Natural Taste (Japanese Craft Book Review)

Natural Taste
Lady Boutique Series no. 2416
ISBN 4-8347-2416-6
Barcode 1: 9784834724165
Barcode 2: 1929476009050
www.boutique-sha.co.jp

As usual, it gives the kawaiiiiii meter a good whack.  The patterns look to be in the beginner/intermediate range, and are mostly bags and little containers, with a few accessories to wear (motif scarf, shrug, hats).  The tipping point for me was that this book also has a few pages in the back, showing each crochet symbol accompanied by illustrations showing you how to do the stitch(es) the symbol stands for (I am on the lookout for a Japanese knitting book that does the same - if you know of one, please let me know in the comments). 

This is another Hakubundo purchase ($16.25). UPDATE 04/2008: Natural Taste is now available at Kpixie.com! The listing includes photos of all the projects.

For more on Japanese craft books and links with information on the symbols used, etc., please check out my earlier post on Japanese Craft Books.

Comments

[Ellen B.]

Mmmmmm...granny squares! They ARE the building blocks to fashion, you know!

We have a few good Japanese book stores here in L.A. where I've found knit and crochet books and magazines. I have never seen knit instructional diagrams or symbols, only crochet. If I do, I'll let you know!

[ObsidianKitten]

oh cool! i like that bag on the cover...my grandma just taught me (a knitter/spinner/needle-felter) to crochet and (after a little struggling, but not too awfully much) i've learned the granny square...it's such a wacky vintage thing to crochet but that tote puts it to good use...weird, but good weird, lol

[ObsidianKitten]

speaking of "the building blocks to fashion"--i can vouch for this, as i do have a FULL LENGTH granny square skirt my other grandma made for my mom in the early 70s. it is sumthin else! cream with forest green and olive and maroon, making it perfect holiday wear. and yes, wear it i do...it's lovely, and warm, and could weather a nuclear holocost to boot.

[becca]

I love the shape of this hat, I want one like it only not lacy for in the summer time. I have tried numerous times to make one but I just can't get the increases right. love it!

[boubou]

je trouve tous ces livres très interessants ! mais peut-on se les procurer en France . merci

[mk]

boubou,
en Paris:
Bunkado (librairie), 29 rue St Augustin (2e), 01 42 60 00 66
Junku (librairie), angle rue des Pyramides et rue d'Argenteuil (1er), 01 42 60 89 12
L'Harmattan (librairie), 16 rue des Ecoles (5e), 01 40 46 79 11
Fenêtre sur l'Asie, (librairie), 49 rue Gay Lussac (5e), 01 43 29 11 00
Culture Japon: (livres et magazines sur le japon), 101 bis, quai Branly Paris (15e) 01 45 79 02 00
Mitsukoshi (grand magasin), boulevard des Capucines

bonne chance!