Posted on August 20, 2008 in Knitting & Crafting
I found one odd skein of Araucania Nature Wool Chunky on sale at the LYS, and instead of using it to make one project, I wanted to maximize my project possibilities by getting two neckwarmers from one skein.
Quick, easy, and good excuse to use a cool wood toggle button. I cast on 17 sts. since my yarn less than super bulky. I knit for 22″ and then blocked it severely because it curls quite a bit.
Not So Cashmere Neckwarmer, started August 17th 2008, finished August 18th, 2008 
Pattern: Cashmere Neckwarmer by Kim K.
Size: 5″ (13cm) x 25″ (64cm) blocked
Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool Chunky 100g 131 yards/120 m #115 – less than 1 skein
Needles: 7.0mm
Tools/Notions: 2″ wood toggle button
Cost of Project: $6 yarn + $2 button = $8
Would I knit it again? Yes, but I’d slip the knit stitches and/or find another to make it so it wouldn’t be that curly. I also would love to use it in the intended bulky cashmere.
This is quite the popular neckwarmer pattern, and I can see it why. The chunky yarn makes it go by fast, and the feather and fan stitch is very attractive. Definitely a good stashbuster and gift knit. I am going to give this one to a friend.
Luxe Neckwarmer, started August 18th 2008, finished August 19th 2008
Pattern: Luxe Neck Warmer by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark from Knit 2 Together
Made for: Nathalie
Size: 4.75″ (12 cm) height
Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool Chunky 100g 131 yards/120 m #115 – less than 1 skein
Needles: US9/5.5mm
Cost of Project: $6
Would I knit it again? Yep.
Posted on August 20, 2008 in Books
My third Hardy book which makes him my most read Victorian author I think. It’s not that I love him, but I keep being drawn to his books and not finding him irritating to read. I had heard good things about this one in particular. Nothing could be as tragic and as sad as Jude the Obscure. I liked Gabriel the character very much in this book. I thought there a few genuinely funny and romantic scenes in this novel. Bathsheba is naive young woman though; however beautiful and spirited she may be. For a woman who is independent and self-confident, she has no way of dealing with men. She always leads them on and it’s sad to watch her get entangled as is often the theme with the relationships and women in Hardy’s novels. I haven’t read Tess yet, but this is definitely my favourite Hardy novel of the three I have read so far. Having read both this, his first novel, and his last novel (Jude), I can appreciate Hardy’s progression as an author.