Vintage Japanese Crochet Cardigan

I haven't updated my blog for months.  I was so busy.  We went to Hong Kong last month, my aunt gave all her vintage Japanese knitting and crochet pattern books (fr late 70s to early 80s) to me.  I was thrilled.  I love Japanese Patterns, and I love vintage patterns.  Now I have both vintage and Japanese.....  :)

Anyway, I finally finished the vintage Japanese cardigan project which I started last summer.  It is a little too tight, my gauge is off, I did a swatch, it was ok.  I don't know why?

My Top 5 Japanese Shojo Anime Series

My Top 5 Japanese Anime Series

I love watching Japanese Anime, but I have never written anything about it on my blog.  I want to introduce you guys my favorite anime series.  If you like anime and you are not a guy, I think you will love with my list.


* I do not own any pics of the anime series.

1. Fruits Basket 

Tohru Honda is 16 year old orphaned girl who lives in the house of her classmate, the handsome boy Sohma Yuki, and his cousins, 16 year old Kyo and 27 year old Shigure.

These young men and parts of the rest of their family hold a curse; if they are hugged by the opposite sex, then they transform into animals of the Chinese Zodiac. The story is about sweet Tohru gets to know everyone in the large family better (especially Yuki and Kyo), in both common and bizarre situations. This series is very sweet, warm, touching and funny. I love every characters in this series. Even my hubby watched it with me, he laughed so hard. I strong recommend this series. Total 26 episodes.

2. Peach Girl 

This series is a little old. But this series gets me very addicted, after one episode, I just couldn't stop, I had to watch the next one. I think I watch whole dvd in one sitting without leaving my couch.

The story is about a high school girl called Momo Adachi, who everyone thinks is a slut because of her tanned skin. But the reason of her tanned skin is that she was on the swim team and she gets tan very easily. She likes a boy called Toji, who she heard only likes non-tanned girls. So she spends a lot of time trying to remake herself into the girl she believes he wants. However, a friend of hers called Sae, who loves to go behind Momo's back and make her life terrible, mostly by trying to take Toji away from her. At the same time, there's another boy called Kairi, who is in love with Momo. There is a Love Triangle between Momo, Toji and Kairi.

This series is kind of like Soap Opera, but in anime form. If you like Soap, you will definitely love this one.

3. Lovely Complex 

This series is a love story about a tall girl called Risa Koizumi and a short boy called Atsushi Ootani. They started as a friends (sort of, coz they argue and fight a lot), later Risa has a romantic feeling for Ootani, the she is worried. She doesn't know that can he ever see her as more than a friend. With her friends rooting for her, she struggles to make him see how she feels about him, and that a romantic relationship between a tall girl and a short guy can work. Oblivious Ootani doesn't make things easy for her, but she stubbornly perseveres in her own unconventional way, determined for her feelings to get through to him, and finally be returned.

This series is very very funny and touching, I laughed and cried a lot.

4. Kimi Ni Todoke 

Kuronuma Sawako is a high school student. With her jet-black hair, sinister smile and silent demeanor, she's often mistaken for the haunting movie (The Ring) character Sadako. But behind her scary facade is a very misunderstood teenager, she is a very sweet person. Because of her shyness, she has a hard time to fit in, all she wants to do is make some friends. When a popular boy in class starys to make friends with her, she starts to make more friends and it changes her life.

The story seems a little bit simple, but this series is very very warm. And the opening and ending songs are beautiful.

5. Kaichou Wa Maid-sama!  

Misaki Ayuzawa is the first female student council president in her high school which was used to be all boys school. She rules the school with strict discipline demeanor. But her family is very poor, she has to work at a maid cafe secretly. One day, the popular student called Takumi Usui finds out her secret and makes a deal with her to keep it hush from the school in exchange for spending some time with him.

After I watched the 1st episode, I didn't really like it at all. But I heard so many good things about this series, so I decided to watch one more episode. I am glad that I did, this series is getting better every episode.

Lukie is a Sushi Chef??

I sewed a kimomo top for Lukie, after I put on him, I think he looks like a sushi chef, so I made him a head band.  I used a pattern from a Japanese Sewing Book, it is really easy to make, but I forgot to add the seam allowance when I cut the fabric, so it is a little smaller than it supposes to be.  And I used Aplix Hook and Tape (similar to Velcro) instead ribbon.

Sekai No Amimono / 世界の編物

I really love this issue, there are a lot of patterns that I plan to crochet.

Richmore Best Eye's Collection Vol 105

This is Richmore Best Eye's Collection Vol 105, the patterns of this crochet/ knitting magazine are more edgy than most Japanese crochet/ knitting books.  I like some of the patterns, but I don't like the yarns they used.  I saw several projects on Ravelry from this magazine are very pretty, they used different yarns.  They look much better than the magazine.  I can't wait to start some projects from this magazine.  But I am still working on the cardigan from 1974 Japanese Crochet Book.  Hopefully, I will finish this cardigan in a month. 

I plan to make the left one.

ETSY Treasury!!!

I created two ETSY Treasury:

Japanese Crochet and Amigurumi Books

Everybody Loves Babies
Everything is baby-related.

Japanese Style Crochet Bag

I really love this purse, the pattern is very easy and quick. I did a lot of modifications, I crocheted more rows, so the bag is bigger. And I made the handle longer.

Pattern:
item.rakuten.co.jp/keito-zakka/c/0000000175/

4/22/2010:

Just finished Row 3.

4/24/2010:

Finished Row 21, I probably will add more rows, I think the bag is a little bit too small, but not sure how many rows?

4/25/2010:

Finished Row 29, but I want the bag bigger, so I decided to add extra 8 more rows. So total is 37 Rows. I will start the borders tomorrow.

4/26/2010:

Finish all the crochet part, just need to do the lining and sew button and handle.

4/27/2010:

Tried to sew lining, but it is too difficult, so I gave up. I should sew the lining after top and bottom edge done, it would be easier.

Sew the flowers, it looks very pretty, I am very happy with the result.

And I decided to use magnetic snaps instead of button, just ordered this morning, hopefully, I would get it in few days. Then my purse will officially done!!

Japanese Sewing Book "Home Couture"

This is Japanese Sewing Book "Home Couture" by Machiko Kayaki. This book includes 23 sewing projects, like dresses, shirts and bags. Very stylish and elegant. And it comes with Full Size Pattern. The instructions are in Japanese, but it has step by step diagrams. So it is pretty easy to follow.

This book is USED, but in EXCELLENT Condition, just a little bit dirty on the dust cover, the book itself is like BRAND NEW.

ISBN: 4-579-10745-4
Page:82

If you are interested in this book, pls check my Store.

Japanese Craft Books from my NYC Trip

Just got back from NYC, I have so much there. I went to 3 different Japanese Bookstores, one of them are "Used Bookstore". I bought about 5 craft books (include Zakka, Sewing, Purses and Wire Art) and 1 Fashion Magazine. If you go to NYC, don't miss "Book Off" (the used bookstore name). It is on E41 Street at Manhattan (near Madison Ave).

But the other 2 japanese bookstores are very pricey. It is more expensive than buying online, but it is nice that I can read a lot of craft books. I spent about an hour at one bookstore.

I will post the pics tomorrow. Few of the books will be for sale at my Etsy store.

Bi-fold Wallet

Here is my newest project: Bi-fold Wallet, I made one with Froggies Fabrics and one with Panda Fabrics. Now I am using the Panda one, everyone loves it. But I forgot to take pics of it.

My little Chihuahua

This is my newest amigurumi project. I really love this chihuahua. I gave him a very cute Froggies Bandana, it makes me more adorable.

Welcome to My Blog!

Hi everyone,

This is my 1st time post on blogger. This blog is focused on all my craft works or anything related to crafts.

I hope everyone will enjoy my blog.

I made this purse last week. I really like it, I used Japanese Fabrics and some home decoration fabrics. Because I am new to sewing, so it took me about 4 to 5 hours. It supposed to take 2 hours. hahahaha....