Ahhh this book, do you remember me telling you it arrived on Saturday? It came aaaaaalllllll the way from Japan you know, and for some inexplicable reason this makes me feel incredibly excited. First time I've ever had anything arrive All The Way From Japan before. I keep thinking how bloomin marvelous it is that I can see something on my computer screen, make a few clickety-clicks on my keyboard, then hey-presto less than a week later a plop through my letter box brings it right into my excited hands. Can you tell I'm a newbie at International Internet Shopping?
Anyhow :: this book....let me tell you now, I've fallen truly, madly, deeply in L:O:V:E with it.
It is quite simply GORgeous. Stunning. Inspirational. Beautiful. Desirable.
Oh yes it is all those things and many more besides and I am seriously in love.
This is what greets you when you first tiptoe into the pages..............
Oh oh OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mm mm MMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!
Isn't that just the stuff of anyones Hooky Yarny Dreams???????
I fell in love right there and then, at the sight of that first Double Spread.
BAM!!!
Just like that.
Want to see some more??
Want to see some of the projects within these delicious Japanese pages?
A perfectly perfect Attic24-stylie bag.
Scrummy.
The most beautiful, beautiful crocheted clothes hangers.....
....just look at that amazingly pretty edging!!And this, one of my absolute favourite pages in the whole book. Love everything about this image, isn't the styling to die for?? That shelf with those teapots!!! OH how I Love that!! Not to mention the beautiful hexie blanket there....
Isn't that design just amazing?Love it.
Now as you know, this book came All The Way From Japan, meaning it is a Japanese book.Meaning it is written in Japanese.
Of course.
But fear-ye-not, because the patterns for all these desirable projects are written in Universal Diagram format, as show above. Lots of gobbledegooky Japanese writing as well, but we can ignore that and concentrate on the diagram....
....which is actually pretty straight forward to follow.
Now if anyones interested, I would gladly write a post about these diagrams, explaining the symbols etc and how to read them, cos thats Very Useful Knowledge to have if you're into crochet.
This afternoon, I had a little go at reading the above diagram and making a hexagon, well five rounds of one anyhow....
....and it didn't turn out too bad, although I think I would need to practice my joining techniques as it's a little messy where each round begins and ends.
Now before I toddle off to go drool some more over the pages, let me give you a few details....
I first saw this book mentioned by Jane. And then by Hen. And it was indeed the lovely Hen who kindly told me where I could go to find this book and purchase it All The Way From Japan.
It came to me via an amazing Etsy Seller called Pomadour24. Super fast delivery, and beautifully packaged too. I think it cost me about £19 including delivery.
The book itself is called "Pretty Colour Crochet and Knit Goods"
Do go take a look at this amazing Etsy shop, there are some lovely looking books to be had All The Way From Japan. (just spotted this one oooo-ooooo!!)
Hmmm....I can feel an addiction coming on. Dear oh dear.
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Just to let you know that Pomadour24 does restock/update her etsy shop very frequently, so if the book is out of stock when you first go look, do check back again in a day or two as it will come back in again.
Also to add I've gone and bought Book 2. Dear-oh-dear. I'll show you it when it arrives All The Way From Japan.
And finally, due to popular demand, I will be writing a How-to-decipher post for the crochet diagrams, sometime this week I hope.
xx
I would like to buy a crochet book which gives 2 or 3 large round tablecloth patterns (about 72 inches diameter) with diagrams or charts.I find it very hard to follow written patterns. Can you help me please ?
Posted by: Marie Cole | November 28, 2015 at 06:23 PM
Wow!!! What a beautiful pictures of crochets patterns this book have. Really Nice!! I have also found a book of Japan lovely craft of crochet designs containing lovely crochet designs of women and kids sewing patters and toys also made of crochets.
Posted by: Nobu Murakawa | January 03, 2015 at 10:44 AM
I think posting patterns from books like that is a copyright breach - you might want to remove them.
Posted by: Julie | February 04, 2014 at 12:16 PM
Sorry people forgot to give you Robertas link
http://www.titacarre.com/
Sorry Lucy
Thank you again
Posted by: Sanni | April 16, 2012 at 03:02 AM
I just posted the above item but forgot to mention this site which actually has tutorial on the japanese crochet patterns
http://dancingbarefoot.wordpress.com/
Thanks
Posted by: Sanni | April 16, 2012 at 02:59 AM
I always browse Lucy's website on the quiet as it is so lovely. But this time I just had to share this find with all you people who love Japanese crochet.
The website http://giftjap.info/
is a great resource for crocheters and also other crafts such as quilting, embroidery etc.
This website is in Russian and has a eng tab at the top to translate the texts, also you will find that the automatic translate prompts from your computer will help. When you click on download free books and further select crochet/knitting tab, this is the beginning of finding over 51 pages of free books to download.
The books are downloaded in a rar format or pdf format.
You need to have the rar extract to view pages of books. If you dont already have a rar extract this can be downloaded for free from
http://free-rar-extract-frog.pwpw.de/
Its easy as going to the above site clicking on the download button and then installing it on your computer.
Another site that is useful in deciphering the symbols in these patterns are http://www.selectyarn.com/index.html
and finally a portuguese site by a lady called Roberta also offers many crochet books for download.
Goodluck in your hunting
So thank you and good luck on your perfect pattern hunt
Posted by: Sanni | April 16, 2012 at 02:51 AM
Hi Lucy, I have this book and want to embark on the hex blanket. I think I'm ok deciphering the symbols but can't work out the edging bit - is each hex worked separately then sewn together or are they worked one off the other. Can you shed any light???? Would be grateful for any words of wisdom!
Posted by: Helen | August 09, 2011 at 02:29 PM
Hi Lucy
Concerning reading japanese books and diagrams : I bought the vol 4 with the japanese flower scarf, and gave it a try. If I read and follow the diagram well, I don't get to the same result as you did. It' s about the 3d round.
I understand you have to make *2 tr, chain 5, 2tr* in each of the 2 ch spaces from the previous round.
Then in the fourth round, make 8 tr in each of these 5ch spaces, and one dc between 2 blocks of 4 tr from the previous round.
I seems to me that you made 5 rows : a row of *4 slip st. chain 5* before the last row. Yours looks pretty nice because you changed colours after row 3,and then rows 4 and 5 are the same colour, (and you can't see 4th row anyway) while it doesn't look as nice when I change colours between rows 3 an 4 so I had to crochet rows 3 an 4 in the same coulour...
Yours look more like little arches on a solid circle, theirs, like oval petals...
Am I right ? What in the diagram tells you to do either way ? Did I read the diagram wrong, or did you make it your own way ?
I think yours looks nicer, I just wanted to make sure I can read "japanese".
Thank you for your answer
Françoise
Posted by: Françoise | April 10, 2011 at 04:50 PM
I look forward to your post deciphering the symbols ... I've just bought the book!
Thanks!
Posted by: S King | March 07, 2011 at 03:30 AM
What a fantastic find. The patterns are beautiful.
Posted by: Helen jones | February 27, 2011 at 10:35 AM
Selam
blogunuz cok guzel, super tig isiniz var
ben Turkiyeden ingilizce bilmiyorum.
elleriniz dert gormesin sevgiler.
Nur
Posted by: nur | February 06, 2011 at 08:04 PM
hello miss lucy!
i;m not sure if you're still reading comments on this post as it is quite an oldy (but a goody!) and you are one busy little lass but i just wanted to drop you a line as i've just finished making that wonderful hexie blanket there, inspired from this very post ha ha!
i've just posted pictures of it onto my blog if you have a second to have a looksee... it was a very different yet fun pattern to make! definitely think you should give it a try, it'd be amazing to see what you'd do with the colours with it :D
much love!
http://coledabbles.blogspot.com/
Posted by: nicole | November 18, 2010 at 11:43 AM
Lovely, I have bought both the books but I can't understand the diagrams. How to follow these patterns. Aren't they just beautiful have tried translating but no go. I am really itching to start but find myself just looking and looking and doing nothing .............. I just love your blog and have been buying the books that you suggest. Thank you again Sandra from Sydney australia
Posted by: Sandra | November 06, 2010 at 11:10 AM
I have several Japanese books and I absolutely love them!!! I love that fact that I don't have to read Japanese to understand the pattern! :)
Posted by: Jackie | October 07, 2010 at 06:13 AM
Hi, first time commenting although long time learner from your awesome blog. i recently bought a japanese crochet book and was wondering if you did the post about deciphering yet? i looked but did not see. just wondering. its greek to me but so lovely.
Posted by: Cindy | May 29, 2010 at 11:14 PM
I've heard of your Hex blanket -- pleasen (re)post the link. Thanks! I also love how your lfe adn your yarwork is so filled with color!
Posted by: CatCooper | May 22, 2010 at 10:03 AM
http://community.livejournal.com/weloveamigurumi/434126.html
this has some info on 'reading' the japanese patterns. i'm not even going to try ...
Posted by: greedy nan | May 11, 2010 at 12:44 PM
Hello Lucy~
I stumbled onto your blog while searching for crochet things. I just wanted to tell you about this site that I purchase my crochet books from since you were so excited about this one. :) I get my books from yesasia.com. They have japanese crochet books as well as chinese. They are Hong Kong based and they offer free shipping. (plus they are cheaper than that etsy shop you mentioned when you add s/h!) take a look :)
http://www.yesasia.com/global/en/home.html
Posted by: Karen | May 10, 2010 at 07:58 AM
Hello there :) My name is Anabella, I´m from Argentina. My mother has passed away on february, and I´m concentrated on being very busy while dealing with it. Surfing on the net I found your blog, and it made me start to crochet; I´m still learning ;) So, thank you very much.
I have a question on crochet. I´m doing granny squares. Would you recommend I do them from beggining to end, or that I make all the first rounds of all of them, then all the second rounds, and so on? Again, thank you so much; your blog is incredible. Hugs!
Posted by: Anabella | May 05, 2010 at 01:32 PM
Lucy when I first started reading your blog it was great,just now it's all gone a bit down hill, just big pic,s of flowers in jugs we can all do that,and pics from OTHER MAGAZINES,which is a bit of a cheat and lazy.You do the great Attic24 well or not
You where great and inspiring,I even made a double bed Granny square throw thanks to you.Bless you sweaty, I'm just telling you the truth luvvy,NOT BULL SHIT sorry Anix
Posted by: Ani | April 28, 2010 at 03:35 PM
FANTASTIC parabens, mto bom gosto e criatividade 1000. Adoro ver tudo isso
Posted by: violeta | April 19, 2010 at 12:54 AM
I'd love you to post explanations to this diagram... love the hexagon patten shown in this book
Posted by: Toni | April 13, 2010 at 11:40 PM
Just love all your colours! Can't wait to start! Maxine'sNanna
Posted by: Zandra Green | April 07, 2010 at 08:37 PM
Hello Lucy,
I just LOVE your blog!
How beautiful are these Japanese crochet things in the book!
Does anyone here understand Japanese and know what wool is that in those wooden baskets? The colors look so awesome!
Greetings from Cologne, Germany
Posted by: Stefanie | April 04, 2010 at 10:56 AM
Wow I just love your blog, it feels so lively when I come here.
Posted by: Basirat | April 03, 2010 at 07:06 PM