Yummy new yarn haul and assorted WIPs

This week I got a lovely shipment of yarn sent all the way from the UK, containing a variety of Scheepjes as well as Noro yarn that I had wanted to try out for a long time. Noro is a Japanese yarn brand that’s known for its quality fiber content that has beautiful, rustic textures, as well as fanciful colorways.

PHOTOS: Some of my recent yarn delivery: Scheepjes Wanderlust in color #455 Zanzibar, saved for a shawl. Noro Shinryoku, wool/silk blend yarn in color 7 Kobayashi. Last pic shows one of my favorite stitch markers.

I started a simple triangular shawl with the Noro, and so far it is quick going. This Shinryoku yarn is a “chonky” single-ply Aran weight that has a slightly tweedy, heathered look with all its gorgeous colors. It does stripe, but subtly. I have three skeins so I should be able to have a decent-sized shawl with some yummy tassels at each corner. I’m using a 6mm hook for this one.

I might make another Amsterdam shawl with the Wanderlust yarn – let’s see.

I’ve also started digging into that pile of linen and cotton fabric that I’d planned to use for table runners. I have a sweet, basic sewing machine that I’m still not very good at using – hopefully in time I can improve my skills there, and upgrade my machine. Meantime, I do simple things to practice.