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87 of 88 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Mediocre designs and pointless misinformation, December 10, 2008
This review is from: Knitting Noro: The Magic of Knitting with Hand-Dyed Yarns (Hardcover)
First of all, make no mistake - I love Noro yarn and I was looking forward to this book, since gorgeous amazing yarn like this really does benefit from the right kind of design - not too complicated or it fights with the yarn, but instead designs that have good lines, and either some unique touch, special elegance, or a stitch that interacts with the yarn for an interesting effect. Unfortunately, there was nothing like that in here.
The book consists of ordinary, basic designs, almost all in plain stockinette or rib stitch, with few details to make them memorable. For example - almost every item has pronounced horizontal stripes, due to the nature of the yarn, but that's SO not flattering, and it's a problem that occurs using ordinary sweater patterns with the Noro yarns. Why not have some designs that address that issue? Another example is entrelac, a technique that almost could have been invented just for Noro yarns, it gives such beautiful results. It's not mentioned in the book. Aren't those the king of things that should be included in a book about how to use a particular kind of yarn?
The disappointment is made worse if you go to Noro yarns own website, noroyarns.com, and click on the 'reference' section. There you will some interesting items from various designers that make good use of their unique yarns - why couldn't this book have had something like those, instead of the same things I've seen in a hundred books?
I also find the introduction (and even the title) full of misinformation. "Hand-dyed yarns"? No, they aren't. Noro dyes the raw materials, then spins the yarns from those. The author also implies the yarns are hand-spun, but they are not. Noro's own website has a picture of them being spun by machine. Why does the author include all these false statements about the yarn? It's way beautiful enough to stand on its own without making up stuff.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Possible Stash buster, November 10, 2008
This review is from: Knitting Noro: The Magic of Knitting with Hand-Dyed Yarns (Hardcover)
I really like this book. Any yarn with the same gauge as the featured Noro yarn can be used for these patterns. Easy knitting and basic desgins (good for TV knitting).
I plan on knitting many of the patterns in this book using not only Noro yarns but Manos, Mountain Colors, Blue Heron or Dune and let my imagination run wild while reducing my stash. For those that prefer more imaginative or avant garde designs, as has been the case with some of Jane Ellison's past designs, this is probably not the book for you. One of the design elements used is to combine more than one color of Kureyon, for example, in the same design with great results. (Also good for stash busting).
While the patterns are not necessarily classic, they can be worn for many a season from a fitted rib cardigan to a ribbed vest to a hooded jacket. The pictures of the designs are also clean and basic without any distracting background so that the design and the yarn stand out.
The only thing I don't care for are the use of rolled hems, but that is my preference and a very easy fix.
A good buy if you are a knitter that wants the yarn to do the work.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Meh, Pretty pictures, but the patterns are unappealing., March 17, 2009
This review is from: Knitting Noro: The Magic of Knitting with Hand-Dyed Yarns (Hardcover)
I made the Noro Hoodie in the photos using Kochoran #31. I don't think I'll be adding the zipper to the front. I loosely used the Hoodie pattern from the Knitting Noro book. I say loosely because I bought it and I wouldn't recommend it because: 1) even though it has beautiful photographs, it's pretty pointless as a pattern book. 2)There's no way to get the gauge stated. I had to redo all the stitch totals. 3) The patterns are shapeless and unattractive. For a "beginner" level book, if someone can shape a sleeve shoulder head, how come they wouldn't be able to shape sides? I had to shape and lengthen the body, widen the sleeves and totally rewrite the hood part of the pattern. 4) There is overlap with her other pattern books (pamphlets). Sorry, wish I had more positive things to say about it... Ummm, the photos are pretty...
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