The Big Book of Knitting Motifs

The Big Book of Knitting Motifs – Japanese Designs with Technique and Beauty

The Big Book of Knitting Motifs brings together an extraordinary collection of 260 original Japanese knitting designs, created by renowned designer Hitomi Shida. This work has been celebrated for its visual richness, structural complexity and technical clarity, becoming an essential reference for intermediate and advanced knitters. The book combines tradition and innovation, presenting classic motifs reinterpreted with a contemporary style, characteristic of the most sophisticated Japanese knitting.

From lace motifs to complex panels and textured stitches, this volume invites readers to explore the endless possibilities of needle knitting. Each design is accompanied by its corresponding chart, carefully presented with standardised symbols that follow the Japanese charting system. The result is a compendium of swatches that stands out not only for its beauty but also for its applicability to garments and accessories of all kinds. An inexhaustible source of technical and visual inspiration.

One of the great strengths of The Big Book of Knitting Motifs is its progressive structure: it begins with simpler stitches and evolves towards more intricate compositions, such as crossed stitches, symmetrical panels or decorative borders. This arrangement allows knitters to progress gradually and choose their desired level of complexity. The motifs can be used individually or combined, offering complete creative freedom. Each chart is also accompanied by clear guidance on how to read it and apply it in practice.

The Big Book of Knitting Motifs – A Visual and Cultural Work by Hitomi Shida

The designs compiled in The Big Book of Knitting Motifs reflect the aesthetic sensibility of designer Hitomi Shida, considered one of the great masters of modern Japanese knitting. Her style is characterised by meticulous use of cables, textures, reliefs and lacework with a strong sense of balance and harmony. The motifs, though technically demanding, possess a clean elegance that makes them recognisable and distinctive within the world of knitting.

In addition to its technical value, the book conveys a strong cultural component. The Japanese graphic approach not only makes chart reading easier but also offers a different way of understanding knitting as an art form. This method of presenting structured stitch motifs is increasingly present in Western publications, and this volume serves as a perfect bridge between traditions. Clear photography, high-quality paper and careful editing complete the visual package.

The Big Book of Knitting Motifs – Technical Guide, Charts and Progressive Learning

The book includes a very comprehensive technical introduction explaining how to interpret the symbols used in Japanese charts. This reading guide, combined with instructions on how to work flat or in the round, helps the reader master a methodology applicable to any subsequent design. Each symbol is precisely defined, and the guide spans several pages at the beginning of the book for constant reference.

Although not intended for complete beginners, The Big Book of Knitting Motifs does offer a reasonable learning curve thanks to its structured approach and the five final projects suggested as real applications: scarves, hats, socks, cowls and fingerless gloves. These projects provide an opportunity to put acquired knowledge into practice, combine motifs and tackle the challenge of transforming swatches into functional pieces. It is a technical yet accessible work for knitters committed to learning.