Update May 25: Bloggers! We’ve extended your deadline to June 1 to give you time to get your thoughts together.

We are super excited about the premier issue of Noro Magazine!

Advance copies arrived in the office last week and I had a pleasant weekend drooling over mine. You’ll be able to find it at your local yarn store starting in early June. Some people on Ravelry have already pre-ordered their copy.

Their impatience is understandable considering how awesome the magazine is! (Of course, I might be a little biased.)

The issue features 35 patterns including accessories, garments (including a man’s sweater!) ranging from coats to socks, and home decor items. You will be able to cover your world in Noro!

3 Key Questions

There are three questions I’ve been seeing online.

Q: Is Noro Magazine just available in the USA?

A: Noro Magazine will be available in England through stores that work with Designer Yarns, in Canada through stores that work with Diamond Yarn, and in Australia through stores that work with Prestige Yarns. (Basically, if your local yarn store stocks Noro it can’t hurt to ask about the magazine.) Obviously, the magazine will be available in the USA through stores that work with KFI.

Q: Will there be a digital version?

A: One is being planned, but there is no delivery date. (Sounds to me like you should get the print edition so you can start knitting sooner!)

Q: Will there be a good range of sizes?

A: Yes! Some of the patterns go up to 2X. Finished busts at the high end range from 45″ to 60″. Not every pattern covers the full range of sizes, but there is a good variety.

Also, I haven’t seen this asked, but there are a couple of crochet patterns as well.

Beautiful Patterns

And isn’t beautiful patterns and the finished projects they generate the reason we buy magazines?

It was hard to contain myself to highlighting just a few of the patterns, but I managed to reel myself in. LOL

#26 Cropped Jacket Designed by Irina Poludnenko (photo by Paul Amato)

First up is this cool Cropped Jacket designed by Irina Poludnenko. I love the way the colors fan out from the hem to the cuffs echoing the curve of the body.

It is knit using two colors of Noro Silk Garden Sock, a 40% Wool, 25% Silk, 25% Nylon, 10% Mohair blend. Short row shaping is used to get the neat curve in the lapels and shoulders making this an intermediate level pattern. It is sized for small/medium (large/XL) with finished busts of 38(42)”.

Since you’ll need something to keep it closed, it also gives you a good excuse to buy one of those pretty hand-made shawl pins you’ve been eying at your local yarn store.

#9 Lace Cardigan Designed by Therese Chynoweth (photo by Rose Callahan)

This Lace Cardigan by Therese Chynoweth is just charming. I like the way the lace pattern makes waves in the stripes. The body of the cardigan is knit in one piece to the armholes and the sleeves are worked in the round to the cap shaping.

This is awesome for two reasons. 1) Fewer seams to sew means less finishing means wearing it sooner. 2) The color repeats in the yarn are allowed to play out uninterrupted by seams.

This cardigan is knit in Noro Taiyo Sock yarn, a 50% Cotton, 17% Wool, 17% Nylon, 16% Silk blend. There are 8 new colors this season. This pattern has finished bust measurements of 37 (45, 53)”.

#14 Cap Sleeve Dress Designed by Carolyn Noyes (photo by Rose Callahan)

This neat retro dress is one of two dresses and two skirts in the magazine. I like the checker pattern and the way the colors play together.

This dress is knit using Noro Kureyon and Debbie Bliss Rialto DK. Both yarns are 100% wool. You’ll have fun mixing and matching colors to achieve the perfect look.

The pattern is for an experienced knitter, probably because of the color work involved. It is sized for Small (Medium, Large, X-Large, 2X), which translates to Finished Bust 34 (38, 42, 46, 50)” and Hip 36 (40 1/2, 44, 48 1/2, 52)”.

#24 Trinity Stitch Tunic Designed by Valentina Devine (photo by Rose Callahan)

This Trinity Stitch Tunic by Valentina Devine is one of four sweaters in the “Outrageous Color” section of the magazine. All four are fun, over sized sweaters worked in vibrant colors. I like the happy honey color of this one and the way the stitch pattern makes an interesting collar.

This sweater is knit using Noro Karuta, a 40% Silk, 30% Cotton, 30% Wool blend with approximately 165 yards per 100g. Karuta is new this season and is available in 8 tonal colorways.

This sweater is for an intermediate knitter and is sized for finished bust of 39 (43, 50, 54, 59)”.

#20 Man's Slouchy Hat Designed by Yoko Hatta (photo by Rose Callahan)

This Slouchy Hat by Yoko Hatta is one of three patterns for men in the sweater (although I don’t know why a woman couldn’t wear it). A nice slouchy hat can be worn beyond winter. This one makes me think of my brother-in-law, who can be a bit of a ski bum in winter. I also makes me think of that hat Brad Pitt was spotted in last year that had people questing for a similar pattern.

This hat is knit in two shades of Noro Kureyon. The pattern is skilled “easy” and is worked in the round so as soon as it’s off your needles it can be on the recipient’s head. The pattern has two sizes, 20 (22)”.

#29 Crochet Slippers Designed by Yoko Hatta (photo by Rose Callahan)

These adorable Crochet Slippers by Yoko Hatta are one of the crocheted patterns I mentioned. Won’t it be lovely to pad around the house in these? Every time you look down you’ll have a reason to smile.

They are crocheted using Noro Kureyon and are sized for Woman’s Small (Medium/Large). This is another “easy” pattern and I bet wouldn’t take long to work up. Maybe it’s time to start your gift projects, if you haven’t already?

#7 Cabled Socks Designed by Christina Behnke (photo by Paul Amato)

Last, but not least, I wanted to highlight these awesome Cabled Socks by Christina Behnke. They are worked toe up using Noro Taiyo Sock yarn. I’m a bit of a sock junky anyway, but these just sing to me.

Anybody up for a knit-along?

This pattern is for an experienced knitter and is sized for an Adult Woman (7″ foot circumference).

A Giveaway to Celebrate

Those are the seven patterns that have caught my eye, but I’m sure I’ll have a new favorite in a few days. LOL.

With 35 patterns, I’ve only scratched the surface. There are more hats and sweaters, not to mention scarves and afghans. Really, there is something for everyone.

You can see a preview of all the projects in the magazine here.

To celebrate the premier issue we’ve decided to do a little giveaway (US residents, void where prohibited!).

There are two ways to enter:

One way–for bloggers: Write a new blog post between now and Friday, June 1, 2012 about which pattern you are looking forward to making from the magazine, or what you love about Noro in general. You must link back to either the yarn or pattern book on the Knitting Fever Inc website or this here blog post. Send a link to your post to Ann at (twitter at knittingfever dot com) to be sure we see it. A randomly selected blogger will receive a gift.

Second way–for non-bloggers: Leave a comment on this blog post between now and Friday, May 25, 2012, telling us what you love about Noro and the new magazine. A randomly selected comment will receive a gift. When the comment system asks who you are remember to enter your real email address so we can reach you if you win.

Sound like fun?

Update May 25: The magazine was scheduled to hit shelves June 5, but we’re seeing reports that stores are already receiving theirs. You might want to call your favorite Noro retailer and see if they have it in stock yet!