KNitopia Japan Cruise 2026
Save the date! We're sailing June 7-19 on Celebrity's beautiful Millenium to explore the best of Japan.
Our special guest teacahers are Gayle Roehm, the author/translator of the famous Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible, and Tomoko Nishimura, an accomplished knit designer from Tokyo.
We are planning a a fabulous pre-cruise itinerary in Tokyo (yarn crawl, anyone?) and amazing shore excursions in some ports which will celebrate the cultural and crafting traditions of Japan.
We'll have knitting classes while we're at sea, group activities and parties during the evenings, and lots of learning and laughter.
Don't miss this chance to cruise and schmooze with us!
Your fearless Cruise directors
Melissa Leapman (@melissa.leapman)
Melissa Leapman (@melissa.leapman)
Gayle Roehm (@gayleroehm)
Melissa Leapman (@melissa.leapman)
Tomoko Nishimura (@tette.knits)
Tomoko Nishimura (@tette.knits)
ABOUT OUR expert TEACHERS
Gayle Roehm
Gayle Roehm is a former management consultant who traded spreadsheets for stitches and now dedicates her career to knitting and fiber arts. A sought-after instructor, she teaches at national knitting events, guilds, and yarn shops across the country.
Her designs have appeared in Knitter’s, Interweave Knits, A Gathering of Lace, and other leading publications, and her work is also featured in a fine fiber arts gallery.
A world traveler with deep ties to Japan, Gayle lived there for several years, speaks Japanese fluently, and has long been fascinated by Japanese knitting design. She is the acclaimed translator of Hitomi Shida’s Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible and 250 Japanese Knitting Stitches, as well as Japanese Knitting by michiyo and two forthcoming titles.
Gayle was among the first to introduce Japanese knitting to English-speaking audiences, publishing groundbreaking information on Japanese patterns in 1997. She also contributed the Japanese section to Knitting Languages and has translated patterns for Diakeito Yarns/Sunrise Fibers.
Tomoko Nishimura
Born in Kyoto, Japan, Tomoko Nishimura is a knitting instructor, designer, and translator with a passion for connecting knitters across cultures. She writes regularly for Keitodama magazine and is best known in Japan for teaching how to read and knit from English-language patterns, helping Japanese knitters gain confidence with foreign terminology and abbreviations.
Her book on this topic has become a long-selling favorite, and she travels throughout Japan teaching workshops that inspire knitters to explore new techniques and global styles.
As a translator, Tomoko has brought the work of leading international designers to Japanese audiences, including books by Nancy Marchant, Norah Gaughan, and Patty Lyons, as well as numerous patterns from designers around the world.
Class Schedule
MON, June 8 all day!
UNDERSTANDING JAPANESE KNITTING PATTERNS
with Gayle Roehm
All cruisers are invited to attend this important session.
Curious about knitting a Japanese pattern that doesn’t come with a translation? You can do it! Japanese hand-knitting patterns are beautifully organized and highly visual — once you know how to read them, a whole new world of designs opens up.
In this all day class, you’ll learn how to “read” a schematic and locate key information such as gauge, needle size, and shaping details. We’ll explore the standardized symbols used in Japanese stitch charts, walk through real-life examples, and even pick up a few handy Japanese knitting terms along the way.
You’ll also learn where to find reliable resources and support when you encounter something unfamiliar. If time allows, we’ll knit a small swatch to put your new chart-reading skills into practice.
No registration required - this class is included in your cruise package!
FRI, June 12 MORNING
EXPLORING THE JAPANESE KNITTING STITCH BIBLE
with Gayle Roehm
From easy to brain-bending! The beautiful stitch patterns of the Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible by Hitomi Shida may look daunting, but they're worked one stitch at a time, like all knitting. We'll start with a stitch pattern from JKSB that gives you a lot of “bang for the buck”: it’s lovely and relatively easy to knit. Then we'll move on to other stitch patterns with more challenge: patterns with “excitement” on both right and wrong side rows with increasingly complex combinations. You’ll gain confidence learning from a caring instructor while practicing with Shida’s charts and symbols.
fri, june 12 AFTERNOON
RAINDROPS SHAWL
with Tomoko Nishimura
In this class, have fun learning how to knit this beautiful crescent-shaped shawl. It uses various textured stitch patterns in gorgeous Noro yarn to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece!
OPTIONAL KIT
$57.50 plus shipping, includes 5 beautiful skeins of Noro Kureyon in a choice of colorways. See link at bottom of page to order the kit.
tue, june 16 morning
KNIT A CABLE AND LACE HAT
with Gayle Roehm
Discover the beauty and logic of Japanese knitting with Gayle Roehm, translator of Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible: 260 Exquisite Designs by Hitomi Shida. In this fun, hands-on class, you’ll knit the elegant lacy cabled hat from the book while learning to confidently navigate Japanese charts and symbols.
Because the hat is worked in the round, you can focus on the flowing lace and sculpted cables — no wrong-side rows to worry about! You’ll start with a provisional cast-on, practice reading charts, and master some of Hitomi Shida’s signature stitch techniques.
TUES, june 16 MORNING
TWISTED STITCH HEADBAND
with Tomoko Nishimura
Discover the elegance of twisted stitch knitting with this distinctive headband, inspired by patterns in Norah Gaughan's Twisted Stitch Sourcebook. Twisted stitches offer the architectural beauty of cables while remaining delightfully simple—no cable needle, no complicated maneuvers, just pure knitting pleasure.
The pièce de résistance comes at the end, when you'll join the edges with a satisfying twisted finish. Whether worn as a headband or transformed into a snood, this project delivers style and versatility in equal measure.
TUES, jun 16 afternoon
ELONGATED STITCHES
with Tomoko Nishimura
Ready to add some serious speed and style to your knitting?
Elongated stitches are about to become your new favorite technique! These dramatic, stretched stitches create stunning visual effects while helping you breeze through your projects faster than traditional knitting.
In this hands-on class, you'll explore multiple eye-catching stitch patterns that showcase the versatility of elongated stitches.
From airy, open-work designs to bold textural elements, you'll discover how this simple technique can transform your knitting.
NOTES
The cruise package includes Gayle's all-day class on Monday, June 8, plus two more individual 3-hour sessions; additional sessions cost $50 each.