MOONSTITCHES

Counting, 8

8. Future

The End of the Moon

Page 96 of Der Mond by Vigilio Brenna, Olten, Stuttgart, Salzburg, 1965. German edition of The Moon, New York, 1963.

Still no cookies. Must hurry. Second Advent soon...
Bye!

40

Hi there.
Back from a three day weekend which I spent in my craft room for (re)organizing it... Finally all books together on one shelf, the growing yarn stash sighted and more storage boxes bought to make sure there will be no harm to the yarn even if it stays for some time. Fabrics neatly folded, being remembered of all the things I wanted to sew this summer... well, autumn has come. Other fabrics will be piled, waiting to be transformed.

Last week I told you I hadn't one single place where I keep all my important passwords, which can be very annoying in case your computer suddenly ceases service and has to be reinstalled... So finally I  wrote them all down, very clever, in the back of my creative notebook, which I always have somewhere around me...
Last Friday I couldn't find that book when I wanted to login to my IMDB account, not knowing my password... of course. Of course I didn't know and of course the notebook had to disappear right after I fed it with all that important information. It appeared to be nowhere at home. But then, where else could it be?!
I thought. And shortly later made the most hurried trip to my local yarn store where I suspected it having spent the last three days... I must have had forgotten it there. Like a busy squirrel collecting acorns I had been returning to Yuzawaya in Machida a couple of times last week to prepare for a long winter... new big crocheting project. Feverish, because the yarn I was going for had been on sale and is coming in 80 150　(that is why it is called Rainbow 150... just found that information on the Yuzawaya website) colours... no way I kept a clear head... I was like "Today the browns and yellows, only ten skeins!"...please so many colours - on sale - are just too many to stay calm and care for your belongings properly... I got the book back, it had been found in the yarn section of the store. Again, lucky me. Wish I had been so lucky to spend three days and nights at Yuzawaya, though... suppose my notebook doesn't really appreciate its stay.

So, about that new project... it started with me falling in love with the cover of this new crochet book.

For about a week I thought it was the scarf... so I got my first batch of that yarn I mentioned above but had to put start crocheting on hold because I was knitting a very important birthday present and that had to be finished first. Later it occurred to me that it wasn't the scarf at all, I think I dreamed of having hair like that and rosy cheeks and being twenty years again...
Coincidentally the same week I got the book (which is nice but not essential like most of these cute, little Japanese craft books) I finally found a reasonably priced copy of Nanny McPhee and, while watching it with Dagny, felt the growing urge to eventually make an actual granny square blanket.
Like this:

And off went the squirrel into the woods...

I said, the yarn was on sale.
At home the squirrel did this:

And began crocheting.

I have been trying covering the ends by crocheting but that just doesn't work for me. So I am collecting these loose ends again, but I will try weaving them in as I go. As Louise recommends. Otherwise I will be ending up like Lyn, and declaring a wholehearted NEVER AGAIN would be too bad if I had not finished my hexagon blanket before...

Speaking of hexagons, I am amazed how the hexagon love is spreading, there are already a lot of wonderful WIPs and even finished objects to see over at Hexagon Love, so inspiring! I am getting extremely itchy to keep on working on my blanket again.

40 squares done. One week's crocheting. Around 9 more weeks like this needed to get them all done. 
Smile, Alex!

Have a good week!

Edit: Rainbow 150 is called Rainbow 150 because it comes in 150 colours, finally understood that... Have a pleasant weekend!

600

Not 600 hexagons, no... I still have not started making them again... I just thought I should say hello.

I have meant to to show you all my gorgeous new yarn I recently got but I am not sure if I can do that. It feels so weird to show off all that stuff. You don't do that, do you?! Maybe later.
I guess it just feels so forbidden because I normally wouldn't have had access to it, it's so unreal my husband brought it all back in his suitcase while usually he only presents me a Martha Stewart LIVING when coming back from the US... I should not really have this... oh too cute, Dagny just came to me and wanted to wind two skeins of yarn with that wool winder I recently bought! Seriously. That's so fabulous.
I suppose once my stash has grown I'll give in, and just put it all out so you can see. I have went through the various stages of fabric addiction and know there will be times I won't feel guilty when having bought something like 22 skeins of Koigu. But now I do.

So here instead I tell you how rationally I have become regarding buying new craft books. I almost completely have sworn off Japanese craft magazines some time ago. I feel totally alright when I am missing a new issue of those I bought routinely and am much more drawn to pattern books. I guess in your countries are similar books like I bought  a while ago, but if you happen to have the opportunity to get books from Japan (traveling friends or husbands) you should consider buying these.

I think both are worth purchasing, not too expensive (around 2.000 Yen) and brimful with all kinds of patterns. In CROCHET PATTERNS BOOK 300 (ISBN 4-529-04175-1) there are patterns for nets, shells, pineapples, flowers, mixing colours, you name it. There are patterns which look kind of knitted, very interesting.KNITTING PATTERNS 3oo (ISBN 978-4-529-02071-8) is all about lacy patterns, literally patterns you can see through, lovely leaves, lots of zigzag, herringbone, diamonds, bobbles, flowers... I'd love to try knitting sampler scarves to get to know some of the beautiful patterns shown in this book.
After the next Chevron, that is. I have just casted on something absolutely not-neon and already love it to pieces. This yarn...!
Off to wind those skeins now...

Take care!

Edit: The patterns are charted, of course, easy to understand due to the visual instructions in the back of both books. No Japanese needed.

EDIT#2: ISBNs for both books added to the text. Sorry for having been hiding them in the little text boxes that appear when you move the cursor over the images.

Look Closer

scroll down to see pictures from the books I used

The owls, you know them well by now... in general I used the pattern from this book but chose  wool and linen instead of chirimen crepe, which per se creates a thoroughly new species, no matter if feet respectively wings are or are not attached, a beret is worn, a name given and sewn on or not and those google eyes replaced by lovely vintage buttons... Oh not to forget, I put in much more filling which results in a shorter flap / friendlier face.
The book is nice, as I said before, but a bit "thin" (lots of photos, not so many patterns) and given the rather high price I'd say I wouldn't recommend buying it.

The bunny... from this book. Mine is all dressed up and has pointy, much more grown up ears. Chirimen instead of cotton, no accessories. The pattern is from this book. A reasonably priced book, not a fancy one and the projects often look rather boring but I like it. If you already own a few Japanese patchwork or crafting magazines, you won't need this one. Especially not if you just seek to find out how to make that bunny. To construct a bunny shouldn't be too difficult and I could help, too. And the bunny's kimono... that's all fake, I can tell you. The obi (belt) really does the trick, covers all odds and ends, in this case rather odd ends that is. Ends of fabric that wouldn't be there if this was a real wrapped dress the bunny is wearing. The kimono actually  consists of the bunny's body, a wrapped around skirt the sewn on sleeves and a double folded piece of fabric draped around the bunny's neck pretending being the kimono's collar. The size of my bunny is 14 cm.

The bag... from a very unattractive looking book which I cannot find online, a book that contains quite some interesting patterns, very basic and would it been made in the same style as those Machine Made Patchworks books it would be known.
The bag... de-frilled, bright, fresh fabrics, a rigid, angular base instead of the soft, round one - gives the bag a  simpler, more  modern  look. Go and search for a Granny Bag pattern in your patchwork magazines, it's likely you find one. If not, draw a rough sketch of the desired bag's shape, play with curves, pleats and darts. How to create a rectangular base for a bag can be seen in that tutorial on Marianne's applehead (Do you know her 'smallpeople'? I really love them!).

Try coming up with your own pattern, if others hadn't, there weren't as much as there are. I know that really is not new for you. You are all creative, talented people and like to do things your own way. I just want to encourage everybody. And this is what I would like to tell you, hoping I do not sound too arrogant: Try to be convinced you already own that perfect pattern for a bag, softie or whatever you want to create. Assume it is just hidden in not so zakka-like craft books with lots of uninspired photos. Try to see the good in the patterns you have at home, be willing to give them your own twist, play.

I never bought one of the Machine Made Patchwork books (at least not for me) although I like them very much. I just think I have the provided patterns pretty much covered by other books or magazines. Beautiful and very unattractive ones. A few years of crafting in Japan inevitably leads to well laden bookshelves, I admit. But I do avoid buying each and every book that's pretty.

I think I am starting a challenge here. I will get out my most unalluring craft and sewing books and look for projects that really don't seem appealing at all - and try to transform them into something I like.
Does that sound cocky? Hope not.

Have a beautiful day!

Edit: I feel like I have to say a bit more on this topic because I could have giving a wrong impression of my relation to craft/sewing/Zakka books. What I said about avoiding buying books just because they are pretty... that is, as long as I would categorize the concerning book as a 'craft book' with the purpose of providing patterns. But there are also those books that are so beautiful, creative or inspiring that not a single pattern has to be in them to legitimate their existence. In these cases a few stunning photographies are all I need to make me want them. After all I'm only human ;-)   

Hunting Books

Some last squares before I've put the hook away to finally start with my calendar pages a few days ago. I've been weaving in the loose ends and they are now four cozy coasters, very, very thick ones because that shetland wool is such a heavy one... inspired, as all my granny square crocheting by this photo and pattern from Cotton & Paint.

This post is mostly about my new treasures I found last weekend when I was out in the woods for hunting books. A lot of pictures, few words. The ISBNs of the books are given in the descriptions of the photos over at Flickr. Just click on the photos to get there.

Look there, a crocheted skirt!!! Isn't that adorable? I'd love to wear it and water my plants in front of the house all day long.

Last year I found this magazine and although I wasn't much into knitting back then I bought it. Just in case...

... I would ever be able to make myself this adorable cardigan.

A nice, little book with pretty ideas for basics as mufflers, caps and mittens.

A very charming idea from Oshare Jikan, which I bought already a few weeks ago.

If you ever doubt whether to buy one book of the Oshare Jikan series... just buy it, if you can. I think they are always very inspirational and nice to look at.

You also never make a mistake by going for one of the reasonably priced kikkake hon. This one includes patterns about a beautiful flower belt, as well as bags and mufflers. These books look kind of insignificant and you might think that there can't be put in much for 280 Yen but you'll be surprised  how much actually can.

Also purchased some time ago when I first attempted to conquer crochet country... glad I can finally make full use of it.

Brandnew, not only to me, this beauty.

This book really is spelled beautiful and by the way traveling pretty soon...

Not a crochet book but a brilliant book anyway: The "Japanese Crafter's Companion" as I would put it. Introducing 50 crafters, peeking into their studios, lots of links and also patterns included. Too bad reading the texts would take away all my precious crafting time... oh, those Kanji!

And finally one book and magazine that are on my shelves for some weeks.
First this super beautiful fashion magazine called shortcoco that's full of interesting photos, featuring Marimekko and giving lots of information about shopping Scandinavian goods in Denmark and Japan.

Some links that can be found in shortcoco

Casalinga

CINQ

TREUER HUND

EIN SHOP JIYUGAOKA

campagne

And really bringing this avalanche of photos to an end, the cover of the latest Stitch idees which is as always a good choice. Cross stitching is getting more popular, it seems, and also this issue is looking pretty colourful. Nice book. I like it very much.

The calendar pages are almost finished, there are only three millions of loose ends of thread to sew in... dreadful. But I'll make it on time. So excited to see those pages from all over the world landing in my mailbox soon...!

Almost December, girls!!!

Have a great day.

PS: And don't cry. At least you can buy "Quark" at the grocery store and your bathroom might have even a door... *sigh*

Ma nouvelle Tasse et des Fruits

Autumn in Japan is a wonderful time. The air is clear, the sight of the mountains is great and the colours are just beautiful. Unlike in summer, when all seems to be covered with moist and the plants are growing like wild and everything appears to form a dense mass within breathing sometimes is really difficult... Now is the time to take a deep breath and feel fresh again.

Quinces, another pleasure of autumn...

   

Yesterday I made quince marmalade. I guess I have boiled it a bit too long, turned out rather solid. But the taste is great.
The same goes for those scones... why are mine always looking so depressed?

As you know a criminal always returns to the scene of the crime I don't have to tell you I couldn't resist going to that lovely, new fabric shop in Machida again for ample exploration... of course I brought home some more fabrics, but really only a bit. Really a bit. I don't know what's the custom in other countries, but here you normally have to buy at least 50 cm of a fabric. That can be a lot if you can't decide which. Not so at Okadaya. There they are able to cut even 10 cm from the bolt... this opens up great opportunities.

Lingonberry jam and butter on bread

 

When I was walking back to Machida station last week I stopped at our favourite  bakery for fresh "tastes like home-bread". It's the only place to find bread as I know it from home: dark, heavy, nice crust and seeds. Japanese food, if you're open to new tastes, makes you miss almost nothing. But I love bread and really prefer the bread how we make it in Germany  over the soft white bread that's so popular in this country. So I am very happy to have this bakery just around the corner. Edit: Meanwhile the bakery closed and reopened a couple of months later in the basement of Tokyu vis a vis Lumine... the bread lacks a bit of its old quality, I wish I knew where the former baker went, I'd love to have my beloved bread back!

By the way, does the rest of the world also assume Germans would eat sausages and drink beer all the time? Sometimes these cliches are just annoying me.

In the same building as the bakery is in you can find an international supermarket that has just stocked up its seasonal sweets... mmmmmh, Marzipan is here again!!! Edit: The supermarket closed, too, a new one in our area opened in Hon Atsugi.

And to confirm that that day was indeed a day of serious shopping it felt alright falling in love with the dotted cup and bowl at  Quatre Saisons, a few floors up in the very same building...

Oh my, as I was just checking Lumine's floor guide I discovered there is an ABC Cooking Studio on the eighth floor! Gosh, I'd love to take a cake class there. Suzy from floating world views had made some nice things since she started going there. Hm... will see if I can afford it. Should stop going to that certain place for a while, might help...

 

One final red and white thing to show and tell about:

The new Cotton & Paint is out and again so sweet!

And inspiring. I bought it yesterday and practically while flipping through I was urged to reach for my crochet hook to start a new project... yes, me, crocheting! Such a fun, finally. Got a fantastic instruction for crocheting flowers about ten days ago and am SO hooked now.

But that's a story to tell tomorrow.

Have a nice day!

Go ahead, eat it all up!

Hm, I am observing an increasing appetite... soon it will all be eaten up. What will happen then? Will I be sent on a blogging vacation till the next month starts with a fresh ration of bandwidth?

As I told you before I got my new edition of Cotton & Paint last week and it is really a very nice issue. Very soon I am going to be an aunt for the fifth time, so I particularly like the sweet ideas for baby toys and a bip (patched entirely of Nani Iro fabrics!). And of course the cute felt sweets created by erikarika-san. And then all that mushroomy stuff... I would have been so inspired by those if I had not already made my mushroom bottlecap pincushion!

More photos here.

Don't order them now, please

That was mean of me, you have my apologies.

Leaving you with the covers of the mags and then vanish into thin air... I will soon say something about the content of the three books, show pictures and tell you why I bought them. I am sure my criteria are different to yours and since you have to spend more money for Japanese magazines than I you should not  get nervous when I am posting some nice covers and go and order right away.
See, now I got nervous, too, because I don't want to be responsible for disappointing purchases. Sometimes, you know, I am fond of a mag because of just one pattern or a nice photo.

Have to hurry into the kitchen, my master just got home and is hungry...

Another Crush

And this one, I am sure, I do share with many of you:

Japanese Craft Books.

The only way for me not to add more of them to my collection is to not enter a book store at all. But this is difficult... I am passing (or rather NOT passing) one with a very nice crafting section almost everyday when I go to the train station... This week these three went home with me.

Cotton Friend - Soingu Book
Craft Cafe - Special: Linen & Cotton ISBN4-529-04261-8

ONDORI - Organic Cotton ISBN4-277-72243-1

After I got a bit of sleep I will feed my Books-Set on Flickr with some pictures from these three books.

Designation: One of Two Hundered and Fifty

Disconnected from the collective and having reached its destinatin.

Joined by two cuddly stars that were meant to be pincushions but turned out to be soft balls, best suited to be kicked around by the smaller inhabitants of our place.

Pattern for the stylish soccer ball by Junko Onishi

Edit: I hope I didn't hurt anybody's feelings by mentioning someone having fun with soccer today ;-)