First look: Noro Magazine

I'm a big fan of Noro yarns. Yes, I know that they are softly spun, sometimes have knots, the colors don't always flow perfectly and if you yank too hard, they might break.  So what. I adore the colors, the natural fibers, the way that the colors sometimes ply a little bit around each other when they change from one segment to another, and I enjoy the rustic feel of the yarn.  So I was very excited to see that our friends at Vogue Knitting were producing a magazine devoted to Noro patterns. Noro Knitting Magazine arrived in stores and LYSs recently, so let's take a first look.

The magazine begins with a wonderful article by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton, who has been a Noro fan for many years and who has written several books featuring Noro yarns.  Hamilton gives some fascinating background about the founder of Noro yarns, Eisaku Noro; how the company was founded; and how the yarn is made. One-page features highlight 2012 Noro yarns; books devoted to Noro design; and resources for Noro on the web. There's a special feature on the Lizard Ridge afghan and tea cozy designer Loani Prior's creations.

Next are the patterns, 35 fabulous, colorful patterns.  In the story "Konnichi Wa," you'll find smaller pieces, such as the cover design, a textured hat by Holli Yoeh:

Katharine Hunt's mobius

my checkerboard hat (!)

and elegant socks by Christina Behnke.

The second story is texture, including Therese Chynoweth's lovely lace cardigan;

Cheryl Murray's subtle yoked pullover

and Daniela Ni's tunic with textured edging.

Vintage Modern is the title of the next story, with an absolutely stunning red dress by Carolyn Noyes knit in one shade of Kureyon with a solid color Debbie Bliss yarn.

Wow.

Two skirts in more muted colorways are lovely, like this one byYoko Hatta:

and there is a long cardigan that showcases the repeating colors of Noro by Mari Tobita.

There are several shorter stories, too, including a men's story (I like this sweater by Kenny Chun)

a feature devoted to Noro Karuta, a new yarn with more monochrome-ish colorways (which, coincidentally, is on sale for a limited time only at Loop -- go here):

Wilma Peers design

two striking pieces making use of stripes;

Irina Poludnenko design

Galina Carroll design

home designs, like this throw

Erica Schlueter design

felted bowls

and a tote (both by Jacquiline van Dillen).

A variety of yarn weights are used, from yarn categories 1 (fingering) to 5 (chunky); sizing is generous, with most patterns going into the high 40s or low 50s-inch finished circumferences; and there are color photos, charts and schematics to make your knitting easier.

I do love Noro so for me, picking up a copy of this magazine was a no-brainer. (I even found it at Wegman's!). Lots of luscious patterns and inspiration, at the bargain price of $7.99.

Photos by Paul Amato for LVARepresents.com

Koigu Magazine

Earlier this week, my friendly UPS man (with the good-looking legs that all UPS drivers seem to have) brought me a most welcome envelope: it had a copy of the first ever Koigu Magazine in it. Regular readers will remember that I have a very special place in my heart for Koigu. The first hand-dyed yarn I ever knit with was Koigu, and it's not an exaggeration to say that loving my experience with this yarn helped spawn my love of handpaints.

Fireflies (Kathy Merrick)

Every once in a while, I'll hear a knitter ask "What's the big deal about Koigu?" Well, here are a few reasons why it's one of my desert-island yarn picks:

• Koigu is one of the pioneers of the handpaint industry; the Koigu folks were creating their beautiful & unique yarns long before many of us handdyers had ever mixed our first pot of dye.
• The colors and color combinations are exquisite and varied -- solids and nearly solids, muted multicolors, wild multicolors, just about anything you could ask for in a handpaint.
• Koigu tends not to pool, a big plus especially for knitters new to handpaints.
• It's extremely versatile yarn. The original Koigu, KPM/KPPM, is technically about fingering weight, but it knits well at multiple gauges. You can do lace, or you can knit it at a tighter gauge for socks, or you can knit it at a looser gauge (like 5.5 or 6 sts to the inch) for a drapey effect. You can double it and it knits beautifully, even triple it.
• Some of the newer base yarns that Koigu has added, like Mori (a blend of wool and silk) and Kersti (a slightly heavier gauge wool) add even more versatility while still giving you luscious Koigu color.
• Maie Landra's multcolored designs, which include lots of multidirectional knitting and knitting with multiple colorways of Koigu, are beautiful and unique.

Pixie Dust (Maie Landra)

With all of these advantages, it probably shouldn't come as a big surprise that so many knitters and designers love working with Koigu. And that means it shouldn't come as a big surprise that after 25 years of making gorgeous yarn, the Koigu folks decided to produce a magazine devoted to the many ways that a knitter can play with and enjoy Koigu yarn. So let's take a closer look.




Koigu Magazine (MSRP $12.95) is full color, with 25 designs. For this inaugural issue, Koigu aimed squarely at the ladies: all but four of the designs are ladies' garments. (The remaining four are a scarf and a cap which would work for either gender and two throws.) You'll find a little bit of everything, from pullovers to lace stoles to dresses to accessories. I counted the following breakdown:

• 2 rectangular stoles
• 8 pullover sweaters
• one scarf (unisex)
  
• 5 cardigans/jackets
• 3 dresses
• one skirt (shown with a matching sleeveless sweater)
• 2 vests
• a beret and glove combo
• 2 throws
• a unisex cap

Kiki (Maie Landra)

Likewise, you'll find a lot of different techniques used in the garments. There are two lovely fair isle/stranded designs,

Deep Sea (l) & Sheep (r) (Maie Landra)

lots of lace (including lacy stitch patterns and lace edgings), modular garments, intarsia style knitting, a cabled garment, lots and lots of use of multiple colorways, some solid garments, one beaded stole, and several garments that experiment with double- and even triple-stranding. While most of the patterns are knit, about four or so are crocheted, including this spectacular throw by Friend of GKIYH Sally Watson Cushmore

[Sally's Bigass Blanket Comfy Cozy (Sally Watson Cushmore)

the aforementioned unisex watch cap, and a fetching beret/glove combo by Friend of GKIYH Kathy Merrick.

Frenchie (Kathy Merrick)

Given the variety of styles included -- from fitted, like this cardigan by New Zealand's Mel Clark

Scholar (Mel Clark)

to flowing, like Maie Landra's Allegra dress,

Allegra (Maie Landra)

it's hard to pick favorites, but I do love the mitered blanket

Squares Cubes & Blocks (Taiu Landra)

the lace stoles

Tumble Leaves (Maie Landra)

and Mel Clark's second cardigan:

Skipping Stones (Mel Clark)

Given the many colors that Koigu yarns come in, it's fun to imagine playing with patterns using different colorways and types of colorways. For example, my own pattern in the issue, called Thistle, is shown in a multi as the main color with solids used for the trim; interestingly, when I originally swatched the design, I used a semisolid for the main color, and a mix of solids and multis for the stripes. I think both work beautifully and I'm awfully tempted to make a version myself playing with more combinations.

Thistle

Because of the eclectic nature of the designs, the style of patterns varies from designer to designer. Some of the patterns are presented in a single size, others in multiple sizes, and of course some of the patterns (like the scarf, stole and throws) don't need multiple sizes. Charts are given in color for the fair isles, lace is charted, and schematics are given for some but not all designs.

Koigu lovers, rejoice! There's a magazine hot off the presses just for you. Taiu Landra promises that the second volume of Koigu Magazine will be out this fall. More Koigu & Koigu designs can only be A Very Good Thing.

Is it too late for this?

You know how I love my grand retrospectives of The Year That Was: Knitting Edition. Okay, it's technically January 12, and we're supposed to be all about looking forward and suchlike, but perhaps you can indulge me as I begin my look forward by looking backward.

2008 was a wild and tumultuous year in many respects. As the year wore on, the economy -- specifically, its worsening state -- seemed to be on everyone's mind. I don't have access to any industry statistics, but from where I sit, the staggering economy did have a noticeable effect on the knitting world. It seemed to me that knitters cut back on their spending, looking to use the stash of unknit yarns they already had. Even at fiber festivals, it seemed to me that knitters were buying more selectively than in years past, while paying closer attention to budgets and price point. By the end of the year, it was easier to find sales and discounts (a free shipping offer from WEBS in December?!) and even vendors who traditionally sell out quickly seemed to have more inventory on hand for longer time periods.

It was a transitional year for many of the big magazines, too. Eunny Jang -- named editor of Interweave Knits in mid-2007 -- began producing issues that were hers from beginning to end, with some alterations in IK's style. Even the models changed; no more Pam Allen's daughter or the Little Redheaded Girl. In December, Kim Werker -- who had such a positive impact on Interweave Crochet -- left her job as IC editor and sold her website, Crochet Me, to the Interweave family of companies. Marcy Smith, a lifelong crocheter and newspaper editor, will succeed Werker. (I don't know Marcy but I look forward to meeting her. And Marcy, give us lots of Kathy Merrick patterns, 'kay?) I found myself increasingly enamored of VogueKnitting (more lace! some ethnic-influenced patterns! more wearable stuff!), perhaps due to the continued influence of Vegamite-lover and knit-goddess Tricia Malcolm. Knit.1 got a retooling, with Tanis Gray and Faith Hale replacing Adina Kline, and looking less trendy and "out there" than in years past. In the meantime, KnitScene, in the capable hands of Lisa Shroyer, quietly added depth to its array of easy-yet-stylish patterns for less experienced knitters. Finally, the inimitable Shannon Okey was named editor of UK magazine Yarn Forward; it will be fascinating to see Shannon's influence develop on that publication.

Print magazines faced even more competition from a batch of new online knitting magazines and pattern delivery options. The two nearest and dearest to my heart (in alphabetical order) are Knotions and TwistCollective. Knotions has the slogan "Knit smarter," and Jody Pirrello (I'll 'fess up -- she's a friend) helps you do that with cool free patterns (from designers you know, like Grumperina & Phoenix Bess, as well as some new and talented folks), technical content (like tutorials on short-row bust shaping) and book and product reviews (some book reviews are written by me). TwistCollective adopts a completely different business model: patterns are sold individually via download. TwistCollective splits the proceeds with designers in exchange for providing space on its gorgeously styled & photographed site. With Kate Gilbert as Creative Director, and designers like Gilbert, Norah Gaughan, Veronik Avery, Fiona Ellis, Pam Allen, Cookie A and so many more, you'll find plenty of goodies to choose from -- and Gilbert's emphasis on treating designers fairly is a joy to behold.

But wait: there are even more choices for the discerning knitter. Metapostmodernknitting is aimed at "fashion-forward and avant-garde knitting"; Popknits takes a new look at vintage knitting; Crochet Uncut is the "official unofficial magazine of the Crochet Liberation Front"; The Inside Loop bills itself as "Dedicated to Fibre Arts in the United Kingdom"; K1C2 presented us with WhoKnits, to present articles about "people who share a common love: knitting"; and I bet you've heard of more that I am not familiar with. All of these offer free patterns and generate operating income from advertising sales.

Competition for on-line pattern sales also increased via Ravelry's on-line PDF service, which was up and running (at quite a clip, it appears) in 2008. We also greeted Patternfish, an on-line compendium of patterns available for paid download; Patternfish was designed to provide a platform for designers to sell PDFs of their patterns with no editorial content or standardizing, just a way to browse through patterns and download whichever ones you want. Participating designers include Cabin Fever, Lucy Neatby, Classic Elite, Nashua Handknits, Heartstrings Fiber Arts, Reynolds and many others (over 2000 patterns were available at the time of this writing).

Stitch Cooperative, run by Shannon Okey, is yet another business model: it allows bricks-and-mortar shops to order a selection of patterns from indie designers in one fell swoop, without individual orders, invoicing and shipping. Designers like Jillian Moreno, Stefanie Japel, Robyn Chachula and Kristi Porter are on-board for Stitch Cooperative, making it an interesting way for the local yarn shop to compete with the ubiquitous Internet.

As always, I'm curious to hear what you think about the above developments of '08.

Next stop on my retrospective of the Knitting Year That Was will be yarn...new ones, discontinued ones, and all those changes at your favorite yarn companies.