One of the things I noticed in this magazine is that the projects feature many techniques that you never see used now (meaning the last 20 years).

The motifs in the tank top picture above are worked in the cream, and then the brown detailing is added on top of that.  I don't know if I've ever seen a granny square pattern where a round of stitches crosses the boundaries of more than the row below it.  Certainly I've never seen one where you're chaining and stitching all over the top of it.


Why?  Why aren't we doing this all over the place?  Think of the possibilities!

Another technique you almost never see is motifs that aren't kaladascopic*.  The sweater above is my *absolute* favorite project in this magazine.  I love everything about it.

You can see on the left that they give you all the altered patterns for the motifs to put around the collar and armholes.  I love the wide almost-cowl neck.  The back and arms are a lacy crochet pattern.  I imagine it in bright peacock colors.

I don't know if I'll actually attempt it, though.  I've noticed that there are outfits that adorable, tiny Asian girls can wear and look oh-so-cute, while everyone else in the world looks *ridiculous* in them.  I suspect this is one of those items. :)

View all of the posts about this vintage Japanese craft book (once they are all posted).  And, before you even ask, this publication is covered by copyright law, so I can't send you any of the patterns in it.

* This is not a word.  Is there a word for something that is symmetric top to bottom and left to right in the same way?  I googled myself to death trying to find out if there's a word for it.  There must be.  Blaize?