theraineysisters knitting and so much more

February 10, 2008

From Susan — Is it Hubris?

Filed under: Back Story — lv2knit @ 11:18 am

I know we have been back from our fabulous whirlwind tour of New York for quite a while now, but I just received the last of our purchases yesterday by Pony Express.  Sally and I were in our lovely hotel browsing the internet for knitting-related stuff (how unusual!) when I remembered a project that had been percolating in the dark recesses of my mind:

AmKamin.jpg picture by lv2knit
Am Kamin by Shimada Toshiyuki

I have seen this knitted up on several blogs and now on Ravelry, and thought it was stunningly gorgeous.  The pattern book is in Japanese and has not been translated:

NewStylesinHeirloomKnittingCover.jpg picture by lv2knit

We bought our copies from a Canadian source: The Needle Arts Book Shop, proprietor Marsha White.  Since the book’s arrival yesterday, I have been immersed in it, seeking understanding!  I feel like a newbie knitter who looks at ANY pattern for the first time: it looks impossible to decipher:

AmKamin001.jpg picture by lv2knit

Is it hubris to think I can accomplish this project?  I keep telling myself that it is, after all, just knitting.  And I have learned a little Japanese in the process, thanks to Marsha’s treatise on Interpreting Japanese Knitting Patterns.  There is only one size given for Am Kamin (which would fit Sally, of course, but not moi :(), so I will need to do major adjustments to the pattern, but I do like having it nonetheless. 

Am Kamin is worked using worsted weight wool.  I have a gorgeous red in Cascade 220 (#9404) and a wonderful teal in Cascade Dolce (#927).  I’m not sure I will start this anytime soon — it needs to marinate!

When you start exploring some of these other sources, you really feel like Alice falling down the rabbit hole.  I felt the same way when I discovered Herbert Niebling!  Aarrrrrrrrgggghhhhh!!  There is so much out there and the deeper you go, the more you find! 

22 Comments »

  1. This is a really, really fun knit. I’ve been working on it on and off for a while now. Once you get used to reading the charts and diagrams, it’s not so bad. I did have trouble mirroring the charts in my head, and ended up charting them in excel (too bad I’ve since lost them and have to do them again). Perhaps you can inspire me to pick it back up and finish. Love these Japanese patterns.

    Comment by Gale — February 10, 2008 @ 11:42 am

  2. teehee… now I see just how far apart on the knitting spectrum we are! You (aka: my knitting guru) are at the Princeton/Harvard/Yale level ~ deciphering Japanese patterns, adjusting sizes, etc……..
    I (of the “Welcome to Goodburger, Can I take your order”) mindset am trying to decipher a 9 stitch repeat pattern!?!
    That’s yyyyyyyyy it is a given….Rainey Sisters Rock!

    Comment by Michelle — February 10, 2008 @ 12:14 pm

  3. I was just reading about Japanese patterns in, I think, the new Interweave Knitting, and concluded that it would give me a possibly fatal brain cramp!

    And I’d also like to say that you gals must be Web geniuses, too. I’ve been using Google Reader to keep track of my favorite blogs, and yours is one of the best for popping up right from the Reader list, showing me all your glorious photos with just the one click, while other blogs that you’d think would be technically advanced come up with only four lines of text. I also really appreciate the way you’ve set up the project history links. I’ve really enjoyed them – especially since I only discovered your blog a few months ago and have missed out on so much!

    Susan, if memory serves you are an educator. If you get a chance, check out our Needle Arts Mentoring group on Ravelry. We meet our first group of students on Tuesday. WISH ME LUCK!!

    Comment by Judi P — February 10, 2008 @ 12:41 pm

  4. What a spectacular sweater, and what an unintelligible nightmare of a pattern!

    Comment by Susan — February 10, 2008 @ 12:42 pm

  5. Funny, I just started charting this in excell after buying the book a few weeks ago and finding the perfect yarn yesterday. Let me know if you start it.
    I’ve also started a shawl from the book. So far, the Japanese charts are easy once you crack the code.

    Comment by joan — February 10, 2008 @ 1:36 pm

  6. Eeeeek! Well, that chart would cause my head to explode as well. But of course you can do it. And once you get started you’ll wonder why you ever thought it was difficult. And the end product will be well worth the learning curve.

    Comment by Soo — February 10, 2008 @ 3:59 pm

  7. I have that book too. I’ve decided I’ll have to retire before I’ll tackle anything from it because it will be a full-time job just figure it out. But I love that I have it. Even if I never knit anything from it.

    Comment by LaurieM — February 10, 2008 @ 6:44 pm

  8. I made that about 2 years ago (in Cascade 220) – and it’s still my favorite sweater. It’s a joy to knit and the pattern is actually very easy to navigate. Let me know if you need any help deciphering.

    Comment by Theresa — February 10, 2008 @ 8:57 pm

  9. Oh I hope you do start this soon, maybe then I will finally get the guts myself. The pattern and yarn have been marinating in my stash over a year now. So many knits – so little time 🙂

    Comment by michelle — February 10, 2008 @ 10:35 pm

  10. There was a knit along for this pattern a couple of years ago. I was interested enough to buy the book but it was all too advanced for me at the time. I’m not sure how they all got on!
    http://www.januaryone.com/archives/2005/11/lets_all_knit_t.php

    Comment by Brigid — February 11, 2008 @ 6:21 am

  11. Susan- Isn’t Marsha the best?

    It’s a slightly (?) different approach, but with a schematic, it should
    be easy to decipher.
    Don’t quote me on that.

    Comment by Lorraine — February 11, 2008 @ 11:20 am

  12. Oh, come now. You’re not going to have an ounce of trouble when knitting up the sweater!!! A number of people have up/downsized the sweater for themselves. You could certainly make it work for you. The charts in the book are really easy to decipher – including this pattern. (Well, aside from the wonky P5tog on the WS for “Herbistyled”.)

    It’s gorgeous, and a must-knit. I’ll get to it eventually. 🙂

    Do you have any other books from Shimada Toshiyuki? I only have NSHK in my collection. Perhaps the Textile center should start carrying them in the library!

    Comment by Deb — February 11, 2008 @ 1:24 pm

  13. I’d have to say, no there is not 🙂 If anyone can, it’s surely you! I look forward to your adventure!

    Comment by Carol — February 11, 2008 @ 1:35 pm

  14. I love the sweater. I can’t wait to see you do it.

    I also love the faux-English look of the project photos — the riding boots and long plaid skirt (riding to hounds, anyone?) and if I’m not mistaken, wall hangings in English. Is it just me, or is this very amusing — Japanese faux-English-look patterns becoming popular in America. Not that this takes away at all from the beauty of the pattern — I just find it amusing.

    Comment by AuntieAnn — February 11, 2008 @ 5:20 pm

  15. Yikes I can barely figure out English patterns! You are for the challenge! good luck.

    Comment by katomliz — February 11, 2008 @ 6:50 pm

  16. No, this is not hubris. I plan on starting this myself. There was a knitalong for this sweater and quite a few have been made. I figure that if they could do it, so can we. The charts are very clear and it shouldn’t be hard to get the size you want by adjusting your gauge accordingly. Can’t wait to see yours!
    XOXOXOX
    Maria in NY

    Comment by Maria — February 11, 2008 @ 11:07 pm

  17. That looks like serious gobbledegook to me!!! Hope you can figure it out and then can’t wait to see how it turns out.

    I have added you as a link, hope it’s ok. I’m having a blogoversary competition, so come on over and visit!

    Comment by Liz — February 12, 2008 @ 5:30 am

  18. I’ve been knitting this sweater in ***Cascade 220 color 9404*** since July of 2006 (she mumbles into her sleeve). It’s not brain surgery — just a sweater. A sweater I am knitting a bit tooo slowly — Theresa is a better inspiration. Maybe you’ll be my inspiration to buckle down and finish it! As for sizing adjustments, I added a bit to the seed stitch patterns and compared a EZ raglan I’d made with this pattern and then did a bit of math and a bit of by guess by golly. Of course, I haven’t finished mine, so whether this all worked is still unknown. Can’t wait to hear what you decide.

    Comment by Pam — February 12, 2008 @ 1:29 pm

  19. hi- check out http://www.crossedintranslation.com/. There’s also
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/knittinginjapan/. Google for images too, quite a few people have made it. It’s not a hard knit, just a bit slow. Enjoy!

    Comment by judith gilbert — February 13, 2008 @ 3:04 am

  20. Thanks goodness for the H section, international chart language, and Ann Budd’s book to help you over fitting the sleeves. You’ll be fine!

    Comment by julia fc — February 13, 2008 @ 9:53 am

  21. I picked up this book last Thanksgiving in NYC, at a Japanese Book store near Rockefeller Center called Kinokuniya Books. (I believe it’s located at 10 W 49th St.) They have a great section on crafts and many knitting books (although some of those are actually crochet). I was actually not the only non-Japanese speaking knitter searching through this section that evening! In addition to this book, I picked up two of the stitch dictionaries that are currently featured in the Spring 2008 Interweave Knits.

    I certainly did enough damage to my credit card in this store, picking up books on knitting, origami and one on some sort of little felted critters that was just too cute to pass up!

    I’m taking another look at that red cardigan right now…

    Comment by Nancy — February 15, 2008 @ 8:54 pm

  22. Hi, I am Japanese knitter and I am happy to help you if you need, when you decode the Japanese pattern.
    Just for start up, Japanese #7 needle is US 6 and #8 is US 7. I have same books and it looks really beautiful
    but quite intricated pattern. Assume you could make it though!

    Comment by Jun — February 16, 2008 @ 9:28 pm

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