September 15, 2006
Hills and Valley's
Doesn't the start of this afghan look like a weird sci-fi landscape? I think that I would love to live in a place where there were hills and valley's that were this brightly colored. A land filled with Noro yarn...mmmm, sounds like a wonderful place. As you can see, I finished one sqaure and immediately bound off and picked up stitches for the second square! I just wanted to see what the next color looked like. This could pose a problem for the eleventy-million other things that I need to knit on, but it's just such a compelling project. I don't know if it's the yarn, or the short rows, or the colors...I just love it all! Caryn is setting up the blog and she thinks that she'll have it done by Sunday! Whoo-hoo! Keep leaving comments, or emailing me if you want to join our knitalong...we've officially named it the "Leapin' Lizards! Knitalong". This really is going to be so much fun!
I've decided to knit mine in long strips. I'll bind off one sqaure and then pick up and knit the next square in the row. It still looks "seamed" or "pieced", but it really cuts down on the seaming in the end. Less finishing = a much happier Stacey!
Here are the colors of Noro that I have so far. I have 4 of some of these colors, but I only stuck two of each in the picture. Here are the color numbers, starting at the bottom left side and going clockwise:
•148: A new color this season...it's a dark purple/pink/black/olive
•39: Old, old color that I picked up on a trip to L.A.
•95: This is one of my favorite Noro colorways. I have a ton of this color because of the as-yet-unfinished Shrug. (remember the Olympics)
•130: Another favorite because, hello! It's all pink and orange!
•166: All blues, purples, and greens. Cynthia, this one has your name on it!
•126: Another bright multi-colored Noro. This one has just about every color of the rainbow in it and was sent to me by Kay. I've been looking for the perfect project for it. How appropriate and fitting that it's going to be knit into an afghan!
•156: This will forever be Michelle's color...it's all brownand blue/green!
•102: All bright orange/red/pink with a little bit of blue thrown in.
You just sealed my fate with this afghan. I've been succesfully stopping myself from casting on so far, but that's over now. I'll be casting on tonight. I think I will have to join your KAL too. See you at Rhinebeck!
Posted by: Bethe at September 15, 2006 12:44 PMAnd I thought I was bad! LOL...look at all that yumminess! :)
Posted by: AJ at September 15, 2006 12:50 PMOK Ms. Evil. I am sitting around grieving in my puppy's couch and figured I needed some distracting. Maybe a little lizard ridge and while my state of mind sucked so I didn't get much done -- I have cast on. Do you think there is an advantage to casting off and picking up? I was thinking after seeing the first picture why not just leave the stitches live?
Posted by: jasmine at September 15, 2006 01:03 PMHAHA! I KNEW you were going to continue with it hehehe
I'm wondering what an all the same colourway blanket would look like!
I see the pink flamingo bags must have come in at Colorful ;)
It looks great so far--I have 11 balls of Noro but I'd need 10 more for the blanket, so I'm on the fence about doing it or not. I was thinking I could knit up the 11 I have and pick up the others gradually as I see colors I like--would that be allowed for the KAL?
Posted by: Kim at September 15, 2006 01:14 PMBeautiful colors! I do want to knit this and love that the price really isn't a factor since you can pick up a ball or two as you can afford it.
But, doesn't this mean you have 2 afghans on the needles now?
Posted by: turtlegirl76 at September 15, 2006 01:27 PMNow, I'm thinking this is a good project for handspun yarns...but I always think that!
Wish I could join in but it just won't work!!
Posted by: Wendy at September 15, 2006 01:43 PMYou are cruising along!! It is growing more and more on me. Not enough to buy the yarn yet. I love the pink flamingo bag, must have one!!
Posted by: Jeni at September 15, 2006 02:24 PMAgggh! You're not supposed to start before the KAL - you'll be done by the time we get started! Naughty knitter! ;)
I'm knitting my butt off on the blanket I have on the needles right now so I can finish it & start Lizard Ridge. I agree with your bind off and pick up technique - it only makes sense to do it that way.
Posted by: stephanie at September 15, 2006 02:29 PMyou're a pusher. didn't you SEE the entire cubby of noro that I haven't knit yet? (but I surely do like that colorway... dang it!)
Posted by: cyn at September 15, 2006 03:21 PMI can't wait to get my yarn!!! I got an email today from the other place (not webs) and they had sold out of one of the colors I ordered but I got one of it and three of your mom's favorite. It'll work. I'm still eyeballing that 148. I'm pretty sure it's not on the list of ones I got but I may have to get some from Colorful (if you didn't buy it all) just in case. ;)
Posted by: Michelle at September 15, 2006 03:38 PMok, ok, I broke down and bought two skeins of a great kureyon colorway, am going to print out the pattern and CO for a square. I will be doing squares at a leisurely pace, but definitely count me in for the KAL!!!!
Posted by: Allegra at September 15, 2006 04:03 PMI do like that afghan. I may do it, but not sign up for the along. I may just pick up skeins of Noro randomly or here and there and add more to the afghan that way. i don't want to spring for all that Noro at once.
Posted by: Wanda at September 15, 2006 04:10 PMI love your description of brightly coloured hills and valleys made of Noro, yummo!!
Thanks for sharing the colours with us too, this KAL is going to be a lot of fun.
Posted by: Sharon at September 15, 2006 05:35 PMI've already started mine, too! I'm starting with the 148 and I think I'll follow your suggestion of the long strips. I never even thought of that! I'm joining the KAL1
Posted by: Lori at September 16, 2006 12:30 AMYour afghan is coming along beautifully! I'm having fun watching your progress.
Posted by: Joanne at September 18, 2006 06:44 AMThe colors are wonderful!! I'm glad you joined the Grey's KAL!!
Posted by: Melissa at September 18, 2006 10:26 AMGreat idea on doing it in strips! Never thought of that! Another reason to love blogs.
I've got 3 done and waiting on a Webs order. How many squares are you getting out of a skein, and what needle size are you using?
Posted by: Lola at September 19, 2006 07:15 AMThis looks similar to the boobie scarf that was in the Knitty breast cancer edition awhile back. I tried knitting that and kept having to frog due to holes around the short rows -- do you have any tips for avoiding those?