Rainbow Rolls, by Noro
Introducing Noro's lovely new venture into pencil roving. It's a long bundle of unspun fiber drawn out until it is narrow as a pencil. The unique result is a pleasant paradox: A bulky gauge, warm wool that is at the same time light and airy, practically weightless. At Argyle, we have all twelve colors in Noro's famous self-striping palette. |
In addition to knitting and crochet, Rainbow Rolls are appropriate for other crafts.
Since it requires minimal drafting, pencil roving is a natural for spinning your own yarn using a drop spindle.
It can also be used as a stunning roving for needle felting.
Lastly, it can create a striking self-striping effect in weaving. Here at Argyle you can see the scarf on the left, in which one Rainbow roll was more than enough to provide all the weft for this project.
Here is our own Kate's latest creation, an easy-to-knit mock cable cowl made from a single rainbow roll in the color 1021.
Just one roll is enough to make a cowl long enough to wrap around twice.
It feels soft, but it has enough strength in the construction to stand up tall on its own. We love the cheerful, tropical coloring!
Below are two free knitting patterns designed specially for the Rainbow Rolls by Karen Klein:
The one on the left is simply called the "Rainbow Roll Throw," for which she picked the same color we did. She lends strength to the roving by holding two strands of it double throughout. To duplicate the orderly rainbow-like color progression as she did, begin each roll at the same place color-wise.
On the right is the "Rainbow Roll Shawl." To make it you also hold two strands double, but this time with one roll each of two different colors. Combining two different strands of Noro like this can lead to fun, unexpected results as the colors blend in and out of each other.
The one on the left is simply called the "Rainbow Roll Throw," for which she picked the same color we did. She lends strength to the roving by holding two strands of it double throughout. To duplicate the orderly rainbow-like color progression as she did, begin each roll at the same place color-wise.
On the right is the "Rainbow Roll Shawl." To make it you also hold two strands double, but this time with one roll each of two different colors. Combining two different strands of Noro like this can lead to fun, unexpected results as the colors blend in and out of each other.
Following are three beautiful new patterns from Noro's design team that feature Rainbow Rolls.
These are in the newest issue of Noro Magazine, No. 8
(And yes, we have it in stock!)
First, the Felted Entrelac Bag, by Erica Schlueter.
As mutable as an evening sky, the sunset shades of pink, violet, orange, and gray in colorway 1011 create shifting degrees of contrast throughout entrelac-knit stockinette diamonds.
The bag is worked in a single long rectangle that's folded and seamed at the sides, leaving a top flap. The shoulder strap is worked in the round for double thickness. Finally, the assembled bag is felted, giving the delicate roving fabric a robust finish.
Infinity Scarf, by Patty Nance
Worked bargello-style from three separate rolls, a generous infinity scarf isolates the striking red, indigo, and green color families of colorway 1019, creating a vivid interplay when the scarf is worn doubled.
The trio of panels is worked in the same texture pattern––garter blocks on a stockinette background––from one provisional cast-on. Garter stitch trims the outer edges. A three-needle bind-off seamlessly joins the ends.
Lastly, the Faeroese-Style Shawl by Christina Behnke.
This shawl acquires plenty of lightness and drape at a bulky gauge. Flanked by panels of garter stitch, a column of zigzag lace runs down the center back and flows into the wide lace border.
The varying patterns manipulate the stripes of cream, burgundy, blue, and turquoise in colorway 1009, which narrow as the shawl expands with eyelet increases from the garter tab. Garter stitch borders the lower edge.
If you've heard of unspun pencil roving, you may have been scared off by the idea that it is too delicate. Don't be! True, you can't be rough with it when you're working with it, and you'll want to stop and unroll a few yards at a time instead of tugging it. But once it's worked up it creates a strong, stretchy fabric, and its cloudlike, weightless warmth does provide a unique result. Enjoy!
The Stats:
Rainbow Rolls, by Noro
100% wool
Bulky gauge pencil roving
100g/295yd