Have you ever knitted (or hooked) with Noro yarn? If not, then this unique Japanese producer should be on your fibrous bucket list. You might love Noro, you might hate it, but you’re unlikely to be indifferent.
A quickish guide for the uninitiated: Noro produces s-l-o-w-l-y colour-shifting self-striping yarns in various combinations of wool, silk, cotton, and alpaca. Here’s a very old and dodgy photo from my little-more-sophisticated-than-a-chap-sitting-inside-my-phone-drawing-a-sketch phone camera:-
Colours are rich, thickness and texture varies within each ball, and although I don’t have personal experience of this, plenty of folk have reported finding pieces of straw in their skein. Here are some socks that I knitted in a Noro yarn. (Yeah, old and dodgy photo again.)
Anyway, their yarns being unique, a Noro-specific book of patterns seemed like a good idea. And the resulting book was such a success that they’ve just brought out another one, and have kindly sent me a copy. Introducing Knit Noro Accessories 2, by… well it’s by a number of people, but we’ll get to that in a minute. It’s just recently been published by Sixth Spring, so shall we take a wee look?
So what’s inside? Well, there’s a whole hairy load of colour, as you’d expect. (You like your knits plain white? This is not the book for you, dear minimalist.) There are 30 projects, all for accessories: shawls, scarves, cowls, gloves, hats, boot toppers, and a lone pair of socks. They’re bold and pretty:-
The thing about Noro yarns is that they tell their own story, and are best shown off in a simple pattern. There’s nothing more complex here than a spot of cabling and some lacework. Almost every pattern is by a different designer, which at least means that the patterns don’t all feel samey. But this also makes it tricky to summarise the collection. All of the designs are adult-sized, and there’s a massive bias towards patterns for women. Some feel more original than others. For example, the Leaf Lace Fingerless Gloves are striking, but one could put together a reasonably robust argument that the world doesn’t need another cabled beanie:-
This zippered capelet really shows off the delicious green colour progressions in this yarn:-
(Not that I’d wear a zippered capelet, personally, but that’s just me and my prejudices.)
I think the book would appeal particularly to a Noro-loving intermediate-level knitter who plans to make Christmas gifts for a rum bunch of all-different-style friends. I’m afraid that on this occasion, I didn’t make any of the projects, so I can’t directly comment on the quality of pattern instructions.
Visually, the book is a treat for anyone who enjoys a good ol’ colour-fest. I didn’t see any sign of the apocryphal pieces of straw, though.
So would you like a copy of this book, regardless of where in the world you call home? OK, let’s have a giveaway. Sixth & Spring have very generously offered a brand shiny new copy of Knit Noro Accessories 2 to one lucky winner of this blog. (Thank you, Sixth & Spring.) Usual Twisted giveaway rules apply if you’d like to win. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this blog post. To gain a sneaky additional entry, make sure you have ‘liked’ The Twisted Yarn’s Facebook page, and then scroll down to leave a comment on the Facebook post about this contest. I know, I know, I’m making y’all work so hard, but it’ll be worth it if you win the book.
Entries are open worldwide RIGHT NOW, and will close in a week’s time, at 12.00 noon UK time on Tuesday 11th July 2017. The winner will be selected at random using the clever app from random.org, and I’ll contact them to request an address for the publishers to send out the prize. If I don’t hear back from the winner within a week, an alternative winner will be selected at random.
That all OK with you? Right, let’s GO!
(Yes, I was given this review copy for free, but all opinions are very much my own.)
Linda Jones says
Noro splits and breaks, is full of bits of VM
PeterB says
Would love to win this book MrsB would be impressed are think about revisiting her Noro stash
Sherri McDonald says
Gorgeous! Happy yarn makes happy projects.
Rachel King says
I would love to win this book, Noro patterns are beautiful!
Emma Wood says
I love Noro. Have made a few items already but have plenty more skeins in my stash waiting to be knit into something special.
Judy Crary says
I love the look of the yarn and have never had a book of patterns to go along with a certain yarn. I have some similar yarns but much more crude. Would love to win the book. And get someone to drive me to the store to get yarn.
Lucinda Robinson says
Ooh! I’d LOVE this beauty of a book ?
Charlotte says
Fingers crossed! I love multiple colours in every project so this would be perfect!
Shelby S. says
Oh, yes please! The colors are gorgeous! I’m sure one of the projects would grab me. And my needles! Thanks for chance to find out!!!
narf7 says
I wish I could give Morag my entry. Seriously though, although I love this yarn with a passion that wells up in me like my adoration for chips (that’s some SERIOUS adoration right there!) I am not even vaguely qualified to knit anything as fancy as those delicious patterns. When you have a noro yarn worldwide giveaway, I will be doing my best to climb up on the back of my fellow commenters like an Aussie sheepdog on sheep and run to the front of the line with great gusto but at this point I will graciously decline this seriously tasty offer in the hope that someone more worthy than I wins and is able to create some wonderful deliciousness and share the love around. Can I even get noro yarn here in Australia?!
Denise says
Yes you can. There are a number of shops (at least in Victoria) who stock it and also a number of on-line suppliers.
narf7 says
Thank you Denise :). I live in Tassie and my daughters are heading over to Melbourne next month. Looks like I might have a few places for them to visit then 🙂
Tinke says
I love the book and the yarn but since I won yarn this year for the first time in my life I think I’ll be out of luck this time. Hope someone is going to be so happy with this gift.
Caroline P says
Oh yes please!
Morag says
I have a stash of Noro Silk Garden yarn, bought years ago and have no patterns… if I was fortunate enough to win the book, I would knit Christmas gifts for my daughters who live in NZ. Small knitted items would be ideal to post without paying a fortune in postage costs! Fingers crossed!!
saraelin says
I’ve had straw in mine! And I would love to win this book, zippered capelet notwithstanding.
Jennifer Ashbridge says
Looks interesting.
Mary says
Sounds like the kind of book I like: lots of not too large, not too difficult patterns. Also, very pretty!
Shazza c says
Oooo how lovely, not a wool I’ve tried but do fancy some socks in it! ?
ANN M. says
I do love Noro. The beautiful colorways are one of the things that inspired me to learn knitting. My very first project was a hat knitted with Noro. It was a scary thing but that wasn’t the yarns fault. Thanks for this giveaway..
tantail says
I’m making a Noro blanket at home but would love to experiment with other Noro colours and yarns 😀
Margery Watson says
Such rich colours. Lovely yarn.
Lynn Delahunty says
Love love love Noro yarn – it makes me look clever! ?
Diane Flindt says
Love this blog, love Noro, would love to have a whole book of ideas!
Yolanda Chavez Sherman says
Have never tried this yarn but the colors look beautiful.
Carolyn says
I’d very much like to win this book. But I would probably use some other yarn than Noro. Being honest here.
Shelley says
My friend loves the Noro socks I knitted her and I would love to explore the uses of the wool more. This book looks just right and I’m strangely drawn to the zippered caplet haha ?
nanacathy2 says
Wow those patterns look amazing, love to win the book.Thanks.
Wendy says
Fabulous colourways, I would wear a zippered capelet in Canada, in fact have been looking for a suitable pattern, this might be it. Wishiing myself luck!!!
captelaine says
You always tempt me with lovely yarns, I still working on the moose cowl… Those gloves are so pretty, I’d love to give them a try… so enter me in the contest and should I not win I hope there’ll be a link for the yarn and for the book.
knittingdancer says
I would love to win this book. There are some beautiful patterns in it.
dragontearsoflove says
lovely, I can see my niece being all over that zippered capelet…ah, youth. And the socks look fun too;-)
Debbi says
I have never tried Nora but hear so much about it. I would love to give it a whirl!
Tara Forrest says
Noro is amazing! Have only used it one time, but I did really love it.
Rebecca says
Ooh lovely!
Kitten WAW says
Hope this isn’t a dupe, but my (brand new, just bought yesterday!) computer hung trying to submit my comment. Although I get 99% of my yarn from thrift shops, I have run across Noro a few times, and snatched it right up. It can be as problematic as is gorgeous if you try to squeeze it into a pattern designed for a smooth, evenly spun yarn, so patterns designed for it’s unique textures makes a lot of sense. I’ve never run into any straw. Thanks for a wonderful giveaway. KittenWhiplash on Ravelry.
Alexandra Smith says
I have been using Noro to make a bunch of Christmas hats. I love COLOUR! I would love to have some other patterns try.
Liane J says
I haven’t yet had the chance to knit with Noro, but the colours look fantastic!
mytapestryoflifehiralee Gosselin says
I have never tried Nora, but these patterns are lovely! Would love to give it a go!
Cath M says
Never seen it before, but would love to give it a go. It looks awesome.
Lindsey says
I’m in. I have a stash of Noro itching to be used. Some skeins have knots in them and another random color tied on so sometimes there is a break in the slow color progressions. I’m willing to take that chance.
MaryBeth says
I’ve looked at Noro yarns many, many times. Either I couldn’t find the colorway I liked or my pocketbook wasn’t cooperating at the time. One day I will get lucky. Appreciate the opportunity to win.
Jane Neave says
Ooh yes please. I’d love to win a copy of this beautiful book. Good luck everyone x
Georgy Evans says
Looks fantastic. Not knitted with Noro (say that 20 times fast) but have some in my virtual stash. I was given Noro Knits 2004 by my friend Glynn who got it from his partner’s mother in Guernsey. I am tempted but would love to start with a smaller project given Nero’s Marmite reactions! Perhaps my first pair of socks …
Heidi says
I need some colour therapy in my life right now! Heidi x
Mags Hobby says
That’s a very pretty book. I love the way Noro feels as well as the colours though I haven’t used it, yet.
Calypso says
Yes! Would love to win the book! Nor makes always gorgeous yarn.
Heather Haigh says
It looks wonderful. I’ve not tried Noro yarns yet but the colours looks amazing and I really want to now!
quietwatercraft says
I’ve never heard of Noro before, but it looks gorgeous!
leelah saachi says
here is one more adorant ( adorer – ) who wants to win this
Wendy Brown says
Absolutely love Noro !! I usually knit for charity, but would love to spoil myself this time.
Tonj says
Beautiful knits, full of inspiration