New Noro Summer 2023: Akari, Akari Solo

Akari & Akari Solo

Yum! This is the soft, silky fluid Noro Akari in lovely "solid" complimentary shades. For customers who eschew Noro's rougher, naturalistic texture....we hand them Akari or Akari Solo. Blend of 26% silk, 21% cotton, 15% rayon, 14% mohair, 12% wool & 12% nylon. It's high rayon content provides a lovely soft touch and perfect drape. 

Imagine the squeals when our latest shop samples arrived from KFI. It was a Thurs Sock KAL day so there was a cacophony of delightful "squeees" as we all fondled this: 

Meet #18 Bisect. The beauty of this little top-down pullover: written for stripes of both Akaris, or just Akari Solo. Looks just as lovely in the solid version. The sample is SO soft and squishy! A true revelation at how gorgeous both Akari yarns are for sweaters. 

Pattern in the latest Noro Magazine #22. Great issue chock full of many pattern potentials future projects (see patterns here). We now have shop samples of #12 Assateague (Sonata & Sonata Shima) & #14 Spectra (Haruito). More on these new summer yarns in a later post. But they're great cotton Noro! Perfect for warm weather projects. The Spectra cardi would be perfect in Akari Solo for cool weather. 

Noro Magazine #22 Spring/Summer 2023

Find Sonata, Sonata Shima & Hariuto in shop. Coming soon to website. 

Akaris Pattern Ideas: Nighshift 

The Nightshift pattern is a long-popular Andrea Mowry staple. It's addictive knitting at it's best. Noro is a perfect choice. Our shop sample used Akari + Silk Garden, in that super-popular colorway that's always out of stock. Now with Akari Solo even easier. Just pick 1 color of each. Hardest part is choosing with color combo! 

We prefer to use just 2 colors and 40 row repeat option. Streamlines the pattern to 1 pg (Six color version is 11 pgs!). Makes it much easier to knit. Still: Keep diligent notes as you go! It's very easy to mess up the pattern if you're not paying attention! Unless you're wanting practice "tinking" back.  

Closeup: Kim's Nightshift Shawl (shop sample)

My pattern notes literally resemble hieroglyphics as I charted my progress. But I loved it and the slipping, sliding, and genius edging (beautiful technique for semi-cord edges). 

 

If triangle shawl not your thing....try the smaller Shift cowl. Same basic technique and look, but in a kerchief style cowl. These make great gifts and excellent way to use up stash. Andrea always has loads great new techniques so plenty of learning takes place. Fortunately she posts many videos on her website to help. Or even easier.... Shiftalong hat. These take DK or fingering so Akari won't work. But Noro Silk Garden Sock and Silk Garden Sock Solo perfect subs.