Wednesday, December 13, 2006

A Japanese knitting book for cat lovers


Here's one of the most charming knitting books I have ever had the pleasure to, um, look at the pictures of. It's in Japanese, but experienced knitters shouldn't have a problem working the patterns from the charts. The book is called Zakka & Wear. "Zakka" roughly means knickknacks--things with no conceivable use that you display in your house but have to dust periodically. There are a few zakka projects inside (pillows), but the Wear part of the book was what forced me to hand over my yen to the bookstore.



The pictures are totally clear and make me want to drop my current WIPs and immediately start knitting...cats. I know I promised no cat pictures, but really, these cat pictures are eminently knittable, so they don't count. It's my blog and I say so.


Cat haters should avoid this book like the plague, but the rest of you will enjoy every single page.



You can buy the book here.
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14 comments:

  1. MiniLauraDecember 13, 2006 at 11:29:00 AM EST

    I sooooo want that vest. I want it so much that it hurts.

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  2. fleegleDecember 13, 2006 at 12:50:00 PM EST

    Sooo, order the book :)

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  3. AnonymousDecember 13, 2006 at 1:12:00 PM EST

    Oh my gosh, that hat is just too adorable! I won't normally purchase a book for just one pattern these days, but I may have to break my rule for this one. Thanks for the link on where to buy.

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  4. Cindy GDecember 13, 2006 at 10:15:00 PM EST

    Those are really charming. The one on the dress reminds me just a bit of Edward Gorey's cats

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  5. AnonymousDecember 13, 2006 at 10:34:00 PM EST

    Oh, I finally got the chance to see the pages from the book. I love it and intarsia! I agree with restless about the hat...fabulous.

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  6. nekosanDecember 19, 2006 at 1:14:00 AM EST

    Squeee!

    OMG! Must own! (In fact, i ordered two, because i have a knitterly friend who's also very into cats.)

    thank you so much, you evil enabler!

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  7. fleegleDecember 19, 2006 at 1:44:00 PM EST

    I am not an enabler. I am a pusher!

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  8. veritasDecember 19, 2006 at 10:23:00 PM EST

    oh. my. LORD.


    i need it. i NEED that. oh that is wonderful wonderful wonderful.

    knitting.
    japan.
    cats.

    is there anything else i need to make me happy? no. no there is not.
    you are my new friend. :)

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  9. AnonymousJanuary 13, 2007 at 9:18:00 AM EST

    Has anyone knit the hat from this book yet? I would love to know how it is turning out...Is it difficult...Thanks for the link fleegle...Thinking I need to purchase it...

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  10. fleegleJanuary 13, 2007 at 9:43:00 AM EST

    If anyone has completed the hat, they haven't told me. It doesn't look terribly difficult. If you are an absolute beginner, well, this might not be the best first project, though.

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  11. AnonymousJanuary 13, 2007 at 1:57:00 PM EST

    Thanks Fleegle...not a brand new knitter, but not an expert either (the thought of your dragon shawl sends me into palpatations, but it is sooo pretty). More questioning the Japanese to English translation and how that is going...Love your blog

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  12. fleegleJanuary 13, 2007 at 3:15:00 PM EST

    Ah, eveything is charted. A reasonably experienced knitter could fake it. I am redesigning the mohair vest shown above in Knitware. It will look almost the same, I hope! I use the book more for inspiration than concrete instructions.

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  13. Shirley LimJuly 6, 2009 at 7:40:00 PM EST

    Ooh! I love the book =) Thanks for the link.
    Love the cap and bag! Got to grab a copy of it!

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  14. EverOneSeptember 29, 2011 at 2:03:00 PM EST

    It's out of print now. I was wondering if someone who bought it could share the bag, vest and hat patterns with me for personal use only...Thanks!

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