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.
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.
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?
You know the best part? I have another bag of the Corriedale waiting to be spun up. :)
ahhhh…first yarn! Mine wasn’t that long ago and it is SOOOO addicting!!!
I am thinking that my first handspun is going to be something felted just because it is lumpy and bumpy and then I can say, hey, I made that. all of it. no really. I spun the yarn and all! I am thinking it will be a bag of some sorts - small, yes, but who cares - its your FIRST YARN! (make sure you keep some though so you can look back and see how far you have come!)
Very, very nice. Welcome to the spinning world.
Oooh. You’ve been happily busy I see. I’d keep this first yarn in a shadowbox. It’s a treasure, just like a baby’s first booties.
That bokeh flower picture is awesome!
And YAY on the spinning.
Did you get to listen to the Sticks & String podcast where I talked about you?
I am also dreading the beginning of the semester but I unlike you I don’t have an end point like you since it’s my job!:) Enjoy your last week.
Hooray for handspun! I think pretty much every spinner’s first yarn is lumpy and uneven, but that’s what is so beautiful about it.
Congrats on your handspun! And very cool that you managed to align your work/thesis research - that should simplify life quite a bit.
Oooh, that handspun is lovely! What about wristwarmer/watchband type thing? Trim on a hat for a small person? And, good for you as far as work/thesis…I did a research thesis, on a teaching assistantship-they worked us hard! So often the thesis work took a backseat to students and classes.
Very very nice! Hmm…if you were a girl, I’d say headband but I don’t have boy suggestions. Could you use it as a band for a hat?
Nice! Have you seen the amulet bag pattern from magknits?
http://www.magknits.com/Nov05/amulet.htm
It is written for fingering weight, but should work for any gauge and should be easy to mod for size/amt of yarn.
I made a wrist warmer out of my first skein, and that was only 1 oz and I’m really happy with it. You could definately attempt a hat out of it. Other suggestions are a pot holder, gloves/mittens, fingerless mits, tea cozy, or any other small project that can acocomodate thick-thin yarn.
You seem very optimistic about the new work load. Good luck. I can confidently predict that virtually no knitting will occur next semester when you are actually writing your thesis. Ask me how I know.
As for the lovely handspun, I would say a potholder if you would like to felt it. Otherwise, perhaps knit up a square or rectangle and then sew it to a pillow so you can lay on it, touch it, and generally enjoy it every day.
your handspun is lovely. adrian has the greatest eye for color and you made her roving even lovelier by spinning it. i like the variety of widths. it gives it character. i like both the shadow box idea and the pillow embellishment idea. you definitely want to make something that you can have around forever. maybe knit into a little minature sock or mitten and then frame it. just a thought.
Love Haley’s idea of framing a little something.
I make little garter stitch scarves out of my small, lumpy handspun. Just posted on on the blog and added to ravelry. Size 15 needles and 7-9 cast on stitches.
Yeah yeah yeah! handspun… :-)
Just saw on Sheri’s blog that you are selling on the Loopy Ewe. How awesome is that???? Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats on The Loopy Ewe! How exciting!
Yarn Nerd at The Loopy Ewe! So excited for you!
Wow! I found your site via Ravelry. AMAZING! YOU are just great…and so talented….wow!