Customer Reviews

Knit Kimono

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What I like most about this book is its first impression -- The opening pages are about the tradition of the kimono garment: how it's made, some history and a pattern overview so you can design your own kimono using as much or as little tradition as you choose.

And the bottom line given in this overview is that basically, all kimonos are the same -- only the details are different.

And then the book proceeds to give 18 completely different and lovely patterns.

This made me laugh, and made me very happy -- because the design is quite simple. And the possible deviations and derivations are endless.

Out of the 18, I have 3 favorites that I intend to try this season -- and at least a dozen ideas for original designs based on the generous and clear descriptions of the basic pattern.

This is a book for those of us who love possibilities!

How can such a boxy shape as the kimono be so universally flattering, whatever one's size or body type? This would seem to be a mystery until one comes upon Vicki Square's book and comes to understand how the sizing of the various panels and the fabric used (in this case which knit fabric used) can make all the difference in fit and drape.

The kimono is in so many ways a knitter's dream project with its easy construction and its large panels -- perfect for relaxed straight knitting, for intarsia, for countless stitch variations. I have been knitting kimonos for some time as an alternative to cardigans, both for myself and for children (children love these -- no buttons to snag or mess with!), and with Vicki Square's book I am inspired to take my kimono-knitting a LOT further, and I can't wait to begin.

The illustrations are wonderful in this book -- we can see both the knitted garment flat, then seen on the body. Materials and knitting directions are well presented here as well, and diagrams help with planning projects and (for me) with visualizing how the garment comes together.

I have not only found several projects here that I want to do just as designed, but I see in my mind's eye several variations I'd like to do that take off from some of the 18 projects here...so this book is a great boost to my knitting creativity. What more could any kimono-lover ask for?

A stunning book all-around. Bravo, Vicki, well done!

This is a book of very high standard, print, color and paper quality are excellent and harmonious. The photographs of the 18 Kimono designs are artful, focussed, explicatory and descriptive, showing each model at least once in full size from the back and front, flat and on the body to see the fall of the panels, plus smaller and well detailed views of more intricate points such as the stitch pattern itself, or details on closures, collars, cuffs.

The book is well-structured in Introduction, Kimono Basics, Design Your Own Kimono, Glossary, Resources, Bibliography and Index. Advice on adapting the designs and patterns / yarns to your own liking is also provided and is easy to follow. The drawings of the patterns are clear and easy to understand and enlarge, sizes given in inch and cm.

Although all designs are based on simple shapes, some require more knitting expertise such as for Intarsia or Fair Isle motifs. For all designs good skills, i.e. uniformity and evenness when knitting stockinette patterns is a definite plus.

The simplicity of the Kimono design makes for an eye-catching stunning result that will not be subject to the rapid changes in fashion. The author is Vicki Square. Her books are always of high quality - but the "Knit Kimono" will set the singular standard for books on modular patterns. It is worth buying even just to enjoy reading it and looking at the pictures, a collector's item in the making.

I've been flipping through this book for a number of days now. The designs are elegant,unusual, and gorgeous, and don't appear to be impossible to knit for an intermediate knitter (like me). I'm especially in love with many of the short jackets and vest, which I can easily imagine wearing in real-life situations.

The directions are clear, the glossary has lots of illustrations, and the historical background information is fascinating.

I also applaud the author for using widely available yarns, rather than the insanely expensive boutique yarns many book and magazine patterns seem to favor (see: Interweave Knits).

There are two reasons I haven't started knitting any of these designs yet. First, I am rather petite (okay, short and skinny), and even though I know these designs should fit loosely, I suspect the 42-55 inch circumferences of these patterns will hang on me like a tent. And the designs as written come only in one size, so I'm going to have to create smaller sizes on my own.

Second, the amounts of yarn required (especially for the long designs) are fairly extreme. For example, the cover design (Komon) requires 20 skeins of Berroco Glace. At $7.50 a skein (the going price on the internet sites I checked), that would be $150 dollars. Even the short Dogi vest requires 6 skeins of Fiesta Meteor, which prices out at $192.

I calculated the yarn prices for a number of the designs, and they all seem to come out in the 150-200 dollar range. (Of course, the price would be less for a smaller size...)

So, for now I'll continue to knit socks (25 bucks a pair in handpainted yarn), and lace shawls (under 60 dollars even in silk-wool hand-dyes).

And someday, when I have the nerve to invest over a hundred dollars in a single project, I look forward to making one of these truly beautiful designs.

This is easily the most beautiful knitting book I've seen in a while. With its touches of history and glimpses of Japanese society as well as the patterns, it's good reading, even at moments when you aren't actually knitting.

Perhaps the key to the whole book, and the most important part, is the diagram on page 11, of how a traditional kimono is made, cutting seven pieces from one length of fabric which measures 14 inches wide by 12 feet 6 inches long. If you didn't read any further in the book, you could still make a kimono, just by knitting pieces to the sizes of those rectangles in any yarn and any stitch you wanted, and sewing them together as shown. Even the veriest beginner at knitting can knit rectangles, and that's all you'd need. Of course, for knitters who want more of a challenge, there are the patterns that follow. But that diagram - well, choose a nice yarn with a touch of silk in it for a bit of an "oriental" feel, maybe some rayon to be shiny like the fancier kimono fabrics are - or a blue-and-white variegated or self-striping or ombre cotton yarn, to imitate the fabric used in the most "everyday" kimonos. (Note that the first pattern to knit is for a simple vest in indigo blue and white yarns, with a knitted-in geometric pattern, done using slip stitch. For beginners, though, using blue-and-white variegated yarn in plain stockinette stitch for the top would achieve a passably similar effect more easily.)

On page 16, some of the "crests" that go on kimonos from certain eras are shown; I looked at those and though, circular medallions like that are easy to crochet, so I could crochet circles and add them on to any of the patterns in the book - or onto the plain kimono made just from the first diagram.

Some reviewers have commented that the patterns are more difficult than they expected for modular knitting; while it is true that some are, almost all the patterns can be simplified somewhat for beginners - just get a knitting friend to tell you what can be skipped or substituted. But really, the patterns ARE easier than for sweaters. For example, most of them have no buttons, and therefore no buttonholes to make - surely that makes the patterns more accessible! And most have no short rows, most have no endlessly tedious ribbing at the bottom and neck and sleeves, the way sweaters have.

For those who want something more difficult, one of the patterns, Haori with Crests, uses a smocking stitch. The crests are embroidered on. The Fan Kimono uses a lace pattern - but it is shorter, and the shape is even simpler, than many of the other kimonos. And for those who want an insane challenge, the Kabuki Theater Squares pattern features intarsia checks and a slip-stitch chevron border.

In short, there really IS something in here for every level of knitter, and all of it is beautiful. The pictures are great, and there are several, from several angles, taken for each piece; the diagrams are quite helpful, and the text makes it an interesting book to read, not just a pattern book.

I rate the book high because of the ideas. Now that I have tried to do a few, I would give it 3 stars, but the system won't let me edit that.

I knit by hand and with machines. This book is easily adapted to machine knitting. The author provides a basic platform from which to create. I would say that the projects rank on the level with knitting an afghan, so if a person is not up to that level, best start elsewhere. The knitting itself is quite easy on most all patterns. BUT, I am on my third pattern and had to rip everything out and do my own design.

The problem is that if you are not using her yarn, the gauge is a nightmare. If you want the kimono to fit, you have to do some serious gauge knitting. I always knit to gauge, so have to say that has been a problem for me. I ended up just using her ideas and designing my own. It was easier for me (an advanced knitter) than fooling around with her gauge.

I'd like to read reviews from people who have actually done some of these patterns rather than ones who are raving about the beautiful ideas and pictures! Might have a different opinion. And, after investing a ton of money to make one.

I've tried three of the patterns in this book. They are all fun. The author is telling the truth, when she said that "if you can knit a square you can knit a kimono. The squares are either separate pieces or knitted as as one piece. I favorite pattern was the iki. It looks complicated but if you follow the directions it comes out fine. There are three more patterns I want to try later on. I usually don't knit clothes. I prefer Afghans and scarves, which might be why I had no trouble knitting theses patterns.
As for the expensive yarns, the author uses, buy what you can afford. I've knitted since I was 13. I've used Red Heart yarn to knit Bernat and Columbia Minerva patterns. These days I use mainly Caron, because I like the bright colors. The weight of the yarn is important not the brand name

Patterns are much more complex and intimidating than alluded to in the book blurbs. Should be an advanced intermediate knitter to tackle most of these.
Beautiful but not for the novice. I can knit socks and these are out of my league.

My idea of the perfect wardrobe is a selection of black or dark slacks and skirts preferably in silk, a bunch of white or black t-shirts or camisoles in fine cotton or silk, and closets full of gorgeous jackets, cardigans, and kimonos. This book provides plenty of inspiration.

Many of the designs blur the line between clothing and art. They are elegant, sleek, artful and just plain gorgeous. And, lest you be wary of all the knitting that would seem to be required for a kimono, there are plenty of short tops and vests that are just plain gorgeous. I can definitely envision making the Taiko Happi, a short, sleeveles loose vest, and I absolutely love the Dofuku and the Indigo Noragi. Both are so sleek and sophisticated they would be wonderful for office wear as well as casual.

This is a book for all levels of experience with designs that are sophisticated enough for us long-time knitters. A classic that I can imagine using for a very long time and many of the designs would lend themselves well to creative adaptation with lace patterns and colorwork. In fact, I think I'll end this and go start on the Noragi right now.

I got this book for my birthday and had only seen the cover. I was slightly worried that I would be disappointed. No need to worry. This little gem of a book is a potted history of the beautiful and graceful kimono. The patterns are beautifully adapted for knitters of all skills and also the kimonos are practical and there is one to suit any body type or height. Some are exquisite and elegant, some are well structured and practical. Using imagination to picture them made up in different colours, there is no limit to what you could do. I would highly recommend this book, especially to beginners who would like to tackle a project they would actually wear.