Self-striping yarn, that is!
For our “Second Winter Season” we’ve been bringing in an assortment of colorful yarns from Noro – first the classic favorite Kureyon, a rustic worsted weight wool, and now Taiyo and Taiyo Sock, both blends of cotton, nylon, silk, and wool. These yarns are spun in the Aichi province of Japan from an assortment of hand selected and individually dyed fibres to create their distinctive striping patterns.
The founder of the company, Eisaku Noro, oversees the creation of each colorway and insists on using the highest quality fibres and ecologically friendly processing. His philosophy is to do as much of the yarn production as possible by hand, rather than by machine, to preserve the natural character of the fibres.
(Want to learn more about how Noro yarns are made? View their 27-page e-booklet full of interesting information and photos here.)
It can be hard to find just the right project that makes the most of the long color changes in a self-striping yarn, so we thought we’d give you some ideas to try out these yarns with!
First off, we have two new books full of patterns designed specifically for these unique yarns!
Can’t decide which colorway you want to try first? Knit Noro: Accessories: 30 Colorful Little Knits is full of small projects to let you sample as many as you like!
Try a toasty Brioche Scarf, boldly patterned Entrelac Mittens, eye-catching Eyelet Bobble Scarf, practical Felted Patchwork Tote, or the versatile Reversible Scarves in lofty Kureyon. Knit an iPad Cover in Taiyo to keep your favorite high-tech knitting accessory cozy!
(Try Kureyon and Taiyo in any of the patterns written for Silk Garden as well.)
For larger projects as well as accessories, turn to Knit Noro: 30 Designs in Living Color.
The striking Chevron Scarf and fetching Fair Isle Cap show off multiple shades of Kureyon, while the Entrelac Scarf and Striped Shawl make the most of a single colorway. Ready for a colorful challenge? Knit up a cozy Cowl Neck Tunic or snuggly Hooded Vest.
Want even more? How about a dramatic Modular Afghan or Patchwork Afghan in Taiyo? For garments, there’s the pretty Parasol Lace Vest and bold Sideways Stripes Vest, or try the Reversible Cabled Scarf for a quicker knit.
Choose Taiyo Sock, a new member of the Noro family, for the Ridged Ripples Scarf – the challenging design uses two strands of the same colorway started at different points in the color repeat to create a stunning faux-cable pattern. Take a few minutes to check out the Ravelry project photos for this one!
On Ravelry, you’ll find the popular Noro Striped Scarf, Turn a Square hat, and Lizard Ridge blanket among the many projects knit in Kureyon – these are great patterns for Taiyo too!
Try Taiyo Sock for the Lacy Karius pattern (we have one knit up at the shop for you to see), or combine it with a solid color for the Spectra scarf. The Uzu sock pattern from Knitty is a great way to get some Noro from head to toe!
Still need a bit more encouragement to try these unusual yarns?
Try our Entrelac Scarf or Wrap class to learn a fun knitting technique that looks great in a self-striping yarn (or just stop by for the pattern). Crocheters can try one of the many variations of the Queen Anne’s Lace scarf. (Keep an eye out for upcoming classes – we have our own version of this pattern available at the shop as well!)