Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Noro for-o Milestone

Edited to Add on July 22nd 2011: The giveaway for Knit Noro is now closed. No more entries are being taken. Thanks to all who entered.
Hi Knitters,
The heat has been overwhelming in our neck of the woods the past few days. It's more of the humidity combined with the heat that is so suffocating. Last night our neighborhood pool had its water ballet show and it went fine but I have to admit it was hard to sit outside for hours in that sauna. It's the type of weather where you start to sweat the minute you walk out the door and it never stops. Tomorrow is supposed to be the worst of it with the heat index at around 115 degrees and record setting humidity. I am always interested in the weather because we have such extremes in Wisconsin. It keeps you on your toes.

Now that the water ballet show, which all four of my kids were involved in, is over I am moving on to the All-City Swim Meet that our pool is hosting in a little over a week. It is going to be a very intense couple of weeks and our family's workload has already been and is going to be incredible. The meet involves a dozen area pools and thousands of swimmers and families. It is immense. Wish us luck. It is all good fun.

Now for the business of the day. If you are wondering what the milestone is that I referred to in the title of this post, I am talking about the fact that this is my 700th post! That's a lot of writing and photos and knitting adventures and life lived in one spot. I am celebrating post number 700 with a fantastic book giveaway.

Knit Noro is a new book by Sixth & Spring Books and it is a major winner. It is a compilation pattern book with a talented gathering of designers using the most beautiful Noro yarns. Really, I can't say enough good things about Knit Noro.



I have been a longtime fan of Noro yarns. I love the stripes, bright and subdued colors combined in unusual ways, the rustic quality of their yarns and pretty much everything about it. I hear people say they occasionally have to pick a twig out of their yarn while they are knitting and they don't like it. I love that. I love a rustic and colorful yarn. Yum.

The photography in the book is spectacular and features each design clearly. There are gloves, scarves, shawls, sweaters, vests, tunics, colorwork, hats, blankets... etc. There are large, medium and small projects. It is a feast of Noro goodness. I long to make the majority of the projects in this book and I will definitely do some of the smaller projects very soon like the scarves and hats. I am planning on a vest and cardigan as well.
I love this reversible cable scarf in Taiyo.
I think this cardigan is adorable and I think it would be incredibly quick to work up. It looks comfortable, stylish and you could wear it with just about anything.
I have a ball of Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn just waiting to become these. I love the lacy pattern with the gradual striping. It's so good.
What a stunning blanket. I mean... nothing more needs to be said about the combination of the yarn and pattern. It is perfection. Wouldn't you love to have this in your house? I would.
This shawl is made by alternating two different colorways of Noro Kureyon. I have so many single balls of different colorways of the Kureyon that I am definitely making this one. It could be a good gift, too. You need 6 balls total. I easily have that for sure.
It's all just so pretty and unique and lovely. The vests are wonderful in here.
I also think doing colorwork in the striping yarn is fantastic. You get such a great effect with less effort. Who doesn't want that?
I wouldn't wear the belt but I would wear this long vest with everything I own. The pockets are an added benefit. I could use a garment like this in my wardrobe. I don't have anything like it.

There really are so many more lovely, practical, wearable, fun and stylish projects in this book. I highly recommend this one. If you love Noro there is no doubt that you will love this book!

If you would like a copy for your home knitting library leave a comment on this blog post. Please leave only one comment. Don't forget to leave your email or your Ravelry ID so I can get in touch if you win. I will be back to randomly select a winner in a couple of days. Good luck if you enter.

Here's to 700 more blog posts, Knitters. Thank you for the support, love and fun we have shared along the way.

Cheers!
best, susie