Noro Madara
MADARA is a medium to bulky weight that knits up knits up at a gauge of 15-17 stitches per four inches on US 7-8 (4.5-5.0mm) needles. Heavily twisted, it has a soft, luxurious hand thanks to the addition of silk and alpaca to a wool base. It is available in semi-solids featuring nubby flecks which provide interesting pops of contrasting colour throughout this yarn (thus living up to its name - Madara means mottled in Japanese)
Fibre Content: 60% Wool, 30% Silk, 10% Alpaca
Weight /Yardage: 100 g = 200 m /218 yds
Gauge /Tension: 15-17 sts = 4″ /10 cm on 4.5 – 5.0 mm (US 7-8) ndls
Knitting Weight: Aran/Bulky
Care: Hand Wash, lay flat to dry
More about Noro
The World of Nature
Noro — The World of Nature. Long before most companies had mission statements, Noro Yarn's founder, Eisaku Noro, chose those words to capture his vision.
"I was born and grew up in a place where more great unspoiled nature is left than anywhere else in Japan, so the world of nature is always close. Whether I am aware of it or not, I am inspired by it in many ways," explains Noro.
That inspiration is found everywhere in Noro yarns. Take, for example, the colors. Examine a yarn like perennial favorite Kureyon and you'll see color-ways with the vivid golds and greens of a sunflower patch, muted neutral palettes that mimic the infinite hues of bark, and the striking combinations of crimson, chartreuse and orange that one would see in a meadow of wild-flowers.
Indeed, Noro yarns are known for their vivid hues and unique combinations of colors found in the natural world (think of the red leaves of maples or the cerulean blue of the sky). These colors also tap into the multiplicity of shades found around us. Leaves may appear one shade of green from afar, says Mr. Noro, "but in reality they come in countless variations of green. By mix- ing colors, we can give a more natural feel reminiscent of oceans, mountains, flowers, trees and so on." Noro's insistence on maintaining the integrity of the dyeing process—taking sufficient time to apply color is crucial—creates these rich, complex hues while reducing ecological impact.
Read more here.