Archive for August, 2007

He’s Got Legs…(You Know the Rest) 24Aug07

Ok, we have a lot of ground to cover today people, so grab some coffee and hunker down. This could take hours. You know, metaphorically speaking. And you know how we roll when there’s lots to cover at Adam Knits…bullets!

  • from the "oh my goodness, what have I gotten myself into" department:

    You may have seen this little announcement, already, but if not, this is news to you. I’m proud to announce that Yarn Nerd is the newest indie dyer at The Loopy Ewe! So now all you crazy Loopy Ewe fans can get your Yarn Nerd fix, along with all the other great yarns and stuff that Sheri stocks. I’m really excited about this, and am looking forward to breaking into the wholesale market. And if the response I’ve gotten so far is any indication, I think this will be the beginning of a great thing. I’ve admired Sheri’s shop for a while, and I e-mailed her to see if she was interested in Yarn Nerd, and got an emphatic yes. I’m hoping to have the order finished in a week or two, so you should be able to grab some soon.

    There are a few ramifications (hehe, I love that word) for the Yarn Nerd shop, mostly since I do need to sleep occasionally. At least for the next few months, all 900 MHz Merino will be dyed up for The Loopy Ewe, so if you’re looking for it at my shop and can’t find it, that’s the reason. I am planning to bring back some of my other yarns though, which means that I should have 1500 MHz Merino in stock by mid-September. I’ve had a lot of requests for this one, and it’s one of my personal favorites, so I’m excited to be bringing it back. It’ll be available in your favorite colorways, or as a custom creation with Create Your Skein. Plus, to satiate all you spinners (including me!), there will be a lot more roving being thrown about in my dye kitchen, so keep your eyes out for that.

  • from the "spindles are fun! I don’t need a spinning wheel, really! so stop tempting me!" department:

    I spun up the last of my roving stash (don’t worry, I promptly bought more…), and I’m definitely getting better at the spindle. I’m starting to actually draft while the spindle is spinning, rather than stopping, pinching, moving my hands up, etc. I think this lovely 2 ply speaks for itself :)

    granita swirl
    Hello Yarn Corriedale in the Granita Colorway. Isn’t it lovely?

    I also received my newest fiber purchase yesterday, a lovely BFL top from Flawful Fibers, in the Safari colorway. This picture, although terribly cute, doesn’t really show off how lovely and subtle this roving is. I can’t wait to spin it, but I’m also worried that I won’t be able to do it justice. But my desire to spin it outweighs my worry of flubbing it up, so I press onward. Yarn Ho!

    Dallas, did you braid your hair?
    "do these braids make me look fat?"
  • from the "I wish I could show you my sexy biker calves, but that might be a skosh inappropriate" department:

    It’s been a while since I’ve updated you on the biking, but I’m still going strong. I’m averaging around 4 days a week, and occasionally getting a weekend ride in as well. The benefits are many: hot legs, less gas tank fillups and a bunch more energy. And coupled with the fact that the Albuquerque bus is now free for UNM students, I can ride down to the park & ride a few miles from my house and take the bus to campus on school days. In fact, I’m loving the bike so much, I went and put a new one on layaway. There were some killer end of season deals, and the store happened to have one model of the bike I wanted in my size left, so I jumped on it. Hopefully I can pay it off by the end of September and start riding it! It’s a svelte 24ish pounds, compared to 40 something for my brother’s bike (that I’ve been riding), so I should be a speed demon on the new bike. Watch out ABQ, here comes Adam with his hot legs! (I wonder how many times I can say hot legs in a blog post…)

  • finally, from the "yes I do still knit, I’m just very lazy about taking pictures of the knitting these days" department:

    Here’s some socks that I finished while on vacation, and I figured it was about time to give them the spotlight. I really love these socks, since they have all my favorite colors (you should see my closet, it’s a red and black explosion). I went for the no frills method, with a short row heel and a simple pattern, but I think they’re awesome. They definitely make me feel like a rockstar. And they match my red shoes. Oh yeah.

    there's no place like home
    "there’s no place like home" eye candy
  • Pattern: Basketweave (6 stitch) from More Sensational Knitted Socks.
  • Yarn: Yarn Nerd 900 MHz Merino in Love and Peace or Else
  • Needles / Gauge: 8 stitches / in on US #1’s. Knitted Magic Loop style.
  • Construction: K1, P1 ribbing, then patterned over the leg, short row heel and round toe. Easy Peasy!
  • Completion Time: 3 weeks (July 22 - August 10)
"at least we're not wearing them this time..."

Ok, I think that’s enough bullet action for now. Have a good weekend everyone! I’ll be up to my eyeballs in yarn and dye, it should be fun!

Time Flies 18Aug07

When you’re having fun right? Not that I would say this week has been as fun as last week’s vacation, but I have been trying to relax a bit, since it’s the last week of summer. School starts next Tuesday, and while I’m anticipating that it will be more of a laid back semester, I’m still not super excited about the return of backpacks and school books. I’m entering the home stretch though, since the beginning of this semester marks the halfway point towards my Masters, provided I graduate this Spring like I’m planning to.

sunset flowers
pictures unrelated to topic provided by an evening trip to the ABQ Foothills. Because blog posts w/o pictures are boring.

I’ve been doing some preliminary research for my thesis over the summer, and with the advent of fall, the pace of research and study should pick up a bit more, as my April review deadline looms closer. I have lucked out though, since I’ve been able to perform the elusive task of aligning my work research and thesis research, meaning that I will be able to kill two birds with one stone. That, and only having one class each semester this year should mean that my semesters are more in depth work and less running back and forth doing tons of homework. I’m looking forward to the shift.

sunset in the foothills

Most of the week has been made up of work, but I’ve also gotten in a bit of dyeing (check out the shop, there’s roving up!) and planned some super secret Yarn Nerd things. I can’t say anything yet, but I’m super excited about what’s going on in Yarn Nerd land these days.

I’ve also managed to get in some personal fiber activities, including some knitting and spinning. I’ve been working away on the Gentleman’s Lozenge Socks with Anne’s hand-spun, in an attempt to force myself to finish some lingering projects before casting on with all my new Seattle yarn. I have so many winter knitting plans in the works, but I know that if I start now, these socks won’t ever get finished, so I’m pushing for that first. With much yarn, comes great responsibility.

I also am very proud to introduce to you my first skein of handspun yarn! I just finished plying it together, and couldn’t wait to snap some pictures. It’s lumpy and uneven and all twisty in some places, but I couldn’t love it any more. It’s such a satisfying feeling, to know that you made yarn with your own hands. I’m definitely hooked, and it’s all your fault Adrian! The top I used is hand-dyed Corriedale Wool, dyed by Adrian of Hello Yarn, in the Granita colorway. There’s 4 oz of it, and I have absolutely no idea how much WPI or yardage or any of that, but I’m estimating about 40 yards. Anyone have any suggestions for a tiny handspun project?

hand-spun yarn + hand-made needles = :)
all skeined up with nowhere to go.

You know the best part? I have another bag of the Corriedale waiting to be spun up. :)

Ah, Dry Heat, I Love You. 11Aug07

So I’ve been home since yesterday morning, just spending the time unpacking, dyeing up and shipping Yarn Nerd orders (thanks guys!) and hugging the dogs. Both Dallas and Emma are super happy that I’m home, and keep following me around like I might leave them again at any second. Needless to say, I’m glad to see them too, I missed waking up to Dallas’ big wet tongue every morning (well, maybe not the tongue so much), and coming home to Emma’s howling chorus every afternoon.

I don’t have too much to say now, except that I had a great time. Can you tell?

going down
sinking sand
something smells fishy.
puget sound

It was a really great trip, and most of the week after the wedding was spent just hanging out, walking around and drinking ridiculous amounts of coffee. My friend Holly kept telling me my heart would explode from all the caffeine ;) Oh and buying yarn too. I actually ended up shipping my yarn back to myself, since it would have been a stretch to cram into my suitcase, and I really didn’t want it smelling like dirty clothes when I got home. I just got the box a few hours ago and am super excited to dive into the stuff. Want to see?

the yarn haul
  • Austermann Step → I loved using this stuff for my Broad Spiral Ribbed Socks, and this color called my name
  • Trekking → Who can resist the Trekking? This stuff is destined to become some fancy evening socks, since I’m tired of wearing lame black socks to formal events.
  • Rowan Calmer → For a Shedir hat. My head will be happy this winter.
  • Hemp for Knitting → I’m doing a soap/yarn swap with Knitting Philistine, and figured a hemp washcloth would go with my soon to be here soaps perfectly.
  • Blue Sky Alpaca’s Dyed Cotton → This stuff is the softest cotton I’ve ever felt. I know exactly what I’m making, but it’s a secret! ;)

I also scored some Yarn Pirate Knitting Needles (thanks Georgia, I love them!), along with a mini-soap from Knitting Philistine/Good Soap Works of Athens that Georgia had leftover from last month’s Yarn Pirate Booty Club. (I packed that w/ the yarn, and now the yarn smells so nice, ah….)

I certainly got spoiled, and spoiled myself in Seattle, eh? It’s not too often that I get such a great vacation, so I just had to take advantage. ;)

I also got to spoil my friend Holly, with a moving away present that I’ve been sitting on for quite a while. You may have seen the finished pictures of this hat back in July on my Flickr page, and now I’m happy to show off pictures of it being worn by it’s happy recipient. (Can you tell that she likes pirates?) Not bad for a first stranded project ever huh? I think it’s pretty swank myself. Hope it keeps your head warm this winter Holly, it’s gonna be cold up there in Seattle!

rockstar pirate oh my!

I’m gonna go have an Arrested Development marathon now and see if I and finish up a pair of socks that’s been languishing on the needles for a bit. I finished one pair in Seattle and am hoping to get this one cranked out before casting on some new stuff. I’ll let you know how that goes…

Caffeination Nation 07Aug07

Ah, nothing like a good vacation! Especially when it’s filled with lots of relaxation, friends, knitting and tasty coffee. I may not even come back. Anyone know of any engineering jobs up here? ;) (Don’t worry Mom, I’ll come back for Emma and Dallas!)

The wedding was really beautiful, as it was right outside near the shore of the Puget Sound. Nothing like a beautiful lodge, a dynamite view and a nice sea breeze for a great wedding. Oh, and waking up to this nearby view helps too. ;)

a room w/ a view

The flowers at the wedding lodge didn’t hurt either.

WA has so many flowers!

I’m also getting quite my caffeine fill these days too. Nothing like some perfectly extracted espresso and smooth microfoamed milk to start out the morning with. Or an hour after morning. Or an hour before lunch. Or after lunch. Or…ok, I think you get the picture.

caffeination nation

Then I met up with Georgia and Sarah for an afternoon yarn crawl. Those gals sure know how to get a guy to buy lots of yarn! They were both super fun, and I’m so glad to finally meet them! Sarah took a picture of Georgia and I, and it wasn’t until later I realized that we never got a picture of her! Sorry Sarah!

arrr, it's yarn pirate!

We hit up both Hilltop Yarns (the clerk had a blog and was super nice, but I don’t remember her blog name! trash!) and Fiber Gallery (where we saw Jessica who works there!) I’ve never met anyone I’ve only known online before, so 2 people in one day was lots of fun! Thanks so much to both Georgia and Sarah, I had a really awesome time, and got some awesome yarns.

I’m looking forward to the rest of the week, hanging out with my awesome friend Holly and just relaxing. Check out the view from her apartment’s roof!

look, tall buildings!

It’s gonna be awesome. ;)

Adios Amigos! 03Aug07

Whew, it’s vacation time! I’m sitting here in the airport, waiting to hop on that jet plane and fly off into the Seattle sunset. I can’t wait! I’ll be attending a wedding near Bremerton this weekend, and then spending next week bumming around Seattle. The extent of my plans include meeting some groovy knit bloggers, drinking ridiculous amounts of coffee, and knitting until my fingers fall off. It’s going to be magnificent.

all packed FUTAB
sorry Mom, it’s another feet picture!

And I’m super glad this week is over, since it’s been a doozy. Between work, new dog schedules and packing up Yarn Nerd orders (thanks guys!), I’ve been swamped. Definitely ready for a nice vacation. I also took up a new hobby this week…one that I think I’m already addicted to. Thanks to Adrian for being my enabler!

beginner's luck
I <3 Spinning.

I think that will suffice for eye candy, even if it is a bit slubby. ;)

Have a great week everyone, I know I will! Even if my fingers do fall off.