Monday, September 03, 2007

Home

Back from Japan and having unpacked, sorted email, drunk a cup of PROPER tea, eaten PORRIDGE and cleared my 215 feeds on blogroll, I'm ready to post.

Knitting on the plane was no problem. I came armed with a print out of my email from the airline (Virgin) saying it'd be ok but didn't need it. The main thing I worked on was getting xmas knitting (getting ahead), so I can't post about it. But you don't want WIPs, you want SWAG. I used Pinku's notes on Japanese yarn stores, which Gleek pointed me to.

Yarn from Japan


As well as Avril, I visited a big craft store in Shinjuku and lovely fabric shop in Kyoto. I was going to go to another craft store near Avril (in Kichijoji station) but it seemed to be closed. From Avril, I got the shiny white yarn above (I may dye it, but its pretty lovely as it is) which is 60/40 of *some* mix but I don't know what. We're thinking linen and silk, but it was exceedingly cheap (in the sale bin). I also got a load of a verigated wool, but that's going to be turned into a gift, so again will have to stay secret.

So, the fabric, I was pretty restrained considering.

Fabrics from Japan

Cheesecloth with robots (!) very 70s flowers, cute ladybirds and (because I had to) a punkish Alice in Wonderland tea party. The ones above will probably be tops or skirts, the last may be a quilt of some sort. I'm not sure about wearing something based on my name, seems a bit *too* self-referential.

Alice in Wonderland fabric


In other news, Kirsty the blog-less flatmate is no longer blogless, as those who have followed the links from her crafter posts on the amazing wonder-woman jumper will already know (people who read my flickr may have seen this jumper before - it's amazing). So we are now a two knit-blog household. Go to her latest post to see the fabric I bought back for her (and the cherry blossom welcome home cake she baked me!).

19 comments:

spajonas said...

"proper" tea :) green tea doesn't cut it? hehehe. glad to see you're home safe and sound. japan's a trip, no? lots of fun! and it looks like you really scored! can't wait to see more!

aija said...

Welcome back! I love the shine on your Japanese yarn :)

Ilix said...

Love the alice in wonderland fabric!!! Awesome, wish I could make a trip to Japan! :D
Maybe China too.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Japan! I'm so jelous! Glad you could knit on the plane, I'm taking a trip soon and pretty worried I'll have to resort to crochet.

Anonymous said...

Wow the sheen on that white yarn is beautiful

Jox said...

love those fabrics, gotta get myself some!!

Anonymous said...

I love the robots! Very interested in your double-knit scarves - the skyline is very clever.

Kimberly said...

Those prints are great...you showed much restraint!!

monkeybusiness said...

Alice, thank you for leaving a comment on my blog! You are my first commenter! By the way, I love your crayon scarf and piano key-patterned socks, and am planning to make both for holiday gifts this year.

Anonymous said...

You bought some cool items in Japan. Don't you love shopping in fabric/yarn/craft stores in countries other than your own?

Elizabeth said...

OOoh, I love the new fabric and yarn. What I wouldn't give to visit a craft shop in Japan! So glad you had a nice trip.

maceknits said...

Japanese fabrics are so cool!

loopylulu said...

I also love all the fabric! When I visited Japan I definitely did not make the best use of it, in terms of crafting, in terms of food, well that's a whole another story. welcome back!

gray la gran said...

lucky you with those fantatic fabrics! i especially love the space ships =)

Anonymous said...

I was thinking silk too for that yarn.

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lovemylevi said...

Any chance you have some of this fabric left over and stashed away ;-)