If you are looking for one stitch dictionary that covers a range of knitting and crochet stitches to help you build your stitch library, I highly recommend 1000 Japanese Knitting & Crochet Stitches. It is published in Japan by Nihon Vogue and in the US by Tuttle Publishing and translated by Gayle Roehm.

While originally published in 1992, this collection of stitches is timeless and classic. Now fully translated into English, you no longer need to puzzle through the Japanese to figure out complex stitches. I’ve had my eye on this book for years and am thankful for Roehm’s work to make it accessible to English readers.

About Japanese Stitch dictionaries

For the uninitiated, most Japanese chart symbols are standardized. Complex stitches build upon the simple ones which makes them easier to read. One thing to be aware is that most charts include a symbol for every knit ([ | ]) and purl ([ – ]). This can make the charts look more complex than what many of us are used to. Crocheters are likely be more familiar with the symbols used as their use due to the wide adoption of this style of stitch diagrams. Please note that other than in the technique review section, there are few written instructions, each stitch is provided only as a chart.

Inside this volume

In this dictionary, you will find a collection of 700 knitting stitches including combinations of knits and purls, twisted stitches, lace, cables, color-work motifs, and more. If that weren’t enough, there’s no need for a separate crochet dictionary! There are 300 different crochet patterns covering grids, textures, colors, and edgings. If you aren’t sure how a stitch works up, there are many clear line drawings which step through and illustrate common techniques. Additional information is also provided to improve your interpretation of variations to these basic stitches. For each stitch you will find a clear color photo, the stitches and rows for the repeat is clear, and the chart is next to the photo, no need to hunt or flip pages. Some of the designs will be familiar if you have other Nihon Vogue stitch dictionaries. The advantage is they are all here in one book.

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1000 Knitting Patterns
ISBN978-4-529- 02142-5
Maybe originally published 1992; new printing or new version, 2007 [not
sure]. Strong double cover. Paper is nothing special. Some swatches are in
color; some gray scale. 304 pages.

Charts include symbols for background, making them appear somewhat busy.
Swatch photos are on the outside of each page with charts on the inside.
Will be hard to copy charts without breaking the spine of the book.

The first 500 stitches include a large variety of texture and fabric
stitches. Also cables, twisted, wraps, eyelets, traveling, bobbles. Some
panels.

Next section is 3 pages of 10 small bands of color patterns on neutral
background, with a high 'cute' factor. I believe some would be classified as
intarsia. Tiny little flowers in textured baskets or on stems, some
interspersed with eyelets. Could be used allover or edging or border;
clothing, socks, baby. Some could be knitted with continuous carrying of
colors. But others would require bobbins to prevent show-through.

Following section is 2 pages of knitted quilting designs [Log Cabin,
Tumbling blocks, etc]. Then many more color designs of all kinds: Mosaic,
Fair Isle,and slip stitch, starting with design number 574, going to 700.

Then turn the page for a real surprise! Pages 216-224 are graphics depicting
how to crochet! Patterns 701-1000 are all crochet designs, some in color,
some grayscale. Paging through them, I did see some lovely variations, many
done in what looks like silk ribbon. Sometimes I crochet edgings around
necks, armholes, and shawls, but rarely. I would rather have had 300 more
KNITTING patterns, which is what is says on the cover and what I thought I
was paying for. Probably, had I been able to read about the book in English,
I would have seen that a third of the book is crochet. I might have put my
dollars on another book, although I have placed quite a few stickies in the
knitting pattern section.

No English.

Cost from Amazon 3600yen/$29. 95. $10 for its shipping share of the 3-book
order.