Preview: Noro Magazine Spring/Summer 2014

I just got a review copy of the latest issue of Noro Magazine, and since you know how much I enjoy doing previews…let’s take a look.

My love of Noro yarns is long and well-documented. They are some of my favorite yarns to knit and design with. So can you blame me if I love Noro Magazine? The latest issue has 32 patterns in it, along with other features, such as a recap of the newest Noro offerings, book reviews, a profile of the owner of Juniper Moon Farms, and a look at using slip stitch patterns in Noro yarns. It also contains my article, “Ten Tricks for Bending Noro Colors to Your Will,” which addresses some common concerns that knitters have when they work with Noro yarns. If you’ve ever wished you understood the way that Noro colorways worked, or needed some help in figuring out how to make the color progressions look fabulous, then you should take a peek. I hope you’ll pick up a trick or two that will help you when working with self-stripers.

And now…the glorious patterns.

The first section of patterns is devoted to the concept of negative space. I’ve seen this term used in quilting circles a lot, where it refers to the areas around the individual quilt blocks or pieces. Skillful use of negative space can make really interesting quilting patterns where you not only notice the blocks and pieces, but also the designs created by the space around them. It’s fun to see this concept applied to Noro yarns, and the way in which patterns which contain eyelets or other openwork create striking effects when placed against the vivid colors of Noro yarns. This vest was designed by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton and consists of strips that are knit, then pieced together to form the ripples and openings.

The uber-talented Deborah Newton used daring shoulder cutouts along with an eyelet pattern to creat this striking sweater:

 
Melissa Leapman never disappoints, and she uses the very clean lines of this short-sleeved pullover to accentuate the double-eyelet pattern:

while Irina Poludnenko adds more dramatic holes with a broomstick lace-style pattern:

The next pattern section focuses on Noro Shiraito, a blend of cashmere, angora and wool, which means it’s super-soft and has a slight halo from the angora fiber. Robin Melanson mixes a cable panel (right down the front) with a complementary cable down the shoulders in this capelet:

Yoko Hatta’s cozy shrug (or is it a capelet?) with a hood is knit so the cable and twisted stitch patterns are worked perpendicularly to the yarn’s stripes:

and Laura Zukaite (who is one of my favorite designers) presents a great poncho-style wrap with mesh stitch, cables and a cowl neck. It sounds like too much but it’s just enough:

Hookers will be pleased to see a section devoted to crocheted patterns (once again, these striking designs make me resolve to practice my crochet more). I love this funky scarf from Jacqueline van Dillen that alternates floral motifs and mesh-stitch stripes.

Suzann Thompson creates another floral extravaganza with her scarf — it cleverly uses only a single ball of Taiyo sock yarn, and she opted to do the flowers in the red and orange tones, and the leaves in the green shades. Which ties nicely into the….bouquet…. that the model is wearing on her head.

Mari Lynn Patrick must never sleep because she turns out so many beautiful garments so often! This is a racerback tank, wish mesh stitch and some embellishment at the neckline.

There is still so much more packed in the magazine, like a pattern section on waves — check out this jacket from Ann Klimpert that uses short rows and two contrasting colorways of Silk Garden to create the wavy pattern:

and Vanessa Putt’s shawl mixes a solid color of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino with the multicolor stripes of Noro Shiraito.

There’s a section with four sock patterns knit up in Noro sock yarns:

(these lattice-cables socks were designed by Lois Young); and one last section with accessories. Look how clever Rosemary Drysdale’s watch cap is, with its entrelac top:

there’s a wild wrap knit in two colorways of Noro Shiro, using two very different stitch patterns;

and I love these wristers by Annabelle Speer:

My fellow Noro-lovers will enjoy this varied selection, which includes sweaters and accessories, all for women, with lush photography and plenty of inspiration. MSRP is $9.95; available at fine LYSes (rumor has it that Loop in Philly has some copies in stock) and some bookshops like BN.com.

All photos copyright 2014 Rose Callahan, used with permission for review purposes.