Noro Asaginu - Linen & Paper Yarn

• Yarn Notes
• Yarn Specs
• The Brand

• Asaginu combines the finest linen from France with traditional Japanese “art paper” from the Mino area of Japan called Washi.
  
  French linen is widely known as a ‘king of linen’ for its softness, ability to create a vapor barrier (e.g. hygroscopic), and durability.
  
  This property of creating a vapor barrier so the knitted fabric does not stick to your skin when you sweat is very high in “Washi” paper as well - the Japanese call this “Shari-kan” which is the minimal contact of the fiber to the skin.
  
  The fabric created from this yarn is the perfect Summer yarn for very hot and humid climates.

  
  You'll find lots of patterns for this yarn in Noro Magazine Issue 20, AND we will email you these 6 gorgeous patterns for Asaginu when you order this amazing yarn:
  
  
  At 16-18 stitches per four inches on 4 - 4.5mm (US 6-7) needles, a 40g ball contains 140m (153 yards). 
  
  
  According to Noro, “Natural fibres have great features that humans can not mimic. I want to leave these features as much as possible in my yarns. These natural states are intentionally left by using human hands and old machinery so that natural fibers are not over processed. All of this is so knitters can feel nature more closely when knitting with Noro yarns.”
  
  For over 40 years Noro has produced the most beautiful, inimitable Organic, ecologically responsible, hand-dyed and hand-spun yarns. We encourage you to read more about Noro under "The Brand" tab above.
  
  Per Noro - this yarn should be steam blocked or dry-cleaned only. We have wet blocked our samples of this yarn and they are totally fine. Wet blocking will inmprove drape and make the yarn a little softer. Noro have told us that they advise dry cleaning in case there is strinkage further down the line, but we have not found this to be the case.
  
  

• Ingredients: 69% Linen, 30% Japanese art paper, 1% Polyamide

  Length: 140m (153yds)

  Weight: 40g

  Gauge: Light Worsted 16 - 18 sts per 4" / 10cm on 4 - 4.5mm (US 6-7) needles NB: Per Noro - this yarn should be steam blocked or dry-cleaned only. We have wet blocked our samples of this yarn and they are totally fine. Wet blocking will inmprove drape and make the yarn a little softer. Noro have told us that they advise dry cleaning in case there is strinkage further down the line, but we have not found this to be the case.

• "I have come to believe that these yarns are as close to art as we have in the industry. The man behind them is an artist himself, and these yarns are an expression of his spirit rather than just a commercial product." Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton

  
  
  The World of Nature

  In recent years, the yarn industry has been actively promoting awareness of ecological sustainability, but this concept has been part of the Noro philosophy from the very beginning. The preservation of nature is such an important concept of his business that Mr Noro leaves nothing to chance, personally overseeing every aspect of production from sheep to yarn ball, including all machinery, labelling, yarn bags, boxes and even the garbage that the company produces.

  All the animal fibres used in Noro yarns are Organic. Most of the wool comes from a special breed of sheep called Polwarth, raised especially for Noro on a non-mulesing farm in Australia. Other fibres from the Falkland Islands and South Africa, from Organic Farms.

  
  The Production Process

  "Friction, rubbing and heat during processing weaken the fibres in direct proportion to the length of time they are processed. By dramatically shortening this process, we are preventing damage to the enzymes in the fibres and simultaneously profiting the environment." Mr Eisaku Noro

  Environmental considerations are at the forefront of the dyeing process, with each step being carefully controlled. The natural fibres are dyed using a pH balance that is compatible with the fibres.
  
  Noro's modifications to the blowing, carding and spinning processes reap a total energy savings of 46% as compared to typical yarn industry standards.
  
  The unique manufacturing process that results in the exceptional colourways and textures have always been closely guarded secret in Japan.
  
  

  Brand Concept

• Harmonise natural unevenness, asymmetric pattern and complex colour to portray the beauty of the nature.
• Taking sufficient time to dye yarn
• Tenderness of materials to preserve their original characters and deliver them into the hands of the crafter
• “BE FREE FROM EXISTING CONCEPTS AND LIMITATIONS”
• “PURSUE THE IMAGE IN OUR MINDS”
  
  

Noro yarns have longer spans of colour in the runs than many other yarns, causing distinctive striping patterns, as well as being spun by hand versus being produced completely by machines.

There have been plenty of attempts to imitate the magic of Noro, but in the world of self-striping yarn, nothing compares with Noro.