Noro "Zen" Shawl Finished
The shawl I was knitting with the Noro Hinageshi S.S. didn't take very long to finish. It was just a Zen knit - a simple stitch repeat for those times when I just wanted to sit and knit and not think. I guess there were a lot of those times, recently! LOL! Maybe it's because I've had such a nasty cold for the last 2 weeks...
One thing for sure - I will never buy any of this yarn again! Number one it's waaaay too expensive at retail for what you get yardage-wise per skein (mind you, I've always felt that way about Noro yarns). Number two, even if it was on bargain basement sale I wouldn't buy more - not because it's rayon/cotton/linen/nylon either - it's because of what happened when I washed it. If you recall what I wrote when I started this shawl, I really loved how this yarn looked, even though the fiber content was not my cup of tea. It was easy to knit with too - a real "pleasure" knit. Well my opinion changed dramatically when I washed the finished shawl! I did the usual, lukewarm soak/wash and spun it in the machine to get it fairly dry. Well the vibrancy in the colors died. I thought maybe that was just because it was wet and that it would look like it did before, after it dried. Nope! I laid it out and blocked it and let it air dry. It looked (and still does) horrible! There is no shiny sheen to the yarn any more and the colors all look like the shawl is 5 years old and used! I couldn't believe my eyes! If I had washed it in hot on a full wash cycle maybe I could have expected this outcome but not after a careful hand wash! All I can say is thank goodness I only had 4 skeins and I DIDN'T pay retail for them!!
I have no idea what I'll do with this thing - maybe my kids will use it as a dress-up - one thing for sure, it isn't nice enough to wear as a serious accessory....
Just one more reason why I DON'T love Noro yarns! Sure the colors can be lovely (though some combos are downright gaudy - or muddy), but I have tried about 5 different ones now and I still say they are overpriced because they are imports. The wool fiber content is cheap - especially the Kureyon, made with wool for pot scrubbers! Really, really horribly scratchy! Sure Silk Garden is nice but there are other brands with similar content for much less $$. So far the only exception I've found is Noro Kabuto, a chunky weight blend of cashmere, silk and wool (actually soft wool!). It seems to be one of the few Noro yarns that actually gives you what you pay for. Of course it's discontinued! One of the only yarns in my stash I fiercely guard! So don't ask if I have any to spare, OK? LOL!
One thing for sure - I will never buy any of this yarn again! Number one it's waaaay too expensive at retail for what you get yardage-wise per skein (mind you, I've always felt that way about Noro yarns). Number two, even if it was on bargain basement sale I wouldn't buy more - not because it's rayon/cotton/linen/nylon either - it's because of what happened when I washed it. If you recall what I wrote when I started this shawl, I really loved how this yarn looked, even though the fiber content was not my cup of tea. It was easy to knit with too - a real "pleasure" knit. Well my opinion changed dramatically when I washed the finished shawl! I did the usual, lukewarm soak/wash and spun it in the machine to get it fairly dry. Well the vibrancy in the colors died. I thought maybe that was just because it was wet and that it would look like it did before, after it dried. Nope! I laid it out and blocked it and let it air dry. It looked (and still does) horrible! There is no shiny sheen to the yarn any more and the colors all look like the shawl is 5 years old and used! I couldn't believe my eyes! If I had washed it in hot on a full wash cycle maybe I could have expected this outcome but not after a careful hand wash! All I can say is thank goodness I only had 4 skeins and I DIDN'T pay retail for them!!
I have no idea what I'll do with this thing - maybe my kids will use it as a dress-up - one thing for sure, it isn't nice enough to wear as a serious accessory....
Just one more reason why I DON'T love Noro yarns! Sure the colors can be lovely (though some combos are downright gaudy - or muddy), but I have tried about 5 different ones now and I still say they are overpriced because they are imports. The wool fiber content is cheap - especially the Kureyon, made with wool for pot scrubbers! Really, really horribly scratchy! Sure Silk Garden is nice but there are other brands with similar content for much less $$. So far the only exception I've found is Noro Kabuto, a chunky weight blend of cashmere, silk and wool (actually soft wool!). It seems to be one of the few Noro yarns that actually gives you what you pay for. Of course it's discontinued! One of the only yarns in my stash I fiercely guard! So don't ask if I have any to spare, OK? LOL!
Posted by Gloria Patre at 11/26/2009 10:42 AM 
Categories: Shawls
Tags: zen knitting Noro yarn shawls Hinageshi SS
Categories: Shawls
Tags: zen knitting Noro yarn shawls Hinageshi SS
My son used my Babette blanket the other day, which is made with Noro Kureyon, and he said, that sand paper would feel soft compared to the blanket, even though it IS warm.
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Your Babette was so beautiful! I remember it! How disappointing!
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I agree about the Noro. Made a pair of socks from the Kuryon way back when and they gave out in no time.
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It never ceases to amaze me what gets people excited! It's as though they can't see past the colors and look at the fiber....
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yahoo. Another Noro dis-liker. I'm with you. Noro is overrated and overpriced.
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It really makes ya wonder - have they never seen colored yarn before?
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The shawl is nice and good,the color is dull,if bright color used it would be awesome.
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