Sunday, October 04, 2009

REVIEW: Noro: Meet the Man Behind the Legendary Yarn

Noro: Meet the Man Behind the Legendary Yarn
Knit 40 Fabulous Designs
by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton
Hardcover: 148 pages
Publisher: Sixth&Spring Books (October 6, 2009)

Noro

Are you fascinated with the beautiful colors of Noro yarn? Perhaps you might go so far as to even admit an addiction to Noro yarn? If you answered yes - even just a little bit - Noro: Meet the Man Behind the Legendary Yarn would be a nice addition to your knitting book collection this fall.

No one creates yarns like Eisaku Noro. Made from rich natural materials and employing innovative color-blending techniques with long-repeat variegation, Noro yarns are acclaimed worldwide. In 2008, Noro yarn expert Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton sat down with the artist in his native Japan to discuss his craft, his commitment to sustainability and his unwavering dedication to knitting as an art form. The result is this fully illustrated guide to using Noro yarns to best effect.

Like the color repeats of Noro yarns, Noro: Meet the Man Behind the Legendary Yarn is... in one word, beautiful. Packed full of stunning designs and gorgeous photographs, you'll want to keep this knitting book out on your coffee table for display. That is, after you read through the best part of the book - the 12 page "Noro: An Inside Look" introduction - an enlightening look into the man and the company. Read about the humble beginnings of Noro, how the company came to be, how Noro has always been at the forfront of the "green movement," the production process and the future of Noro. As a knitter and self-proclaimed fiber artist, I truly enjoyed reading this unique, behind-the-scenes feature.

After the informative introduction, its time for the patterns. Cornelia's amazing mind for design and Noro's beauteous color palette combine for a knitter's delight! There are 40 patterns in all, including a kimono sweater, several hat and scarf sets, an origami bag, a hooded vest, intricate pullovers, a ruffled shawl, a chevron vest and two charming dog sweaters. There's something for everyone among the patterns, whether you're a novice or experienced knitter.

Although they are wonderful designs, I was highly disappointed to learn that a good chunk (over half) of these patterns are recycled and have been previously published. While they are all new to me and I do enjoy seeing them for the first time, if you are a huge Noro fan or own Cornelia's previous collections, I would not suggest you spend your money on Noro: Meet the Man Behind the Legendary Yarn. However, with that being said, if you do not own her previous books, I'd suggest picking up a copy. With the cool fall temps among us, its the perfect book to peruse on a lazy Sunday, curled up on the couch with a shawl and a cup of your favorite hot beverage... you just might find yourself marking several of the patterns to knit for holiday gifts!

About the Author: Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton is an expert on knitting with Noro yarns and has pubilshed many books of patterns featuring Noro and other yarns. A native New Yorker, she has lived in Sweden for 25 years.

3 comments:

SissySees said...

I'll have to check it out. What are the chances that the three or four Noro patterns I REALLY want (and are all in different collections) are in that book?

Sue said...

Thanks for the review. I'll check it out at the bookstore to see if it's a necessity.

silfert said...

I want this book...

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