noro kureyon - a good buy?

keelan · 02-18-2006, 12:45 PM

I've been eyeing this yarn ever since I saw the Booga bag patterns for it and it looks so yummy and everyone seems to like it. I had been saving up to purchase a boatload of it from my LOYS (local online yarn store - tee hee!) then I stumbled across some fairly negative reviews on it. Something about it being rough and scratchy to knit with or having to pick out bits of hay?!

Anyhow, as you may know, I have this allergy to yarn above $5 a skein but I'm really tempted. Any thoughts?

Along the same vein, what well-known, brand name yarns of the variegated quality do y'all like? I tried buying some locally handspun skeins on eBay but was a bit disappointed with the quality so I thought perhaps a commercially produced yarn would be better? Any fiber is fine...

Ingrid · 02-18-2006, 05:51 PM

I haven't used it, but I've read that the Kureyon is too scratchy to wear, but is great for felting.

I've used South West Trading Company Karoake--it's a soy silk and wool blend. It's not cheap, but it is gorgeous. The label says it felts, but I've read mixed reviews on it. I don't think I'd felt it, though. It's nice the way it is.

kitkat · 02-18-2006, 05:59 PM

I am working with it on a sweater and for boogas.

It is skritchy and does have random pieces of hay. My LYS and class teacher said it will soften when washed - she promised. We shall see!

feministmama · 02-18-2006, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by keelan

Anyhow, as you may know, I have this allergy to yarn above $5 a skein

VictoiseC · 02-18-2006, 07:38 PM

OH I'm one of the few I guess who don't find NOro Kureyon scratchy!
I've knitted several scarves and what's really weird, when I began I made a little short scarf out of #95 (my favorite color) Kureyon and I always reach for that little scarf when I go out instead of the luxurious soft ones.
It's just the right length and it's softened with wear ... I haven't even washed it. I think it gets softer as you knit with it and wear it. I LOVE THAT SCARF!
Think I'll even post a picture somewhere! ha
So, give it a chance, it wears like crazy too, I mean sturdy, I've never seen any hay or anything in it, would the Japanese even do that!?

TamaraKnits · 02-19-2006, 01:42 AM

Right now Webs (www.yarn.com) has another very similar Noro yarn on sale for $5 a skein called Kujaku.

(Look here: http://www.yarn.com/yarns-knitting/norokujaku.html)

It is wool with a multicolored strand wrapped around it but the color striping is very similar to Kureyon. I've seen it felted on the internet but the reports say that it is harder to felt than Kureyon (i.e. takes more washings and produces a slightly looser fabric).

The Kujaku feels similar to Kureyon. Yes the Kureyon feels kind of scratchy in the ball but I'm doing a sweater in it now and I made a swatch and washed it and I thought it softened tons. I wore the swatch under my bra to check for against the skin wearability and even I forgot it was there. As for the "hay" I've found like 2 2mm pieces of it in the ball I am working with now.

The thing I personally dislike the most about noro yarns is the fact that they knot them when one strand ends - and they don't bother to match up the color striping at all. So I've had to cut out the knots and do my own color matching.

The gorgeous colors make up for it - to me at least.

For good prices on yarn definitely check out www.yarn.com (see the closeout and garage sale areas) and elann.com.

Hildegard_von_Knittin · 02-20-2006, 02:12 AM

i loooooooooooooooooooove noro. it is kind of scratchy but you can't beat how sturdy it is after felting... and the colors are so pretty!!

allegra918 · 02-20-2006, 03:23 AM

i am making a shrug right now out of kureyon. i love it, although it's too early too tell the scratch factor. i can't resist the colors though!

catownedanna · 02-20-2006, 10:31 AM

In December I finished a cardigan knit in Noro Kureyon #170. I loooved working with that yarn!

It felt a bit scratchy but knitting it up softened it and after steam blocking the cardigan, the texture has been smooth. And I can't believe how warm it is.

I didn't find anything organic in my 13 skeins (I had skeins leftover for a hat and something else after the cardigan was done) but I had some knots. And just as some of the others say here the knots weren't "colour matched". I had to do some cutting and "spit-on-the-yarn-and-rub-it-together-so-it-attaches-as-one-thread" (can't for my life remember the English word for this...).

So, get an extra skein so you don't run out of yarn because of the knots...

I hope you're going to love your Kureyon!