Crochet book: Winter Crochet Accents (Bunka Publishing Bureau)

Ronique's first book is a collection of autumn/winter crochet projects. I was in charge of the design, production, and writing.
This book is filled with ideas I've had up until now and designs I've wanted to create. I've created pieces that are easy to knit, incorporating some unusual knitting techniques and twisted tailoring techniques.
Here we introduce some of the works featured in "Winter Crochet Items," as well as providing anecdotes about the creation of the pieces, including the background to their creation and tips on how to knit. We hope this will be helpful for those who are just starting to knit.

【notice】

2020.11.21
The sixth printing of my book "Winter Crochet Crafts" has arrived.
It's been three years since the book was published. I never would have imagined that so many people would pick up this book for so long.
Thank you so much!

2018.11.22
My book "Winter Crochet Knitting" (Bunka Publishing Bureau) was reprinted three times this fall, and is now being reprinted once again (fourth printing). Thank you very much.
When I follow the tag for the book's title on Instagram, I see that many people have knitted it, and I am filled with joy and gratitude.

 2018.10.3
"Winter Crochet Items" is back on sale for the second time.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the people who have purchased this book.
I hope you will keep it close by to accompany you during the season when you start to miss yarn.

2017.11.30
Her book "Winter Crochet Crafts" (Bunka Publishing Bureau) has been reprinted.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the many people who have picked up this book.

2017/9/6
Pre-orders are now being accepted on Amazon (released September 23, 2017).
The driving force behind creating this work was my desire to have people who picked up the book enjoy it, and my gratitude for having been given such an opportunity.
Thank you so much to the editors and everyone involved in the production.

[Production Story]

1. Aran pattern blanket

Aran blanket on the cover.
This will be the biggest piece in the book.
Once the design and knitting pattern are decided, many pieces can be completed in a day, but I think this one took about five times as long.

After first coming up with the design idea, I was actually quite nervous about how it would turn out.
I think trial and error is the best way to go.
This hard work has now made it onto the cover.

The finished product is the type of piece that makes you think, "This will never sell!"
It acts as a blanket as you knit it, so it's perfect for the cold season.
One of the great things about crocheting is that the knitted fabric doesn't stretch easily.

Take your time knitting this and make it your winter companion.

2. Room boots with boa

This is also the piece on the cover.
In contrast to the blanket introduced above, this is an item that can be knitted in a short amount of time.

In winter, my feet get cold with just socks, so I need something extra, but it's also true that the more I like my footwear, the more it wears out.
So I aimed to make something that wouldn't take too much time to knit.

I took a close-up photo to see if it would convey the fluffy, mouton-like feel.

When creating a piece of art, it is a noble theme to create a beautiful recipe no matter what yarn you use, but the cuteness of the yarn also has a great energy to it.

It's been a while since I've used wool for work.
The various yarns were so cute that I wanted to knit one after another, and I even woke up early in the morning (I usually don't wake up at all in the morning...).

I think that the choice of which yarn to use for this piece, as well as for my other pieces (the so-called designated yarn) was a very good choice.
If you are new to thread, please use this as a reference.

3. Kilim-patterned hot water bottle cover

This is the third cover piece.
What you can see in the photo is a hot water bottle cover.
The knitted fabric is the result of an idea that came to me about two years ago.

The size is similar to a Fashy hot water bottle.
This is a cute product that can be used not only as a hot water bottle but also as a water pillow. I'm sure water pillows are made of this same material.

At first I looked into tin hot water bottles, but I put them on hold because I heard that they could cause burns if they come into direct contact with the skin.
No matter how tightly knit the fabric is, there is no guarantee that it will not come into contact with your skin when it is pulled and stretched.
That's why I chose fashy.

Because it has a plain shape, it can be used for a variety of purposes.
While writing this, I thought to myself, "Maybe I could knit it into a small piece and use it as a hand warmer case!"
This is also a great winter companion.

4. Four-color patterned cap

This work also appears in the image on Amazon.
This hat is knitted in a multicolored pattern.

I improved on a piece I had knitted a long time ago to create this.
This is a knitting needle conscious piece.

A long time ago, I met someone for the first time and heard some harsh comments about my crocheted items.
Crochet pieces are hard, heavy, and transparent, and I've never seen anything cute before.

I see.
This was an opinion from someone who knits clothing with knitting needles, so it made sense to me.
I also understand the benefits of knitting with needles.

This was a very meaningful event.
I still feel grateful for that.
Because there aren't many people who would say something like this.

Being the type who hates to lose, I decided at that time that I would definitely make a cute crocheted item!
Some may think that crocheting hooks have their own merits and that's enough, but a ``goal'' is irreplaceable.
Moreover, it is rare to have the opportunity to have a "hungry spirit."

Even now, as time has passed and these have become fond memories, when I crochet items to wear, I still feel particular about the stiffness, flexibility, and thickness of the fabric.

The challenge of seeing how far I can go with crochet continues.
I hope you will take a quick look at this book from that perspective as well.

She shared memories that she is grateful for and stories of knitting-conscious creations.

5. Knitted hand warmers

This is the second work that can be seen in the images on Amazon.

I suddenly wondered how lace knitting differs from crochet. It seems to focus on flat crochet pieces made with thin yarn.

When I first tried Bosnian crochet, I had a similar feeling: "This is it!"
Although the tools are different, it can be said that this is a technique that focuses on and delves into a certain crochet technique.

This hand warmer is almost identical to the Bosnian crochet pattern.
For those who prefer crocheting, we have arranged it to look like crochet.

The most important thing when knitting is not to strain your hands too much.
I don't have very tight hands to begin with, but even so, I consciously knit loosely and it's just right.

The book has a page with instructions on how to knit with photos.
The editor then narrowed down the many photos taken at each step to just the most important points.

I imagine it must have been a really difficult process to cut out parts here and there when you wanted to include everything (thank you so much!!).

If there are any parts that seem difficult to understand, it may be a good idea to start by doing a small test knitting with some leftover yarn that is thicker than medium weight to get the hang of it.

If you have any leftover acrylic yarn, we recommend trying out some and turning it into an eco-friendly scrubbing brush.

This piece is the most unusual in this book.
The arrangements I made for crochet are my own style, so there's no rule that says they have to be a certain way.
If you are interested, please feel free to try knitting it.
It's fun to do something a little different every once in a while.

6. Aran pattern cap

This is the third piece you can see in the Amazon image.

This is a hat that I knitted before and uploaded to Instagram, so some of you may recognize it.

The works at that time had a slightly pointed shape.
It has been improved to make it more comfortable to wear.

In the book, there are no pom-poms, but you can add some like this if you like.
For reference, I've included a photo with the pom-pom attached.

This pom-pom is made by wrapping thread 150 times around a base card about 10-11cm in size.
If you like a plumper pompom, try wrapping it more times.

I'm sure there are already many lovely crochet Aran patterns out there, but as far as I know, I've never seen a tree pattern.
I knitted this hat because I love tree patterns and admire the distinct Aran patterns made with knitting needles.

The impression changes depending on the thickness of the yarn, so I tried knitting several different types before choosing the yarn.

Crochet Aran is fun to experiment with, seeing how close you can get to knitting with a crochet hook.
And what's strange is that while I was crocheting this, I began to wonder how it would look with knitting needles, and I felt like I wanted to give it a try.

As a beginner, I'm not one to say this, but if you can knit stockinette stitch with straight needles, rope stitch, a typical Aran stitch, is very easy.
When I actually tried it, I realized that it all comes down to one trigger.
You never know what's connected to where.

Of course, authentic Aran is wonderful, and I also like the crochet hooks because they are easy to carry around and you don't have to worry about dropping them.
If you try both, the joy of knitting will never end.
Somehow, there are a lot of crochet and knitting needle topics.

The images on Amazon also include the table of contents, so I'll just briefly talk about the works whose images are sealed.

There are also three beaded knitting pieces, which have a really cute texture with the beads and thread.
There are three levels of effort required, so I hope you will take a look ❤︎.

7. Honeycomb shoulder bag

Here is the fourth piece, which you can see in the image on Amazon.

The size is exactly the same as A4 paper width (maybe it's a little tight to fit inside?), so it's surprisingly large.
It is knitted with a slightly thicker Aran yarn.

The works shown do not have linings, but if you prefer linings, you might find it easier to use felt.

You can cast on any number of stitches for the shoulder strap.
Please refer to the number of stitches in the recipe and adjust the length to your liking.

I have a similar shaped leather bag and it's very practical, so I wanted to make a bag like this.

When I was researching honeycomb knitting in the past, I couldn't find anything that looked right, but this time I happened to try a knitting pattern that I liked, so I decided to use it in this bag.

We tend to feel more attached to things that don't work out easily than to things that are an immediate success.
In that sense, it seems that the circumstances surrounding the creation of a work have a greater influence on how attached I am to it than its appearance.

One such piece is a simple pair of socks that you can't see in the Amazon images.

I remember reading a book called "How to Create Ideas" a long time ago, which said that ideas come to you when you think about them for a long time and they don't come to you, but if you keep thinking about them, one day they will suddenly come to you.

I like the idea that even if it doesn't come to mind now, it might come to mind someday. It's hopeful and positive.
Another goal is to always have something in mind that I might come up with someday.

It would be great if such research material suddenly came to mind.

8. Asymmetrical shawl

This is the fifth piece in the Amazon image.

This is what the shawl worn by the cute model looks like in its entirety.
It is an asymmetrical triangle.
An overseas-conscious work.

I usually stay at home knitting, but when I think about how the joy of knitting is universal, it really opens up my world...
When you enter a supermarket overseas, you get so excited, and that same feeling can be felt with knitting too~♪

When I think of knitting overseas, I imagine pictures of people spreading out shawls on grasslands or sandy beaches.
Wow, that's wonderful! But the pattern is in English and it's mostly knitted with needles, so it's actually quite a challenge.

I wanted to get close to that feeling, so I crocheted this shawl.

Changing the color will completely change the impression.

In Japan, instructions on how to knit are usually given in the form of knitting patterns, while overseas they are mostly given in the form of text.
The text cleverly explains movements that are difficult to express in a knitting diagram, and it's also useful for conveying the good points of being vague.

And the knitting pattern is wonderful,
Something that doesn't require words.
You can see the whole picture at a glance.
It's easy to find the rules.
This is indeed very excellent.

So,
"Knitting patterns + supplementary text"
I am reminded once again how great the knitting environment in Japan is, where such combinations are possible.

When I come back from traveling, I realize how good my home is.
Maybe you just like what you're used to.

This is an introduction to a slightly cheesy piece that reminds me of that.

9. Motif-connected blanket

In no particular order, here is the last piece in the Amazon image.
A blanket made by connecting four parts and knitting the edges.

With smaller pieces, I try to avoid stitching or sewing as much as possible, but with this blanket, I enjoyed the process of piecing the four pieces together, and it helped me knit the pieces faster.

Since the thread color will change, thread processing is absolutely necessary.
So I used the ends of the thread to sew the parts together.

And one thing I'm always concerned about when edging is whether it's clear where to put the needle and pick up the stitches.
I find it very difficult and confusing when it's hard to know where to put the needle and knit.
I tried to make the edge stitch simple and easy to understand so that even someone like me can knit it without thinking too much.

This will be completed quickly for a big item.
It's really fun to use multiple colors with cute yarns.

10. Woven tote bag

This bag, which you can see in the Amazon image, is a very traditional knitted piece.

Just one thing to add: all the knitted rows are made with striped stitches.
Please note that there are no grain patterns on the surface and at first glance it looks like knitted knitting.

If you accidentally knit the entire bag using knit stitches, the bag will be shorter in length and the pattern will be a little more diagonal.

I like sturdy knitting stitches, so I thought that knitting stitches would be fine for myself, but I decided to use striped knitting stitches because I wanted people to have the peace of mind that they won't crease diagonally.
In this area too, there is no absolute rule that has to be followed.

Recently, for the first time in a long time, I knitted a bag using only knitting stitches, with no interwoven stitches.
There are times when this plain knitting is perfect and necessary, but there is one thing I noticed.
Whether it feels like you've done it quickly or not is not about the actual time it took.

Although the knitted bag should have taken longer than the all-knit bag, it felt like the knitted bag was finished in no time.
The effects of not getting bored, being absorbed in it, and it being interesting are greater than I thought.

The knitting of this bag may look complicated, but only two colors are used per layer.

This is a bit of a detailed explanation, but as a supplement for those with experience in braiding...
When I knit in a crochet pattern, I try not to let the yarn wrap around (is that a dialect?).

For example, if you use white and blue, when you change to blue, you cross (intertwine) it with the white, and when you change to white, you change it loosely without crossing it.

It doesn't matter which color you use, but you just have to decide which one you want and repeat the process.
This shouldn't get you tangled.

By the way, when I'm knitting back and forth, I keep swirling the yarn around the whole time.
With loop stitches, you won't really see much of a difference in appearance, so take it easy.

11. Beaded Pouch

I wanted to post a close-up of the knitted item, so here is a beaded pouch (back side).

When it comes to bead knitting, I am well aware that smooth, durable lace thread is best, but...
The moment I brought the yarn and beads close together, I couldn't help but knit with this combination. It was just too cute ♡

When choosing thread, I was concerned about the strength of the thread and the appearance of knots.

As for strength, since it's wool, if you try to cut the thread by holding it in both hands and pulling it, it will break, but that kind of movement doesn't happen when knitting normally (lol).
The yarn used is a uniform thickness, easy to knit with, and is a sturdy wool which I thought was great.

One thing to be careful of in terms of stress on the thread is when the beads start to pile up at your end as you knit and you have to send them over to the other side.

Pushing down too much at once will put strain on the thread, so try to push down an amount little by little so that the thread is not pulled too tightly.
Once it's finished, I don't think there will be any worries about the threads being pulled in parts.

Next, let's talk about knots.

I really like this yarn and have used it in projects other than bead knitting, and have knitted quite a lot of balls in total.
I kept watching to see if the knot would come out, but it never did.

However, if you encounter this (or if you come across it using a different yarn), stop knitting a little before the knot, cut the yarn to prepare it, drop the knot, reattach the yarn, and continue knitting.

Also, it is written on the knitting instructions page, but just to be sure:

This pouch uses a lot of beads.
If you thread all the beads onto the thread from the beginning, it will be very difficult to weave the beads while sending them over and over the thread, and it will put a lot of strain on the thread.

There is an advantage to threading all the beads in advance, as you don't have to trim or re-thread the thread, but for this project, it is much easier to just manage the thread yourself.

I threaded half the amount of beads in two separate attempts. Even so, threading the beads was quite difficult at the beginning.

I like to knit all at once, so this was acceptable to me, but if you are uncomfortable with knitting while sending in a large amount of beads, try passing them through in three separate times (cutting the thread each time), using one-third of the amount at a time.
Because the bead knitting has an uneven texture, I don't think the yarn processing will have much of a visible effect on the knitted fabric.

Because it's wool, you have to be careful about some things, but the texture that only wool can produce is really cute and it feels like a winter treasure.

If you have the opportunity to knit it, I hope you enjoy it.

[Apology for correcting the knitting pattern]

We have discovered that the knitting pattern for "Winter Crochet Accessories" (Bunka Publishing Bureau) has the following corrections. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused. We would appreciate your kind confirmation.

▼Click on the image to enlarge the corrections▼

・Fringed shawl

The position of the symbol indicating the cast-on area was off.

If you knit according to the "Incorrect" pattern, you will have one extra double crochet, and the number of stitches will not match in the ring knitting row (the row of the first ring).
I apologize for the temporary solution, but I would like to add a supplementary explanation of how to adjust one stitch at the front of the ring, even if you have not yet finished the entire cast-on stitches.
The correct number of stitches in the row before the ring stitch (the 9th row of double crochets) is 318. If you knit one extra stitch in the "incorrect" pattern, this row will have 319 stitches, so if you skip one of the double crochets in the 9th row, it will become 318 stitches, and you will be able to knit the next ring stitch row and onwards with the originally intended number of stitches.

・Moccasin room shoes

The part marked with a red "Wrong" symbol was incorrect.
The symbol for the pull-up stitch is in the direction of the reverse pull-up stitch, but the correct direction is the front pull-up stitch.

・Kilim patterned hot water bottle cover

1. The position of the chain stitch at the beginning of the 24th row of the side knitting pattern was incorrect.
To be precise, it is located directly above the rising chain link of the previous step (step 23).

2. The symbol for knitting three double crochets at the end of the 11th row of the side knitting pattern was misaligned.
Please check the 11th row (second row from the bottom) at the bottom of the diagram for "Correct."

・Asymmetrical shawl

In the first row of pattern B, the position of the double stitch on the right was off by one stitch.

・Fringed shawl (2023.03.25)

Click on each image to enlarge or to link to a PDF file.

Book title: Winter Crochet Items

Correction: Knitting pattern for "Fringed Shawl" on pages 52-53

Correction details:
The ring knitting increase symbol was missing.
The red symbols indicate the areas to be corrected.
Corrected knitting patternPlease download and use it.