each at the second hand bookstore, Book Off - there are many locations but I found that the one in Kichijoji and the one in Harajuku the best.

[mindy]

Great links! I'm so bummed that the Kinokuniya near me is moving. Lucky you to be able to find these mags secondhand!

[empress]

So aaaahhh, is there anyway I can get you to send me a few goodies? I'm wiling to pay. Let's talk business :D