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

Thursday 26 November 2015

Noro Magazine Issue 7: A Review


Noro Magazine has published its seventh issue. Let's have a look at it.





Pattern #01, Ruffle-Edge Cardigan. The yarn plays out beautifully over the sleeves and ruffles, but I have my doubts as to how good this sweater looks from the front and how well the ruffles will sit when not being pulled into place.





Pattern #02, Mitered Wrap. Lovely piece with a beautiful colourway.





Pattern #03, Infinity Scarf. An attractive cowl.





Pattern #04, Entrelac Blanket. The pattern is fine, but these yarns don't work well together, colour-wise.





Pattern #05, Asymmetrical Top. This looks way too patched together, and not in a good way.





Pattern #06, Striped Mitts. Nice-looking mitts.





Pattern #07, Open-Front Jacket. This is quite smart. I'm amazed by how well the multi-direction stripes work together, making a polished whole.





Pattern #08, Batwing Cardigan. There's something proportionally off and graceless about the solid midsection panel. I'd have just the opening front bands, and perhaps a narrow waistband, done in the fuchsia yarn and do the rest of the sweater in the striped yarn.





Pattern #09, Crochet Jacket. Way too afghan-like, to the extent that it looks like we surprised the model in the middle of her nap and she forgot to get out from under the afghan before jumping up to pose for a picture.





Pattern #10, Hound's Tooth Pullover. Very much like this one. It was a smart choice to only do the body in the hound's tooth pattern, as doing the sleeves and neck in it would have been too much of a good thing.





Pattern #11, Slipped-Stitch Jacket. Very sharp! The shaping and the texture are excellent and work perfectly with the yarn choice.





Pattern #12, Mosaic Sweater. Not a bad pattern on the whole, though I think the cropped length isn't for most women. It looks awkward even on this professional model.





Pattern #13, Plaid Pullover. In this case, I would extend the plaid patterning to the sleeves. They look like an afterthought as is.





Pattern #14, Striped Pullover. I'd fix those dropped shoulders and consider making this in a less bland colourway.





Pattern #15, Raglan Jacket. Nice piece, though I'm not thrilled with the pockets, which look a little tacked on.





Pattern #16, Braided Scarf. Pretty and texturally interesting cowl.





Pattern #17, Classic Scarf. Handsome scarf.





Pattern #18, Slouchy Checkered Hat. Nice-looking hat. The colourway really makes this one sing.





Pattern #19, Ribbed Mitts. Simple enough, but the lovely yarn carries it.





Pattern #20, Man's Jacket. I'm not liking the ribbed sleeves on this one. I'd make the sleeves in the same stitch as the body of the sweater with just a ribbed cuff.





Pattern #21, Textured Tam. Not bad texture here, though the yarn choice is a little too "paint factory explosion" for me.





Pattern #22, Chunky Beanie. There are better texture and yarn combinations than this one.





Pattern #23, Cabled Brim Tam. Nice shape and detail in this one.





Pattern #24, Slipped-Stitch Hat. Love this one. The stitchwork and yarn combination work together beautifully and bring out the best in each other.





Pattern #25, Cabled Hat. You can't go wrong with a classic cabled hat.





Pattern #26, Slouchy Beanie. Again, I'm not liking the yarn and stitchwork combination. They don't do anything for each other.





Pattern #27, Top-Down Beret. This pattern is fine, but I'm not liking this yarn at all.





Pattern #28, Bobble Skullcap. This model seems to be suffering from an unfortunate tumour outbreak.





Pattern #29, Slouchy Hat/Cowl. This looks like a piece of discarded work that was scraped off the floor of the designer's workroom and sewn haphazardly around the model's neck.





Pattern #30, Earflap Beanie. Next.





Pattern #31, Mitered Squares Blanket. Beautiful.

Friday 19 June 2015

Noro Magazine Issue 6: A Review


Noro Magazine has released its sixth issue. Let's have a look at the designs within.





Pattern #1, Lacy Crop Top. Has that "shrunk in the wash" look and is unflattering even on the model.





Pattern #2, Lace Tee. This isn't so bad, at least not compared to the last one. It would make a decent cover-up for the beach at any rate.





Pattern #3, Crochet Openwork Top. For that "I made a top out of a shopping bag" look.





Pattern #4, Drop-Stitch Yoke Top. Attractive, flattering, and wearable.





Pattern #5, Lace Cowl. Pretty. I like the delicate, seashell-like colourway.





Pattern #6, Lace Pattern Top. This has very decent shaping, although I can't say I care for the colourway.





Pattern #7, Crochet Circles Afghan. Rather pretty. It's definitely miles above the standard granny square afghan.





Pattern #8, Fluted Scarf. Not a bad statement scarf. The stitchwork on the ends makes what would otherwise be a standard scarf interesting.





Pattern #9, Textured Shawl. Lovely texture and colourwork.





Pattern #10, Crescent-Shape Shawl. Very pretty.





Pattern #11, Diagonal Eyelet Scarf. Nice lace effect.





Pattern #12, Spiral Rib Tote. This has such a weird shape, and it's going to sag like crazy the second a woman puts her keys in it.





Pattern #13, Mobius Cowl. Attractive and wearable.





Pattern #14, Lacy Tam. Cute little cap.





Pattern #15, Multi-Directional Cap. This one comes across as a bit odd. The stitches used don't work together that well and the proportions look rather awkward.





Pattern #16, Entrelac Pillow Covers. Really lovely. The gorgeous colours are what make it.





Pattern #17, Entrelac Scarf. Pretty.





Pattern #18, Entrelac Poncho. I'd really like to know how this poncho would look if the model weren't standing with arms akimbo, or on a non-model. My guess is "not as well as it does here". I'm very much liking the turtleneck and the front panel and the colour combinations, but I can't help thinking this would look way better and be much more wearable if shaped as a sweater.





Pattern #19, Cropped Tank. Hey, if you feel you have the figure and the confidence for this one, why not.





Pattern #20, Lace-Up Shell. Can't say I find this appealing. The yarn used here is so drab, and those leather cords hanging down in front would drive me crazy. The piece isn't a bad shape, and I suppose if done in a more attractive yarn and with the cord ends made shorter it would be reasonably wearable.





Pattern #21, Crossover Vest. Not bad piece. That neckline frames the wearer's face well.





Pattern #22, Racer-Back Top. Again, if you think you can carry this off, why not.





Pattern #23, Sleeveless Top. Nice except for the shoulders, which could be better shaped. Either go with a cap sleeve or cut the shoulders in a little.





Pattern #24, Round-Neck Pattern Vest. Pretty but could use waist shaping.





Pattern #25, Chevron Pattern Vest. Too afghan-like.





Pattern #26, Wavy Stripes Pullover. Also too afghan-like... it's the stripes. It would work better if the body were done in a single yarn and the dropped shoulders were fixed.





Pattern #27, Fringed Scarf. Nice-looking scarf.





Pattern #28, Chevron Mitts. Clunky and clumsy looking.





Pattern #29, Crocheted Chevron Cowl. This is okay, but it does have a bit of an "upcycled afghan" look to it.





Pattern #30, Welted Chevron Cowl. Rather pretty.





Pattern #31, Vine Lace Blanklet. Nice.





Pattern #32, Cable & Rib Blanket. Lovely! The colours and the stitchwork work together beautifully.