• Home
  • Shop
  • Illustration Portfolio
  • My Books
  • About

Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

Moderate Making

January 31, 2026

Hello, hello! Here we are, a few weeks into 2026. How’s it going for you? I’m nursing a slight cold, the weather is predictably grey and rainy in Seattle, the global news is afire. When the state of the world threatens to crater my inner realm, I turn to moderate making. The moderate part is important. Just-enough-creating of not too much, not too little. Steady, meditative progress and quiet enjoyment along the way. It’s so grounding. And I can’t be of any use if I’m not grounded first. ... Read more

Filed in: knitting, sewing • by sanae • Leave a Comment

I’m a knitter now

January 31, 2025

I've wanted to be a legit knitter for decades. I'd dive in with great enthusiasm, clacking away with bamboo needles to create a lap blanket or scarf or -- misguidedly -- a sweater, only to realize that I am unable to keep track of stitches for some mysterious reason. I would watch in horror as my project morphed into something entirely different from what I'd planned, would get super confused when consulting books and videos and then...I'd give up. Inevitably, autumn would roll around again, and ... Read more

Filed in: knitting • by sanae • 6 Comments

Crazy + Cozy

January 31, 2024

Hello there! 2024 has started out rather crazily for me: injuries, financial upheavals, accidents (vehicular and otherwise), spectacular emotional blow-ups, resurgence of long forgotten ailments, and just general weirdness -- I’ve contended with them all in the last month. And of course, there are the global/national events. It definitely has NOT been boring. When I was getting my teeth cleaned last week, the hygienist was experiencing a bout of craziness as well, and we joked that maybe Saturn ... Read more

Filed in: crafts, knitting, sewing • by sanae • Leave a Comment

Just a Scarf

February 8, 2016

Superman got nothing on meeee...I intoned as I worked on binding off this scarf. It's a tune that's part of K's repertoire and I have no idea what the song actually sounds like since I've only heard her softly murmuring that line periodically. I guess it's by someone named Charlie Puth? I don't feel compelled to look it up, but I like the words. Anyway, I knitted a scarf. It's not, as I had hoped, the longest neck warmer in the universe. It's long enough to loop around my neck twice. I ... Read more

Filed in: knitting • by sanae • 12 Comments

Happy Friday + Randomness

December 4, 2015

Happy Friday! The knitting is still going on, can you believe it? I try to knit a few rows every day, and I sometimes wonder if I'll just keep at it until it's the longest scarf ever. K would love to be able to say, "My mom knitted the longest scarf in the universe." An inadvertent ombre effect is happening since I don't have enough of any one color. That raised row was a mistake, but I like it. It's quite possible that I've finally caught the knitting ... Read more

Filed in: knitting • by sanae • 6 Comments

Next Page »

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address below to get blog posts delivered to your in-box. I'll occasionally include fun digital goodies!

Order My New Book of Illustrated Essays!

Order My Newest Kids’ Book!!

Order My Latest Sewing Book!!

Archives

Categories

Happy almost Valentine’s Day! I designed some pr Happy almost Valentine’s Day! I designed some printables for @creativebug that are free for members. I love these little foldable cards and boxes that are fun for non-V-Day occasions too!
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2026 · Theme by Blog Pixie

© 2026 Sanae Ishida