A Noro color tutorial (how Mr. Noro determines his colorways)

Have you ever wondered how Mr. Noro comes up with his fabulous color combinations? Have you ever wondered why he takes a string of delightful colors, and throws in that particular shade of lark's vomit? How does he do it? Where does he get the inspiration???

I've wondered for years. A few minutes ago, I was on the phone discussing Niji, a discontinued frothy bit of mohair and wool that came in the mail this morning. I looked down at my kitchen table, and saw a make-up bag and hankie, the remnants of a parcel my cousin sent me two weeks ago.

Oh.

Ok, I totally get it now. Gomenesai, because I couldn't see it earlier. I feel like a wonkin' idiot. Someone in the family tree is gonna disown me. Here's a scan of the bag, a hankie, and a scarf that my mom gave me years ago. Do you see what I am trying to show you? They're just textile palettes. That's all.

The only thing that's wrong, that's not a direct copy, is that his proportions are equal. The particular shade of lark's vomit (aka mustard) that serves as an accent on the coral scarf, for example, actually has equal footing to the coral, grey, navy and green in his yarn. Which is why it seems like such a vast expanse of that color. Because it is.

What would genius do?

I found a whale of a sale on this yarn. The reviews said it was WONDERFUL yarn. The price was great. I couldn't quite make out the color. I didn't think it could be THAT bad.

The yarn came in today~all the reviews were spot on. I, on the other hand, was WRONG. The yarn is every pastel under the sun, and they all cancel each other out, leaving a murky, muddy mess.

I could dye it. There's a fair amount of rayon tucked in with the animal fibers. I could add another strand and carry along. Either way, this yarn needs a personality makeover. (For a lazy woman.) Right now, I have two possible solutions: stb or pra. I abbreviated them, because I want to hear what other people think.

Colors in the yarn: mid orange, pastel yellow, blue, green, lilac, pink.

What is your solution?

ETA: Be specific! Please tell me what color would you use!

Da Mail (Part Deux)

Wow, the mailman came again today! The dog had a fit.

I finally took the plunge and ordered some Knitpick Options. They look like my Inoxes, I am anxious to give them a try. I ordered them in my common sizes-5, 6, 7.

There was a white box today-it IS summer knitting time, after all. Wouldn't you know that a cold front came in last night and dropped us 30 degrees?

I also got a big box from Kohls with a Dockers jacket for DH. You know the drill on that-"I broke my zipper on this coat, can we see if I can get a new one, 'cept in black? I really like that coat, I've had it for, what, 5 years?" Later, "But it's not the same-I don't liiiikkkkkke that waistband..." I think to myself "Shhhhh. It's 70% off, it's black, and it's a tall for your monkey arms. I am ordering it and you WILL try it." Heh. Shush up and listen to the wardrobe manager. At least she makes sure your jacket shows up on the day you will freeze your tuckus off.

I also got a box in from Penzeys! If you have never shopped there, oh, for God's sake, get ye on their mailing list yesterday! Seriously, we've been trying to eat clean this year, and haven't done too terribly. A good variety of Penzey's products helps a lot. If you don't order anything else, Fox Point and Mural of Flavor are the two blends you must try. Do it. Your family will think you learned how to cook or something.

What he doesn't know won't hurt him-

I passed the postman on my way back from the Brooks Farm hike today. The back of his truck was open and I saw two big white boxes.

They are probably mine. (It's soooo sad that I know this.)

I got to my house before the postman did, and guess what was on my front porch?? A bursting at the seams box from Ram Wools. Gulp.

It's been years since I ordered anything from Ram Wools. I liked the little zippy bags. I am showing off two colors of Fresh (1.47 a ball) and Watercolor Mix (2.06 a ball). It's a good thing DH wasn't home. I got in about 59 balls of yarn.

I need to zen with my Bond. SOON.

Buyer's remorse

I've shopped New Year's online yarn sales alot. I've also been stuck with a lot of crap at New Years sales. This year, I shopped ONE New Year's sale--Web's. My box came in today. I had one cone of 2/4 tweed wool, and 10 skeins of Noro Cotton Hill, which was described as nubby, and should be described as a boucle. I wish I'd bought more of the tweed (15.oo per kg), and none of the Noro (3.99).

Note to self-Don't buy any more Noro. It's not like you actually knit it.

I really like the tweed, tho. THAT's going to be DH's Cobblestone, or some such. That's the ultimate guy color-grey tweed with flecks of blue and brown, and charcoal. Perfect. Goes with almost everything.

DH made me laugh today. I bought him two Docker's sweaters to wear on a trip at the end of the month. Lightweight ones. (We need sweaters for about 15 minutes a year around here.) I showed him his sweaters. He touched one and said "ewwww, I don't like the fabric. It feels really plasticky. And slimey." I questioned him a little more on that. He really DOESN'T like acrylic sweaters at ALL. (I think time in Alaska spawns a distinct acryliphobia.) He would really like wool instead.