The one thing that I am hoping to learn is how to make the edges look more finished. 

I think you can see the edge a little bit better on this one:

My edges are just not clean, so to speak. 

These look amazing, Becca! Love the change in colors! (I am clearly not expert enough to comment on edge neatness at this point, lol).

LOL, thanks sweetie!  The yarn comes that way in the skein.  I will try and find my little paper cover from it and let you know what it is.  : )

Wow! Even the first one? I thought you were changing yarns mid-way through!

Yep, both are yarns that have multiple colors intertwined.  They have a lot of them at both Michael's and AC Moore. 

Not sure what you mean by making the "edges look more finished".  Looks great to me!