From detailed illustrations in The Morning Glory Knitting Method, based on the book Illustrated Yarn Knitting Methods by Kanichiro Komakine, published by Shunshun-do in 1887, it is learned that ...knitted artificial flowers were exhibited in Kobe, Japan, in 1887. Not only detailed morning glory knitting illustrations, but also flower baskets that were used for wakes following the customs of Meiji-era Japan were included in this book. After yarn dyeing was invented in 1888, it became possible to freely create original and innovative knitted artificial flowers. They became popular to the extent that the yarn sold out. Some people even registered their designs. The spread of knitted artificial flowers exerted significant influence. The exploration extends beyond knitting textbooks to encompass job guides and magazines with a focus on the spread of knitted artificial flowers, the evolution of women's independence in various occupations, and an examinations of the surrounding culture, including comparisons with traditional Japanese artificial flowers. This is a brief history of woven artificial flowers in Japan.
Haruyo Eto was a knitting teacher who actively promoted various knitting activities from the Meiji Period to the Showa Period. In1924, she contrived for the first time the practical knitting ...symbols “goritekifugo.” She advocated financial independence and a spirit of self-reliance by knitting after a number of political changes, many wars and the Great Kanto Earthquake. In order to help the country recover from wars and disasters, Eto initiated and implemented a large number of knitting activities. As a result, many Japanese women took up knitting as a means of livelihood, in the hope of living a peaceful life. By learning proper knitting techniques, women were able to use various yarns such as wool and cotton during times of disaster and war, and earn income from selling their goods. While knitting was a symbol of high culture in Europe and the United States, it was a means of sustenance in Japan.
『Amimono Shinan』 (Knitting Tutorial) was published by Hakubunkan in 1907 and reprinted 30 times. In it, there was information about yarn and tools, ways of knitting, miscellaneous notes about ...knitting, as well as 35 knitted works, 28 crocheted works, 5 laceworks and a number of knitted flowers. A sequel was published in 1909, and it was very popular. The author of these books, Tomiko Ishii, had one of her new works published in a girls' magazine for the first time in 1906. A lot of her works were subsequently published in magazines such as 『Shōjo Sekai』 (Girl World), 『Fujin Sekai』 (Women's World), 『Fujin Club』 (Women's Club) and 『Shōjo Gahou』 (Girls' Pictorial) from 1906 to 1915. In this paper I attempted to clarify her popularity and document her works.
