There are some great free Japanese knitting patterns but if you don't know Japanese then it can be hard to find them or to know what the links to the pages say.
Luckily, I've been able to find some sites through Ravelry's Japanese Knitting and Crochet group and Yahoo's Knitting In Japan group. If you are anywhere interested in Japanese knitting and crochet patterns, I highly recommend both groups. The people on the lists are so nice and there are some fluent Japanese speakers that are often willing to help with translations of parts of patterns.
One of the best places to find free Japanese knitting patterns and Japanese crochet patterns is on the Pierott (Gosyo Co.,Ltd) website. The first time I got on the site, I was a little overwhelmed because I didn't know where to click for the patterns.
I use the Google search bar with the Translate feature turned on to help me read the words on the pages that aren't images.
Here's a list of some of the them:
Fall and Winter Patterns, Volume 1:
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/fw_knit1.htm
Fall and Winter Patterns, Volume 2
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/fw_knit2.htm
Fall and Winter Patterns, Volume 3
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/fw_knit3.htm
Bags (knit and crochet):
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/bag.htm
Amigurumi (crochet)
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/amigurumi_tawashi.htm
Motifs (crochet)
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/motif.htm
Caps, Mittens, Scarves (knit and crochet)
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/cap.htm
Scarves
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/muffler.htm
Tops (knit and crochet)
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/fw_knit3.htm
Tops, vests, ponchos (mostly knit)
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/fw_knit2.htm
Tops (knit)
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/fw_knit1.htm
Kids and baby (knit and crochet)
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/baby_knit.htm
Men's (knit)
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/mens_knit.htm
Shawls and stoles, with tops and a couple of suits (mostly
knit)
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/hight_knit.htm
Short sleeve tops (knit and crochet)
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/ss_knit.htm
Shawls, Scarves (knit and crochet)
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/syole_knit.htm
Interior (Zakka)
http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/gosyo/new/interior_zakka.htm
Just click on an image and you'll be taken to the information page about the pattern. There are usually 4 sections next to the garment patterns.
The first section is the yarn information. The second section is the needle section (Be careful! These are Japanese needle sizes, not US or metric. Use the Basics of Japanese Knitting page for a conversion of needle sizes). The third section is additional items needed. And the fourth section has the link to the PDF pattern.
Unfortunately, the PDFs don't have pictures of the items. So I just print out the information page and the PDF and keep them together.
I could spend hours looking at all the patterns and I have quite a few I'd love to knit. Hope you have fun looking through them too!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Online Japanese Knitting Pattern Websites
Every time I find a website on the Internet about Japanese Knitting patterns or Japanese Knitting books, I create a bookmark in my favorites. Here is what I've collected so far:
Crafting Japanese Knitting Books
This is the knitting section on the larger Crafting Japanese website dedicated to all kinds of Japanese crafts. Each blog entry has a picture of the cover of a Japanese Knitting book as well as links to photos from the book.
ABC's Of Knitting
This site has some great resources that I use all the time to help with figuring out my Japanese knitting patterns:
How to Read Japanese Graphical Knitting Charts
The Basics of Japanese Knitting
Knitting Elegance KAL
This a Knit Along blog about Japanese knitting patterns and the beautiful designs from the Japanese 'Let's Knit Series' books. There are some book reviews, photos of knitted swatches, and finished objects by members of the KAL. The posts I've found to be the most helpful are the Samples of Japanese Knitting Symbols - blog posts
Japanese Knitting Symbols
Has pictures of pages from the Clear & Simple Knitting Symbols book.
Japanese Knitting Books
Has pictures of and reviews of several Japanese Knitting Books.
Habu Textiles Japanese Knitting Diagram Help
Shows a partial knitting diagram and explains knitting direction, number of stitches to cast on, and how to read increases/decreases.
Interpreting Japanese Knitting Symbols and Charts
This is the most comprehensive online resource for reading Japanese knitting patterns that I've found on the Internet. I highly recommend it because it translates several of the most important Japanese knitting words, has a needle conversion chart, and walks you step-by-step through a Japanese knitting pattern. It is available in PDF.
Crafting Japanese Knitting Books
This is the knitting section on the larger Crafting Japanese website dedicated to all kinds of Japanese crafts. Each blog entry has a picture of the cover of a Japanese Knitting book as well as links to photos from the book.
ABC's Of Knitting
This site has some great resources that I use all the time to help with figuring out my Japanese knitting patterns:
How to Read Japanese Graphical Knitting Charts
The Basics of Japanese Knitting
Knitting Elegance KAL
This a Knit Along blog about Japanese knitting patterns and the beautiful designs from the Japanese 'Let's Knit Series' books. There are some book reviews, photos of knitted swatches, and finished objects by members of the KAL. The posts I've found to be the most helpful are the Samples of Japanese Knitting Symbols - blog posts
Japanese Knitting Symbols
Has pictures of pages from the Clear & Simple Knitting Symbols book.
Japanese Knitting Books
Has pictures of and reviews of several Japanese Knitting Books.
Habu Textiles Japanese Knitting Diagram Help
Shows a partial knitting diagram and explains knitting direction, number of stitches to cast on, and how to read increases/decreases.
Interpreting Japanese Knitting Symbols and Charts
This is the most comprehensive online resource for reading Japanese knitting patterns that I've found on the Internet. I highly recommend it because it translates several of the most important Japanese knitting words, has a needle conversion chart, and walks you step-by-step through a Japanese knitting pattern. It is available in PDF.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Sizing A Japanese Knitting Pattern - Part I
After doing all those conversion of measurements the other day for the Sleeveless Sweater Vest, I've been thinking about how to apply the measurements to a top that will fit me.
I've decided to go with 2 inches of ease for a total of 42 inches at the bust. This works out to approximately 107 centimeters around or around 53 centimeters for the front and the back. I'll round up to 108 and 54 because I like even numbers.
The original pattern size is 92 centimeters around and 46 centimeters for the front and back. So I need to to increase the width of the sweater by 16 centimeters. This is 8 centimeters each on the front and the back.
The gauge is 19 sts and 24 sts in 10 centimeters. This works out to 1.9 sts per centimeter. If I multiply this by the 16 or 8 centimeters I need it equals 30.4 or 15.2 more stitches I need to cast on.
I'll probably knit this in the round so the total stitches I'll need to cast on is 206. (88 * 2) + 30 = 206
So just to be sure this calculation is right, I'll check it another way.
206 divided by 1.9 sts is 108.42 centimeters which equals 42.7 inches which is almost an inch more then my original size but that happens with rounding sometimes.
The center panel on the front of the top is 48 stitches. I'm not planning to change this. I'm going to put the extra stitches on both sides of the panel.
Since 206 divided by 2 is 103 which is an odd number, I need to either go up 2 stitches or down 2 stitches with my cast on. I've decided to go down since I don't want the top to be any bigger. So that is 102 for the front and the back or 204 around.
102 - 48 = 54 / 2 = 27
So, all that math boils down to:
Cast on 204.
On round 1, Knit and place markers after stitch 27 and after stitch 75.
The stitches between the makers will be where the cable panel goes.
Well, that was a lot of math and enough to get started but there are other measurements I going to need to calculate like the length and the waist shaping. I'll do that in my next post.
I've decided to go with 2 inches of ease for a total of 42 inches at the bust. This works out to approximately 107 centimeters around or around 53 centimeters for the front and the back. I'll round up to 108 and 54 because I like even numbers.
The original pattern size is 92 centimeters around and 46 centimeters for the front and back. So I need to to increase the width of the sweater by 16 centimeters. This is 8 centimeters each on the front and the back.
The gauge is 19 sts and 24 sts in 10 centimeters. This works out to 1.9 sts per centimeter. If I multiply this by the 16 or 8 centimeters I need it equals 30.4 or 15.2 more stitches I need to cast on.
I'll probably knit this in the round so the total stitches I'll need to cast on is 206. (88 * 2) + 30 = 206
So just to be sure this calculation is right, I'll check it another way.
206 divided by 1.9 sts is 108.42 centimeters which equals 42.7 inches which is almost an inch more then my original size but that happens with rounding sometimes.
The center panel on the front of the top is 48 stitches. I'm not planning to change this. I'm going to put the extra stitches on both sides of the panel.
Since 206 divided by 2 is 103 which is an odd number, I need to either go up 2 stitches or down 2 stitches with my cast on. I've decided to go down since I don't want the top to be any bigger. So that is 102 for the front and the back or 204 around.
102 - 48 = 54 / 2 = 27
So, all that math boils down to:
Cast on 204.
On round 1, Knit and place markers after stitch 27 and after stitch 75.
The stitches between the makers will be where the cable panel goes.
Well, that was a lot of math and enough to get started but there are other measurements I going to need to calculate like the length and the waist shaping. I'll do that in my next post.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Men and Women's Knit
I saw a really cute vest from a Japanese knitting book call Men and Women's Knit on Agnes's website.I love the diamonds going across the front. Here's the link to Men and Women's Knit on YesAsia.com
Orlane also has some pictures from the book here. The hoodie vest looks great too.!
I may need to look for this book the next time I'm at Kinokuniya (where I need to stay away from right now because I need to spend money on gifts for OTHER people!)
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Converting Japanese Knitting Pattern Measurements
I've started the process of converting the Sleeveless Sweater pattern. This is from a free Japanese Knitting Pattern for a vest and a set of wrist warmers.
The first thing I have done is convert centimeters to inches in the measurements. The pattern has a diagram for both the front and back of the sweater vest.
Front:
Back:
I used Google to calculate the values for me using their "convert" search. For example, if you enter "convert 46 cm to inches", the search result will be:
46 centimeters = 18.1102362 inches.
Pretty cool, huh?
I rounded the measurements two places. I will wait to do the final conversion to fractions of an inch once I do the conversions to my size.
As you can see, the bust measurement is approximately 36 inches. So the next thing I need to do is convert the pattern to fit my bust measurement of 40 inches. One of the things I can't tell from the measurements is what the ease is. I think I'll add 2 inches for ease so that the top isn't too tight. What do you think?
Look for the next step in the conversion process later this week.
The first thing I have done is convert centimeters to inches in the measurements. The pattern has a diagram for both the front and back of the sweater vest.
Front:
Back:
I used Google to calculate the values for me using their "convert" search. For example, if you enter "convert 46 cm to inches", the search result will be:
46 centimeters = 18.1102362 inches.
Pretty cool, huh?
I rounded the measurements two places. I will wait to do the final conversion to fractions of an inch once I do the conversions to my size.
As you can see, the bust measurement is approximately 36 inches. So the next thing I need to do is convert the pattern to fit my bust measurement of 40 inches. One of the things I can't tell from the measurements is what the ease is. I think I'll add 2 inches for ease so that the top isn't too tight. What do you think?
Look for the next step in the conversion process later this week.
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