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Japan
Skandinavisk Strik med Japansk Inspiration
Reviewed By Donna Druchunas

Marianne Isager is a Danish knitwear designer with a flair for international flavor. Her most recent book, JAPAN: Skandinavisk Strik med Japansk Inspiration, was published last fall.

The book is broken down into twelve main sections, based on the months of the year. Each month's chapter includes photos of Japan that inspired the author and two projects: a pair of fingerless gloves and a sweater.

Although the patterns are all entirely new, the projects will be strangely familiar to fans of Isager's previous book, Knitting Out of Africa. They employ her unique sense of style and color, bringing the Japanese aesthetic clearly into view while using many different knitting and garment construction techniques. The merging of Isager's personal style with the Japanese influence results in beautifully styled garments that are flexible enough to fit into any wardrobe. There seems to be just one size for each pair of fingerless gloves, and two sizes for most of the sweaters.

The book itself is beautifully designed, and decorated with photographs of Japan and small motifs that evoke a Japanese sense of style. A techniques section at the back of the book has very clear illustrations that will enable an experienced knitter to learn a few Danish knitting terms. Overall, this is a beautiful book in both form and content.

An English version of Isager's bio is available on her website at http://www.isagerknit.com and according to the site, her experience alone is inspiring:

"Marianne Isager was born in Denmark, growing up in northern Jutland among the windswept moors that overlook the North Sea. She graduated from Denmark’s Design School in Copenhagen and over the years has taught at design and crafts schools all over Denmark. Marianne has also joined in projects aimed at teaching groups of knitters living around the world. From sheep-farmer women in southern Greenland to a women’s group in Kathmandu and the knitting men of Taquile Island in Lake Titicaca, Peru.

Marianne has compiled her many journeys and teaching into a series of knitting books inspired from many parts of the world, and more are in the pipeline. The models in her books primarily stem from the different textiles and ceramics of the countries she has visited, but her ideas also flow from nature, everyday objects or even films and fairy tales. Despite these eclectic influences, her patterns still bear the hallmark of the simple Scandinavian style."

Those who are familiar with Japanese knitting books will have the charts, schematics, and drawings in mind. Japanese patterns include so many detailed drawings, that it is possible to knit the projects without being able to read Japanese.

Isager's Japan includes only a few charts, the symbols are not familiar to this American knitter, and the text of the legends is written in Danish, as are all of the pattern instructions. The schematics, unfortunately, do not include the detailed measurements and stitch counts present on the drawings in Japanese knitting books, making it difficult or impossible for those who do not speak Danish to knit the projects. If you are hungry for inspiration, if you collect knitting books from around the world, or if you just love looking at photos of gorgeous knitting projects and international scenery, this book is for you. If you are the type of knitter who must be able to make at least one project from every book you purchase, hope and pray for an English version of Japan by Marianne Isager.

Donna Druchunas learned to knit before she could read. After working for many years as a technical writer, she decided to combine her interest in knitting with her skill at writing easy-to-follow instructions. Her designs and articles have been featured in Family Circle Easy Knitting, Knitters, Interweave Knits, Creative Knitting, and INKnitters magazines. Druchunas is the author of four knitting books, including Ethnic Knitting Discovery: The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and The Andes. Visit her website at www.sheeptoshawl.com