More Noro

Previously, I posted about my Noro Striped Scarves and how much I really like using Noro. On the scarves, the color changes are interesting and appear even more gradual because of the alternating yarns.

I used Noro Kureyon to make my mom a Star Crossed Slouchy Beret.

The Kureyon blocked so nicely and the hat grew a lot and softened quite a bit.  I like how you can see the color changes more clearly when you knit with just the one skein.

When I decided that I wanted a bulky ear flap hat, I went into Knitting to Know Ewe in Penns Park, PA and asked what they recommended. The woman working there was so helpful and she introduced me to Noro Transitions. At the store, she told me it was discontinued so I don’t mean if that meant the colors they had or the entire line.

I ended up making short & sweet with my yarn. What’s so cool about transitions is not just the color changes but the different kinds of fiber that make up the skein. And, instead of being a blend, the actual fiber changes as you knit also. It’s a super bulky weight of wool, silk, alpaca, angora and cashmere.

That hat is so warm and so soft around the brim. I really love wearing it.

Finished Framed Cuff

I finished knitting my framed cuff over the weekend and blocked it on Monday night.  Tonight I finally had time to weave in the ends and sew on a button.

I don’t know if I love my color choices but I think I’ll find stuff to wear it with.

It was my first time doing linen stitch and I like the way the material looks and feels.

I knit the small and I think it’s a bit bigger than I’d like but I also used size 2 needles because I don’t have an 1s the pattern recommends.

Blocking a scarf for my mom

My parents visited over the weekend. Since I already have the supplies and she doesn’t, my mom brought along a finished scarf that we were going to block. That is until we decided to just sit down for a few minutes to relax and ended up falling asleep. So I blocked it yesterday and I’ll bring it along with me the next time we visit them.

My mom knit the Killington Scarf at my suggestion. I knit this earlier this year and it was my first attempt at anything with lots of yarn overs. I was pleased with my results.

The scarf comes off the needles very curled.

The blocking really brings out the pattern.

And here it is finished!

And for comparison, here it is next to my finished Killington. My scarf needs to be reblocked as it’s starting to roll from wearing it.  Also, I suspect that my yarn is thinner than the yarn my mom used on hers.  She might have even used a bigger needle size.

In the spirit of procrastination, I’m thinking of making one of these cuffs this afternoon.

Almost there

My Sunday Market Shawl is nearing completion.

Two nights ago I finished the knitting along with all the drop stitches.  Reading through the notes, I was a little nervous that the stitches wouldn’t drop easily. But not only did I knit it correctly, but it also unraveled very easily. I guess with some really fuzzy yarn, it takes a while.  It took about one OnDemand episode of How the States Got Their Shapes. (Everyone should watch this show.)

It seemed a little weird to be pulling apart my work but it really made for a loose, drapey shawl.  But it was all curly and needed blocking to show off those dropped stitches.  So that’s what I did tonight.

I am not the neatest blocker but this really doesn’t need a really strict blocking with perfectly straight edges.  It just needs to be stretched and keep the sides from curling.

Can’t wait to see the finished product!