Kitty: New Stuff from Japan

Not much crafting going on over here. Actually there has just been frustrations and ripping going on in my life. Everything I have been swatching for has come up with the wrong gauge or the patterns are the wrong size. For example check out the lovely new silk that I picked up at the sale my LYS was having over the weekend. I was so excited to start the Katrina Rib that I bought the pattern for last week. The label clearly states 5st to and inch. Somehow no matter what size needles I try to knit it on comes up with 6 stitches to an inch. From size 4 to size 10 (US) the stitch gauge was exactly the same. The row height is of course different, but the stitches are the same. UGGGGG..... It is such a lovely brown and it wants to become Katrina Rib, but doesn't look like it is meant to be. Guess I need to find something else to make this sweater. I did get my order from Amazon Japan today. So at least that is some happy crafting reading for the week. I updated the library pages: Japanese Knitting & Crochet Books - Prince of Knitting Books - Japanese Knitting Books Wish List - Japanese Embroidery, Softies, & Sewing Books - Japanese Craft Books published in English Here are the treasures that I picked up. Two of our friends were releasing albums in Japan last week so Mac wanted to get a copy of the albums. So then what better reason to pick up some crafting books for me.
ISBN: 4579107993 Buttons Click through	ISBN: 4579109643 Kimono Skirts Click through	ISBN: 4579109856 Umani Click through
ISBN: 4529035948 Party Knit Click through	ISBN: 4277113796 Design Knits Click through	ISBN: 427713324X Men's Knit Click through
ISBN: 404853744X Otama Life Click through	The Otama Life book cover has to be the coolest texture I have ever felt. Imagine the feeling of those hologram cards with fine ridges. The book has a similar texture, yet feels oddly soft. I also can not begin to tell you how cute this book is. I haven't had enough time to really figure out the book, but the pictures are adorable.