Winter of Making: Hikaru Noguchi

As part of our Winter of Making series, we asked one of our favourite makers, Hikaru Noguchi, to tell us about her work and what making means to her in the run up to Christmas. Hikaru is a knitwear designer and darning expert, based in Tokyo. Hikaru has written a number of books in Japanese and English, most recently, Darning: Repair Make Mend. She also shares darning tutorials through her Instagram account. Hikaru’s knitwear is sold in boutiques and department stores in London, Paris, New York, Tokyo, and elsewhere.

What are you making right now?

I am darning my Welsh blanket which has huge damages. I will not complete to darn all damages this time. I also want to make an apron for Christmas present, and new table linens for Christmas lunch.  

Does making form part of your Christmas preparation?

I Live in Tokyo, Japan. Christmas is over a festive event without religious meaning. We celebrate New year to the same degree as Christmas in the Christian countries. We will make New Year's decorations for the house gate using pine blanch. 

If you were to recommend one of your products as a gift what would it be? 

My book Darning Repair Mend. I have shown many different easy darning techniques in the book. So you can darn all damaged garments during this festive season. 

Is there a small business that you admire and would recommend to our readers as they prepare their Christmas shopping list?

Loop knitting (a London yarn shop and haberdashery), Tokyobike (a small, independent bicycle company founded in 2002 in the quiet Tokyo suburb of Yanaka) and NishuraEast (a UK based shop selling beautiful and delightful cultural products from Japan).

Which product from the Selvedge website would you recommend putting under your tree?

The Selvedge Haberdashery Box by Cambridge Imprint - I would like to put many small balls of yarn and off cut fabrics for my daughter who may start to live by herself for University soon and need lovely haberdashery box and material for her darning.

For more information visit hikarunoguchi.com