Here’s the one Japanese knitting book I purchased at Kinokuniya:
I don’t know why I am so obsessed with these Japanese scrubbers (called “tawashi”). I haven’t even made one yet! But anyway, this book is filled with scrubbers of all shapes and sizes and for different purposes. Some are knit, and some are crocheted.
You’re supposed to use these for washing your car. I don’t know how Peter would feel about that …
These are for outdoor use, such as camping.
And these? For “pet house care.” In one photo it looks like the model is lovingly cleaning out her fish tank with a scrubber in the shape of, you guessed it, a FISH.
And how, you ask, will I figure out how to create these scrubbers? Well, I just got this crazy instruction book via Amazon (I learned about this book through Jessica):
Not only is it an excellent instructional book on both crocheting and knitting, complete with a glossary of Japanese symbols, but you get the bonus of the scary cover!
Pages
-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- mystiquemadhura on they’re coming to take me away
- Lydia on Sorry for the interruption.
- Mia on About
- Jill on Sorry for the interruption.
- Malia on Sorry for the interruption.
Archives
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- February 2014
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- May 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- August 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- March 2004
- February 2004
- January 2004
- December 2003
- November 2003
- October 2003
- September 2003
- August 2003
- July 2003
- June 2003
Categories
Meta
Oh how very weird, I’m glad they don’t have body scrubbers. Imagine those crocheted body parts…ugh…
What’s with the bride of Chucky on the cover of the how to book? Yikes.
Cute fish! And Silvia has a good point: imagine little crocheted toes for scrubbing your feet, little knitted ears…
I keep meaning to go over to Kinokuniya. My son would probably love some new Japanese books anyway.Did you ever make anything from those cute mags that Alison sent to you. There was adorable purse and a tank with embroidered flowers that I just loved.
All those different scrubbers are great–but the frog is kind of weird. Why is he frowning?
You are really inspiring me to learn to knit and crochet. Seems like a cool book. But the last one? The eyes, the eyes, please take them away!
That cover is truly frightening. Yow. But I love the little scrubbers. What kind of yarn do you use for that though?
Mariko, I’m very jealous of your books !! I whipped right over to Chapters and ordered Basic Knit and Crochet though. Hopefully it will help me in my quest for learning more about Japanese patterns. Thanks so much for that info.
I have a feeling that little doll is going to do a walk-on in my next nightmare…
Damn, I never realized scrubbers were so specialized (I really can’t think of any other types of “pet house care” that would require a scrubber either). The fish one seems like a form of deterrence/negative reinforcement for training your fish: “see what happens to you if you misbehave?!?”
Your books all look so cool! well except for the one with the creepy doll on the cover. The instructions would have to be beyond great for me to get that book, I would have to keep that book in the garage and put a book cover on it!
Those are. Adorable. Be they scrubbers, or cat toys? Methinks the latter, frankly. Least they would if I made them.
there is such a fine line between cute and creepy. please let us know when you find “the scary clown guide to crochet.”
I can guess how Peter would like a toy car scrubber . . someone gave my Grandpa one once – he tied it to an old mop to wash the car.
CREEPY DOLL! But hey, she can’t be too bad, it looks like she knows how to knit.
That cover completely creeps me out!
I love this cover! Just found a copy of the book online and ordered it immediately, so now I can buy up all the knitting mags at the local Japanese book & magazine store.
Can I steal Silvia’s comment/idea? I want to make scrubbers that look like body parts! Perfect for the next time someone asks you to lend a hand.
Oh I’m so jealous!!!! Haha, not only amazing patterns, but beautiful book itself! I’m obsessed with the tawashi myself.
Haha, yes, the creepy cover to the other book IS a bonus!
i found the creepy doll on the cover book at borders about 6 months ago. i bought it because it brought back memories of japan for me. i’ll have to take a closer look at it.
I love seeing these pattern books from Japan- they are so much fun! I think these tawashi are really cool too, and started to make my own. I already recreated the ladybug and am moving onto the animal mits because I think they’ll make cute gifts for the kids in my family. Keep posting these cool books! (Your sewing& knitting projects are beautiful too.. so creative- go girl! )
That Basic Crochet & Knit book is one of the best books available for beginners, especially beginners who are visual learners. The diagrams are large, clear and plentiful. It’s also very reasonably priced. I’ve given away about a dozen in the past two years. If I were to teach a formal class for beginners, I’d list this booklet as “required reading.”
Oh, this is wonderful! I love your blog.
Hi Mariko, I’m a knitter living in Hong Kong. I’m so thrilled to see that book with the doll (I don’t find her scary)! I learnt to knit from this book 20 years ago when I was a kid back in Singapore. I’ve lost it and am so glad to know that it is still in print. Could you let me have its ISBN no., please?
Thank you SO much for opening my eyes to yet another knit art form – I’ve made 2 of these using Gwen’s pattern, and I am in love! SUPER quick MINDLESS knitting – and cute results every time! Well, in my case, BOTH times. My 11 yo daughter is making one as we speak – thanks again! Now I am off to search for more Japanese knitting patterns – wish I would have known about this 11 years ago while we were stationed in Okinawa! :o)