A-Z challenge J

J is for Japanese influence

This blog is about the things I love, bunnies, crochet, cross-stitching, crafting, knitting, life, j-pop, DIY, and things japanese so when I discovered that Japan has influenced crochet and cross stitch I felt happy.

I L O V E japan, I love the language, the music, the anime/manga (cartoons, graphic books) the place, the style, I love Hello Kitty, Studio Ghibli, Japanese drama and history and I was so happy when I realised all of these are integrated into the crafts I love so that I could combine my loves.

Japanese influence in crochet and cross-stitch takes many forms, you can't not talk about amigurumi but there is more like pixel arts, kawaii style, kokeshi dolls, japanese flowers and japanese style.


First things first: Amigurumi meaning knitted stuffed toy, although ami actually mean both knitted and crocheted because the japanese don't have a word for crochet they use knitting for both. Knitting with needles and knitting with hook which is the crochet one. Amigurumi took the world by storm so you must have heard about it. I have only made one amigurumi which was a Star Trek Enterprise toy for boyfriend. But I really want to make a bunny one day.

Pattern found here:

Pixel art is something else completely, you can use cross stitch patterns to do this or graft your own. Pixel art is usually squares that you crochet and together they turn into a picture, like this:

Hello Kitty pattern and "how to" from repeat crafter me.

She also made this cupcake blanket  Also I own this book from Hannah Meur and there are lots of wonderful fun patterns in this.

What I think makes Pixel art japanese is because a lot of the games used in pixel art like Zelda are japanese and the use of kawaii style (more on that later) and Hello Kitty sort of makes it Japanese style I think.

Kawaii style:

Kawaii is japanese for cute, adorable and in crochet and cross stitch the kawaii style usually means bold colours or pastels, cute motifs, often with big heads, big eyes and eyes on inanimate objects like cupcakes, making something odd cute like poo,  Here are some examples.

  Cross-stitch of poop by jimjamcrafts 

    Cute coffe mug by allaboutami         

I love carrot by Soda Stitch

Playful Kitten by Soda Stitch

Sweet tea by Gorjuss 

Look at designers Twinkie Chan allaboutami 

Kokeshi Dolls:

Was all the fad a few years back and you could get them with everything, in wood, sewn, crocheted, cross-stitched or drawn. I designed one of my own.

Kokeshi dolls of my beloved j-pop group W

Japanese flowers:

Were also quite popular for a while and I think they are timeless. I have no idea why they are called japanese flowers, when I think of japanese flowers I think of Sakura (cherry blossoms) and these don't look like that. But I do think they fit with the timeless yet modern Japanese style.

There are many patterns out there, but I liked this one.

Japanese style:

You can also see the japanese influence in crochet in the more modern, classy, adult, lacy, subdued style in their patterns, they are divine. First of all they are all charted so you don't have to read japanese, second they well thought of and planned, third they look very chic and modern and something you could easily wear to the office or to a party. Often in greys, whites, black, browns and blues they look so soft and wearable. I love japanese crochet patterns. Most of all I love the ones from Pierrot yarns, after all that is where my wedding dress pattern was from and my dress was delicate, elegant and cute, the pattern was easy to understand, they had included both cm and stitches so it was easily customisable.

So what do you think of the japanese influences? Which one do you like? Kawaii or the more softened Japanese style? I like them all and can't choose^^

Cute and furry things

Today we had a visitor and had lots of fun! We ate lasagna and watched the x-files and ate cake.

So looking forward to the next season of x-files, I hope we manage to watch everything before the new season starts!

The other day we went to the store, and look what we found?

They had a whole section of different meats from lamb and look at how they chose to dress the section?

With cute furry lamb toys. I don't think they thought that through properly...

No animals were harmed in the making of this film

In other news, my eye is fine and M, the bunnies and I went on a photoshoot with the same lady that took our wedding pictures. Apparently we were a challenge and bunnies have approximately the same attention span as three year olds. But we got some nice pictures in between. Valmin hid most of the time, and Mimle showed her disapproval by peeing on my crochet blanket (that I am too scared to wash since my darning of yarn ends were a bit iffy and I am scared it might unravel) and then nipping my arm. At one point Valmin went into the carrier, but decided to come out pretty soon and went exploring.

#Disapprovingrabbits

They are fine now btw. After some treats. And I suspect this shot will go on the mantle, if we had a mantle that is.

I bought lots of yarn from Drops since they have a sale at the moment, I think I need some more though, and I DO have plans for all that yarn. ^^ I need a blue dress. And those purple and pinks will be some sort of accessories. But I want to make a bolero or jacket as well, so need more yarn. I finally feel more confident in making clothes so I am going to make more while I still feel like I can do it! Before I make too many presents that is, I hardly have anything I have made for myself, which I suspect most crafters suffer from. We give everything away.

We might have eaten a ton of cake these past few days, but I also have done some crochet. And although I started this ripple blanket a while ago it goes rather slow, so I started two new things. The hat I promised my cousin ages ago and a new vest for boyfriend. In grey, so it suits his suit. hehe.

But that is all for fun.

Why not? In the end it is my life

Another A-sided single for ℃-ute. I am really impressed with their music-videoes lately, seems like they get a decent budget. 

To be honest, I have only listened to both songs a couple of times, first time I listened to both was from a 

live version and then I preferred the latter. Because I loved the dance and the chorus seemed fun, but now the other song with 

it's "Why Not" is something I have taken a liken to. Both lyrics is fun and seem like something girls that age are worried about? 

Wish the last song (Love is more innovating) had a different costume, I HATE those boots, 

they should have given them the same boots as the white ones from Morning Musume's "Wagamama ki no mama ai no JOKE". 

These just look painful to move in.

I understand that they are supposed to look like they are in the army with those clothes, but please, when 

did the army sew on that much white accessorizing? But I like the shoulders with their little upping pads.

Also, the caps look fun, and everyone is wearing one and not just the "masculine" ones (shorthaired).

Oh, and both are shot on location, this really is a rebirth for Hello!Project. 

Now, if only the other bands get a little attention and not only MM and Cute.

My current BIG WIP

So, this is how far I had gotten on "Henry the eight and his six wives" yesterday. One leg down.

I have been thinking I want to stitch this one grid at the time, to minimize mistakes. And I have a goal, to make 100 stitches a day, which I feel at the moment is manageable.

Last night bunny-chan really wanted cuddles right before I went to bed, I gave her a little and then opted for bribery so that I could leave the room without much fuss. She got herself stuck in the remnants of her tunnel in the search for alfalfa hay.

Luckily I was there to help her out of it (after I took these pictures) and removed the toy from her cage. Guess this toy is now only for supervised fun.

As of this nights session "Anne of Cleves" is also begun. Now that I have started this kit I want to read Philippa Gregory's books again. Does anyone know if the movie of Anne Boleyn is any fun?

 It might be a bit more contemporary to watch whilst stitching this particular piece than Charmed. ( I am btw almost done with season 2). The Tudors might fit too, and I have that series on DVD, so my goal with this stitch is to finish at the same time that I have watched all of Charmed and The Tudors. Think it is possible?