Noro Magazine Issue 10: A Review

Noro Magazine has released Issue 10. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Pattern 1, Boxy Pullover. Love the colours, but would neaten up the fit to make this a Pullover rather than a Boxy Pullover.

Pattern 2, Basketweave Tee. Like the pattern above, I'd fix the drop shoulders, add waist shaping, and make this standard fit. Boxy fits simply aren't flattering on most women. As you can see, even this professional model isn't able to carry this one off.

Pattern 3, Marled Stripe T-Shirt. A nice-looking casual piece.

Pattern 4, Cabled Tee. I like this one on the whole, but would do that front panel in a seed stitch instead of mesh in order to avoid letting the whole world know what bra I was wearing underneath.

Pattern 5, Colorblock Tee. I'm not crazy about the combination of the cabled effect with the gradient moss stitch. It makes this sweater look like the result of a head-on collision between two different designs.

Pattern 6, Side Slit Tee. I rather like this one, and I even think the dropped shoulders work pretty well because the shaping is so good, but I think I might shorten the sleeves a trifle.

Pattern 7, Openwork Cowl. This is kind of fun, but it would make me feel like I was wearing some sort of artsy scarf hanger.

Pattern 8, Pleat and Eyelet Scarf. This looks a little too much like the kind of scrap yarn project that one makes up as one goes along. While drinking.

Pattern 9, Buttonhole Cowl. I'm quite liking this one with its fun and effective combination of colour and texture.

Pattern 10, Garter and Lace Cowl. This one also has too much of a scrap yarn project feel, though this one at least looks as though it was made by a sober person.

Pattern 11, Dimensional Tuck Stitch Cowl. Very pretty. The colours and the tucked effect work well together.

Pattern 12, Crochet Wave Poncho. Even a beautiful yarn and intricate stitchwork can't save a design that has the shape and hang of a Hefty bag.

Pattern 13, Rhombus Poncho. For the late bloomer who needs the world to know she is emerging from chrysalis, and therefore needs a chrysalis from which to emerge.

Pattern 14, Easy Striped Wrap. I would modify this by renaming it "Easy Striped Throw" and placing it on a couch.

Pattern 15, Chevron Jacket. This one almost works. I'd help it complete its transition from afghan to jacket by making the sleeves more fitted and adding front closures.

Pattern 16, Swingy Poncho. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you may know that I hold that items meant to be worn by a human being should not look like afghans. To this I must now add that clothes should also not look like curtain valances from a 1940s bordello.

Pattern 17, Lacy Ruana. This one also belongs on a couch.

Pattern 18, Chevron Throw. The design is fine, though I can't say I care for the colour palette.

Pattern 19, Modular Afghan. Fresh and pretty.

Pattern 20, Patchwork Afghan. This design deserved better than to be rendered in a "Barbie's Dream House Meets Mudslide and Oil Slick" colour palette.

Pattern 21, Patchwork Pillow. This pillow is done in such happy colours that they make me smile when I look at it.

Pattern 22, Origami Pouch. This is a rather nice-looking tote. I would line it with fabric and probably also some sort of interlining to keep it from sagging all to hell.

Pattern 23, Sleeveless Jacket. This design looks too unfinished and crude to be really attractive.

Pattern 24, Short Sleeve Jacket. Very pretty. Love the colour, the subtle lace pattern, and the cute, stylish shape.

Pattern 25, Dolman Sleeve Jacket. This has promise but it doesn't hang well at all.

Pattern 26, Sleeveless Top with Pockets. I'd add waist shaping to this one, and do something a little different with the pockets, such as adding little button flaps, instead of going with the bow shape and the eyelet detail on each one, which isn't working.

Pattern 27, Sleeveless Top. This is pretty. And I would neaten up the fit a little, but only because that's my personal preference. This loose-fitting top does look good as is.

Pattern 28, Cross Stitch Top. Interesting texture but I'm not sure the shape is so good, though it's hard to tell from this side angle photo.

Pattern 29, Vee Neck Pullover. Pretty, though I would make this a little more fitted and add waist shaping.

Pattern 30, Broomstick Lace Shawl. An attractive wrap with a very cool and interesting texture.

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.