Showing posts with label Noro Magazine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Noro Magazine. Show all posts

Monday 31 October 2016

Noro Magazine Issue 9: A Review


Noro Magazine has released its Issue 9. Let's have a look at the Noro goodness within, shall we?





01 -- Brick Stitch Cowl. Very cute. The shape is good and I like the ribboned effect.





02 -- Patchwork Poncho. This is one of those wraps that would look better on a couch than on a person. It would be a lovely afghan, though.





03 -- Dot Stitch Scarf. What a gorgeous play of colour.





04 -- Chevron Striped Scarf. This would be a fun way to add colour to a neutral coat.





05 - Double-Knit Cowl. Another subtle show of colour.





06 - Fringed Cowl. This one verges on the afghan-y, but I think it manages to stay in the realm of the wearable. I would shorten that fringe by half, though.





07 - Directional Pillow Cover. Beautiful and artistic. Anyone who owned an oil painting that was this attractive would give it pride of place in their living room.





08 - Short Row Pillow Cover. Really lovely and eye-catching.





09 -- Fair Isle Pillow Cover. This one is a little too muddled and muddy-looking.





10 -- Mosaic Pillow Cover. Pretty.





11 -- Striped Slouch Hat & Mittens. Attractive and wearable.





12 -- Basketweave Beanie. This one needs more colour definition.





13 -- Trapper Hat. This hat looks like it belongs to Yosemite Sam's girlfriend.





14 -- Cabled Cap. A bit blah and oatmeal-y.





15 -- Fair Isle Hat. Definitely my favourite of the five hat patterns in this issue.





16 -- Striped Shawl. This is another wrap I'd be more likely to use as an afghan than as wearing apparel.





17 -- Drapey Vest. This one needed more shaping in order to give it style.





18 -- Intarsia Sweater. This one needed more shaping in order to make it look like a sweater rather than like a pup tent.





19 -- Textured Tee. I'd neaten up the fit on this one.





20 -- Colorblock Aran Pullover & Scarf. These are classic pieces, but I'm not convinced that the colour blocking on this sweater is adding anything.





21 -- Oversized Cardigan. I'd neaten up the shape of this one too -- it's rather frumpy as is.





22 -- Pocket Tunic Pullover. I rather like this tunic, although it wouldn't normally be my type of thing. It has good shaping and detailing. I'd love to see it in some other colourways, as this one is a little precious.





23 -- Infinity Scarf. This one looks a little too much like those beaded car seat covers, with a rearview mirror decoration thrown into the bargain. I suppose it could have been worse, as the decoration could have been fuzzy dice rather than a tassel.





24 -- Duster Vest. This piece has some interesting lines, but the too afghan-like colourway and stitch wasn't a good choice for it.





25 -- Poncho. Minus the neck, this would be an excellent afghan.





26 -- Mitered Square Scarf. This has a rather crude, unfinished look.





27 -- Spiral Shawl. A lovely, artistic scarf.





28 -- Trapezoidal Shawl. Another afghan-y piece. This is probably a pitfall Noro designers in particular need to watch out for.





29 -- Garter & Stockinette Stitch Blanket (top left); 30 -- Garter & Rib Blanket (top right); and 31 -- Slip Stitch Rib Blanket (bottom). Now we get to see Noro used for some actual afghans. They are less inventive than some of the garments have been, but they're attractive and well-made enough.






32 -- Thrummed Mittens. These are nice, and of course they'd be very cosy and comfortable to wear. The little heart-like stitches created by the thrumming are cute, and the colour combination is pretty.

Tuesday 24 May 2016

Noro Magazine Issue 8: A Review


Noro Magazine has released its eighth issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?





Pattern #1, Long Line Poncho. This isn't bad. It's a little Golden Girls, but then that isn't such a bad thing. The lines are good, the stitchwork is attractive, and the yarn is beautiful.





Pattern #2, Blanket Poncho. This is much more blanket than it is poncho.





Pattern #3, Openwork Poncho. I can't even dignify this one by claiming it would look better as a throw. This is a piece so aggressively unattractive that I'd be afraid that, even in an afghan incarnation, it would make my couch break out in hives.





Pattern #4, Mosaic Shawl. Lovely. The mosaic stitch showcases the yarn beautifully.





Pattern #5, L-Shaped Shawl. This is very "home ec project made the night before the due date".





Pattern #6, Lace-Edged Shawl. Beautiful. Both shaping and lacework are lovely.





Pattern #7, Crescent Shawl. Very pretty. Love the seashell colours.





Pattern #8, Ruffle Shawl. Not bad. The texture is interesting, and it's a nicely finished piece.





Pattern #9, Bandanna Cowl. This is quite attractive, and it sits well. Those long fringes would drive me crazy, but it would be easy to make them shorter, or to put some other sort of edging on this piece.





Pattern #10, Hybrid Triangular Shawl. Classic shawl.





Pattern #11, Openwork Cardigan. This is too full and floppy to be flattering on most women.





Pattern #12, Waterfall Cardigan. This needs more shaping, though the yarn used here is beyond gorgeous.





Pattern #13, Convertible Cardigan. I want to be able to approve of this one, because it does have an interesting construction, but it isn't flattering.





Pattern #14, Batwing-Sleeved Top. This one needs more body and less sleeve, or perhaps to rethink its life goals entirely and become a scarf.





Pattern #15, Cropped Shell. This is rather nice, but I'd be making it a standard length. The cropped length is a challenge to wear.





Pattern #16, Openwork Top. Not bad, but I would neaten up the shape a little.





Pattern #17, Leaf-Lace Shrug. Very pretty and useful little piece for summer dresses.





Pattern #18, Cropped Cardigan. Another nice little number for summer.





Pattern #19, Felted Entrelac Bag. This one's a little too crude and boho for my liking.





Pattern #20, Faeroese-Style Shawl. I like the combination of a traditional style with the contemporary, bright, eye-catching stripes.





Pattern #21, Infinity Scarf. Simple stitchwork with a beautiful play of colour.





Pattern #22, Mitered Throw. Fabulous. The mitered stitchwork and the yarn work together beautifully.





Pattern #23, Shell-and-Mesh Squares Cardigan. This is an impressive work in its own way, but also more than a little doily-esque for my liking.





Pattern #24, Shawl-Collared Cardigan. This is definitely too far into doily territory.





Pattern #25, Openwork Pullover. This is so far into doily land, it's in "Granny's centrepiece" territory. I want to put a basket of plastic fruit on it.





Pattern #26, V-Neck Shell. This could do with some better shaping.





Pattern #27, Goldfish; Pattern #28, Seahorse; and Pattern #29, Sea Star. These are very pretty and well-designed. What I'm wondering is what, if anything, they'll be used for, as I'm not one to make things that just sit around and collect dust. I suppose that, if they're large enough, they could be used as loofahs.