Getting Projects Done...
Well, I haven't fulfilled my sock itch yet, but I did buy some lovely orange Koigu yarn that is destined to become biking socks! For some reason, I feel a little reluctant to actually cast on. I always feel a little intimidated casting on for a new project - especially with yarn as thin as this. It's like part of me already senses the hours of work ahead of me and balks a little. So, for now, I've mostly been squishing the yarn and appreciating it in cake form.
I did promise myself that before casting on for socks I had to finish one of my other works in progress. I kept to my word and finished my 2nd Hurry-Up-Spring Armwarmer, to go with the first one that I made a year ago!
I guess my knitting has improved because the 2nd one felt much easier to knit and I didn't mess up on the placement of the thumb like I did the first. However, I realized halfway through that I must have been using a larger needle size than I did on my first armwarmer (either that or my hands have learned to relax considerably) because the stitches looked much bigger. But I wasn't willing to rip back so I plunged ahead and finished the thing anyway. Now, seeing them side by side, I can see that they are, indeed, two different sizes. Fortunately, it's not as noticeable when I'm actually wearing them. It's just that one feels a little more snug than the other.
Anyway, I'm just glad they're done with.
I have to say that Noro is now one of my favorite yarns... at first I deemed it to be too scratchy and rough, but it really does soften up when knit, and when I wore my armwarmers around one day they felt cozy and warm and not scratchy at all. And the colors are just lovely. I'm already wondering what my next Noro project might be...
I also finished a quickie project the other night - a neck-warmer. My friend Feaver sent me a link online to a shop that sold neckwarmers and commented on how it'd be cool to learn to make one. I agreed, and decided to try one out. It's basically just a really short scarf, so it flew off my needles.
Speaking of needles, I actually started this project as an excuse to try out my new Lantern Moon rosewood needles that my friend Cecily got for me! They are the most amazing knitting needles I have worked with. I thought I was happy with bamboo... until now! Thanks, Cecily!!
Anyway, I digress. Here's my finished neckwarmer which I made using Bernat Alpaca Natural Blends Yarn:
I love Alpaca yarn and was excited to see a "cheapie" yarn with Alpaca fiber at my local Michaels. But even though it feels soft to the touch, it's incredibly itchy against my neck...
Itchy or not, I love the idea of this cozy little neckwarmer, so I'm already planning to make another. This time in orange, and in a much softer yarn: Cascade Yarns Baby Alpaca Chunky. Yum!
I'll let you know how it turns out!
I guess my knitting has improved because the 2nd one felt much easier to knit and I didn't mess up on the placement of the thumb like I did the first. However, I realized halfway through that I must have been using a larger needle size than I did on my first armwarmer (either that or my hands have learned to relax considerably) because the stitches looked much bigger. But I wasn't willing to rip back so I plunged ahead and finished the thing anyway. Now, seeing them side by side, I can see that they are, indeed, two different sizes. Fortunately, it's not as noticeable when I'm actually wearing them. It's just that one feels a little more snug than the other.
Anyway, I'm just glad they're done with.
I also finished a quickie project the other night - a neck-warmer. My friend Feaver sent me a link online to a shop that sold neckwarmers and commented on how it'd be cool to learn to make one. I agreed, and decided to try one out. It's basically just a really short scarf, so it flew off my needles.
Speaking of needles, I actually started this project as an excuse to try out my new Lantern Moon rosewood needles that my friend Cecily got for me! They are the most amazing knitting needles I have worked with. I thought I was happy with bamboo... until now! Thanks, Cecily!!
Anyway, I digress. Here's my finished neckwarmer which I made using Bernat Alpaca Natural Blends Yarn:
I love Alpaca yarn and was excited to see a "cheapie" yarn with Alpaca fiber at my local Michaels. But even though it feels soft to the touch, it's incredibly itchy against my neck...
