Friday Faves: Norah Gaughan

Norah Gaughan Vol. 15 was released yesterday.  15!  Can you believe the first volume was released 7 years ago?  I remember how gaga we all were when that first volume came out.

Ah, memories <cue the dorky music>.

No surprise that I’m a big fan of Norah (like 98% of us knitters).  My familiarity with Norah’s designs are mostly within the past 10 years – here are some of my faves…

Fashionable Cables

Norah’s great at designing cables the are wearable, fashionable and don’t scream “I made this because I wanted to knit it” but rather “I made this because I wanted to wear it”

• Halyard – Just published yesterday, this one went into my faves immediately
• Sislana – Love the way the cables mirror the raglan decreases
• Lempster – Can you believe this one’s free (from Knitty)? I think the yarn somewhat obscures the beauty of the cable so make sure you take a look at the finished projects too.
• Forster – This one always makes me laugh because Norah swore she wouldn’t do top-down knitting.  And then she did.
• Emerson – A showpiece cable up the front plus *that cowl*.  Can you imagine wearing that when it’s snowing?  And knit in a chunky yarn it should go quickly too.
• Turbulence U-Neck – When I think about Knitting Nature this is the first thing that pops in my mind.  I remember walking around the Rhinebeck fairgrounds the year after the book came out and spotting many Turbulences.

Creative Stitch Patterns

Norah doesn’t end with just cables.  Here are a few texture and eyelet lovelies as well…

• Sturgeon – A shawl/wrap with awesome texture and openwork
• Nurmi – I must be on a mega-cowl kick because this one gets me too
• Flower Child – Great neckline detail – the perfect balance of that showcase element contrasted with a simple bottom
• Tilted Duster – I remember how crazy people went over this one when it hit the cover of Interweave Knits in Fall 2007.
• Anais – This one has been a perennial on my “someday I will knit you”
• Phyllo Yoked Pullover – Such a creative use of a stitch pattern that seamlessly flows into the garment shaping

Unusual Shapes

Not your typical boxy or hourglass shapes…

• Sanpoku – I love the Asian inspiration here – and who doesn’t like an excuse for another shawl pin?
• Cormorant – A cardi with an oversized, flouncy detail
• Plover – Ok one more cowl here, but this one is not your run-of-the-mill variety
• Violette-le-duc – When this one hit the streets in 2008 there was a ton of conversation about how this one can be worn upside down as well
• Prospera – Inset circles and lace in a feminine pullover
• Currer – This one looks as fun to knit as to wear.  The bottom half-circles give a unique shape to the bottom.

As I went through Norah’s designs there were several that I had forgotten.  She’s had a prolific career and damn – she’s talented.  Fun to knit and fun to wear.

I’ll catch you on the purl side…