Jeez, is 2007 over already? I was just getting used to writing ‘07 on the checks, now I have to switch? It’s very easy to get stuck in the mundane while(1) loop of life, circling around and around, performing the same tasks for every daily iteration. That’s why I appreciate the yearly reminder to hit “Break” in the debugger, and back out a little bit, to make sure that the loop is moving somewhere, instead of just incrementing variables idly.
Oh sorry, I seem to have slipped into code speak for a moment there, I’ll try to switch back to English…
What I was trying to say was that it’s nice to take the opportunity to reflect on 2007, and look forward to what’s coming up in 2008. There are many things that happened in my life in 2007 that were noteworthy, especially in the world of knitting.
Last February, I took my side hobby of dyeing yarn and turned it into Yarn Nerd, which has been more successful than I would have ever imagined! Thanks so much to everyone who has bought my yarn and encouraged me along the way, it’s been a blast. Going from dyeing a few skeins a month to dyeing 150+ has been an adventure, and I’ve loved every minute of it. I have a lot planned for 2008 as well, including new base yarns and colors, so it should be another great year for yarn nerds everywhere.
As far as knitting goes, I had a very good year, with a respectable amount of finished projects that I’m very proud of. The final total was 6.5 pairs of socks, 11 hats, 1 sweater, 1 shawl (not THE shawl, but a smaller one), and a kitschy Christmas tree. Not a massive amount of things, but I also dyed a lot of yarn, worked close to full time and took 2 full semesters, so I’m proud of my little knitting pile.
For 2008 I have some ostentatious plans, and a new obsession with stranded mittens. I haven’t knit any mittens to date, but for some reason, there’s about 5-6 mitten designs that I want to knit these days. I made a little montage of some planned 2008 knits, and went, “oh my, there’s so many mittens!”, and I’m quite alright with that :)
I also got some great books from my brother for Christmas, and they’ve provided me a lot of inspiration for some planned sweaters. He got me both The Knitting (Man)ual and Knitting for Him, which I would highly recommend to anyone looking for classic men’s patterns. These two are on the top of my sweater list:
As far as projects that followed me into 2008, there’s only one, which I have affectionately termed as The Death Star. That’s right, the Garden Shawl is still uncompleted. My Mom was gracious enough to let me off the hook for trying to finish it by Christmas, but I’ll be darned if I let another year go by without finishing this baby. I’m determined to finish it at some point, and I’m really close to finishing the body, but the edging is supposed to be quite the beast. I’ve toyed with doing a simpler border, but I think at this point, I’ve put so much time and effort into the shawl, that it deserves the full edging, no matter how hairy.
The one other significant happening in 2007 was my transformation into a crazy biking nut. You might remember the running pledge at the beginning of 2007, where I pledged to run 100 miles by April 1. That didn’t quite happen, but I did manage to muster up the courage to start riding my bike to work over the summer. I really had no idea I would finally discover a form of exercise I could get behind, that would also allow me to save money and the environment. 6 months later and I’m still loving it…enough to ride to work when it’s below 30 outside! (Which is actually a lot of fun in my opinion, especially if it’s raining a bit. I never said I was normal.)
So that’s my 2007 recap. I think 2008 will be a great year, especially since I’m anticipating completion of my Masters. I just have to get cracking on this darn thesis. Maybe my huge knitting list will be motivation, since I’ll have loads of knitting time once I no longer have to write crazy simulations and study for tests.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go turn these lovelies into some mittens. Happy New Year!
Happy new years! You really mananged to knit a lot of awesome stuff last year.
Also, you inspired me to finally sit down and learn to knit. My very first project was the yarn harlots unoriginal hat, and I am now madly in love with cables.
Good luck on the thesis! And, heres to 2008 being totally awesome.
Wow you had a good knitting year! Lots of nice stuff! I especially like the socks and mittens :)
happy new year buddy.
by the way, i totally like your version of the kitschmas tree the best. shhh don’t tell anyone.
OOh pretty! That’ll make some gorgeous mittens.
You did have a great year! 150+ skeins a month? Holy crap! Congratulations!
Happy New Year! Good luck on that thesis. Yummy colors….can’t wait to see it knit into mittens.
Wow you got all that done while also working full time? I am quite impressed! When did you sleep?!?
Oh No - the dreaded thesis! I think comps were worse for me. I look back now and wonder how I did it all in the first place. Best wishes for 2008 and lots of yummy knitting!
I’ll be wishing you well on your thesis as I start my dissertation this year! They say that the mountain gets smaller with every step. If only I knew where to begin…
Congrats on accomplishing so much on the knitting/yarn front in ‘07, and best wishes for 2008!
Those colors are great! I can’t wait to see which pair of mittens they become.
Nice knitting! And nice planned knitting too ;-) I think you’ll love the mittens - I always think those are so much fun to do. You know like a perfect project to try out new and exiting things with.
Have fun!
Happy New Year! One week down…only 51 more to go!
I, too, hope to finish my Master’s this year! I don’t have a thesis to write, but I do have an internship and portfolio to do. (I think I have the better deal-I hate writing papers!)
Good luck with all the planned knitting and looking forward to see more YarnNerd creations!
Happy New Year to you! And congratulations on a very successful and (extremely) productive 2007!
Feliz Nuevo Año! Lots of great knits last year- much more impressive than mine! Stranded mittens would be great, I’m off to go Ravelry for a bit and get some ideas.
Looks like it’ll be another great year for you!
Rock on…
hey Adam,
It has been too long, give me a call when you get a second so we can catch up…
Happy New Year. 2007 was quite a year, and it sounds like 2008 is already queued up to be just as great!
That’s a pretty great year! Congratulations, happy new year, welcome!
Happy New Year Adam! Great projects you’ve finished this past year. Can’t wait to see what you knit this year (I believe I spy Matt’s cobblestone in there.) BTW - I finished a pair of Firestarter socks with your yarn. Love it! Thanks again!
What wonderful knitting! I can tell two things from this post: a) you’re very diligent to accomplish so much while studying and working and all; and b) you’re very YOUNG, arent’ you? I had to take a nap after READING about all that! You are an inspiration, though - KNIT ON!
PS - what’s your degree in?
So we are now calling my beautiful shawl the “Death Star”???? Surely you could come up with a better moniker for such a lovely masterpiece! With a name like that I will feel badly every time I wear the shawl…I will envision you slaving away with great anguish, so I could have such a wonderful and cherished gift! You really must rename the shawl so I can wear it without such guilt!!! Way to go on a great 2007, your numerous knitting projects put my knitting accomplishments to shame. I did manage to squeak out a few scarfs as Christmas closed in, but over all I did not knit as much as I would have liked. Here’s to a great knitting 08!!
Love Mom
mmmmm mittens!
Lots of great knits you got done last year! And how in the heck do you have the energy or TIME to bike / dye yarn / study / work / knit??!!
I love the knits you’ve chosen for ‘08, particularly the mittens from Hello Yarn. They’re on my ‘to do’ list as well. All the best in the coming year to you!
I think it is great that you are still enjoying riding your bike. What a great way to exercise. You had a great knitting year and I am so glad that I found your blog. I think my favorite was your sweater. It is awesome. Have a wonderful 2008.
Your FO pics are awesome. I found your blog by accident a couple months ago, and I am addicted. One of my goals of 08 is to get some of your yarn. Your 08 list looks like great fun. I loved trying to figure out what your sweater code said. It looked great on you. Good Luck with your thesis.