I’ve been quite the busy boy this last week. Let’s see what I’ve been up to, shall we?
→ I bought a sweet new cabinet.
I scored this hutch on Craigslist, and it’s already been put to good use storing all my knitting accoutrements. I’m also hoping that putting my stash on display in the common area of the house will help curb any future impulse purchases. My stash isn’t the biggest (I’m looking at you Maryse and Adrian!), but it’s certainly big enough to provide months of exciting knitting, and in the interest of fiscal responsibility (more on that in a bit) it’s going to have to be content with itself for a bit.
→ I started Fiddlehead Mitten #1
Then ripped it out about 10 rows in. Since mittens are fairly small, they’re an effective swatch on their own, especially since you can’t really an accurate measurement of the stranded gauge when not in the round. I started with US #5’s, and quickly ascertained that it was going to be too big. So it’s back to the drawing board with #4’s. I don’t mind though, since it gave me something to do while drinking my Saturday morning Americano at my favorite local caffeine spot.
→ I brought home a spinning wheel.
Unfortunately, this one’s just a temporary fix, but it’s already got me wrapped around its flyer. (Ha, that was a spinning pun!) See, a little while ago, I signed up for the beginning spinning class at my local yarn shop, and this week was our first tryst with spinning wheels. Last week was spindle spinning, which I’d already practiced a lot, so I was anxious to try something new this week. The class includes a wheel rental for the next month, and every week we take home a new model to play with. This week I drew the Lendrum out of the hat, and we’re already fast friends.
I’ve already managed to spin my way through 6 oz of Corriedale Wool, and a bump of Yarn Nerd BFL in Denim Blues. I’m pretty sure my shins are going to be sore tomorrow morning. I don’t mind though, since I’m very smitten with the resulting yarns.
The blue one is the Yarn Nerd BFL, which I split in half by weight, and spun into the classic 2-ply. I really love how the semi-solid looks shows up in the yarn, especially with the sheen of the BFL. The white skein is a Corriedale single, spun up from the big bag of wool that they gave us at the start of class. The Lendrum’s bobbins are a bit small, making it hard to fit all the plied BFL on there. To use up the leftover bits, I plied it with some of the Corriedale to create the final mini skein.
I’m definitely going to get a wheel at some point, but that’s also gonna be put on the back burner. Why you ask? Well that brings me to the last thing I’ve been doing this week.
→ Buying a House!
I’m just as surprised as you are by this one, it’s all happened so fast! About 2 weeks ago, I started thinking that maybe it’d be a good time to buy a house. I’ve been renting for the last 2 years, and while I love my current place, I often wish that I was putting my money towards something I actually owned. So being the engineer that I am, I started some spreadsheets and forecasted a ton of scenarios. I was unable to find a decent reason why I shouldn’t buy a house, so I started looking around. I also got approved for a great mortgage, so all things were go.
After seeing 7 houses, I found it. The. perfect. house. It was everything I wanted and more. It was the right size, in my price range, and needed no fixing up. So I made an offer. I was on pins and needles for an entire day, and received a counteroffer from the seller. I accepted that offer, and now a week later I’m a future homeowner!
The house has 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a remodeled kitchen, a huge sunroom, and an awesome backyard. Oh, and it has a big shed in the backyard with lights and electricity. That’s going to be the new Yarn Nerd headquarters. :) Now I just have to contain myself until I move at the end of May! So far I’ve been passing the time by driving by everyday, just like a stalker. I’m so giddy, I just can’t help it!
I think a sweet new house is a fairly good reason to not buy yarn and a spinning wheel for a bit, don’t you? (Oh and the cabinet doesn’t count, since I really bought it for the new house. Wink, wink.)
Wow, you have been busy!! Enjoy all of your new goodies :)
OMG! Congrats on the house, Adam! A thought like that would have never occurred to me. Well, considering that we’ve probably a very different mind-set on the looks of things. Besides, I still haven’t even finished my studies and haven’t got a “proper” job yet. Anyway, congrats again!
Oh WOW!! Congrats on finding your perfect house.
Congratulations!!! I can’t wait to see the photo tour of the new headquarters of Yarn Nerd!
Congratulations Adam!
Wow, Adam! CONGRATS! I’ll help ya move for some roving and yarn… ;)
Congrats on your new home! Are you going to give use a photo tour after you get settled in? Can’t wait to see your mitten progress.
SO excited for you, Adam!
Congrats on becoming a first time home owner! It’s a great thing but oh so scary at the same time. My husband and I moved about a year ago into a single family house-his first home, my second. Yesterday after doing some yard work, he said to me, “this really makes me feel like a home owner!” I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Congratulations! It looks like a nice little place and having the shed out back seems totally worth it for more Yarn Nerdiness.
That’s all seriously awesome!!! Congrats on the house! I must say that your LYS has the most sensible beginning spinning plan that I’ve ever heard of. I’m immune to the spinning virus, but that plan just might be able to get me hooked! :)
Congratulations! You’re buying a house! So very exciting :)
Wow, congratulations on the house!!!
Congratulations! You have become a grown-up!! LOL
Wow - congrats on the new house! How exciting! You are wise to save your money - there are so many things that will pop up that you just have to have for the new place. It’s going to be so exciting!
Love the spinning too!
Hurray, you’re a homeowner! That’s super exciting.
So many congrats for so many things! :) First, I love the hutch, course I love most furniture but I love that it’s a nitch piece :D Very cute. Second I am in LOVE with that blue. The subtle shimmering hues are quite breath taking & remind me of Carnival Glass in a way :)
Also, congrats on the house! :) My husband and I are going to a house auction wenesday & I hope that we have the same luck you did. Though I still think the first house is the most exciting. Can’t wait to see how you decorate & paint!
Congrats homeowner! It’s the biggest investment you will make, so it is great when you LOVE it.
As for a spinning wheel…some people classify wheels as furniture, and you know, a new house needs furniture…just saying.
Oh, and seriously, the words “remodeled kitchen” are my most favoritest when it comes to real estate. I am a geek that way.
Buying a house, especially the first one, is so exciting! Congratulations.
What a great way to learn spinning, and to get to try out all different types of wheels etc. Cool.
WOW! Awesome front yard. Congratulations!
Congratulations on becoming a home owner!
Nice spinning! Not that I know anything about spinning itself, but I like to think I know things about yarn, and that yarn looks like it would be fun to knit with! (or to touch, feel, look at…whatever.)
And big-time congrats on the house! Wow. That’s something still very far in the future for me. I’m sure you’ll love it, and it sounds great!
Congratulations! It’s great to find the perfect house!
Congratulations! I know we’re all looking forward to pictures of the new HQ - having a whole separate building for yarn is fabulous!
Yo that is so exciting–there is nothing like that feeling of owning your first house, way to go! And so glad that Yarn Nerd will be getting its’ own Shedquarters!!
Yay! Congratulations! It feels good doesn’t it? Just wait until you unlock the door for the first time. =)
I’ve been seriously thinking about buying a house myself lately! I’m a little scared though, its such a “grown up” thing! Congrats on yours! It sounds perfect!
Big congrats! I can see not buying anymore yarn b/c you have some, but see…you don’t have a wheel yet, so….
JK, I remember the first months after having to put out that initial downpayment, and needed to build up a buffer again.
Wow, Congratulations on so many things, Spinning (it’s a work of art), the new/old cabinet (those are the best), and the perfect house. You’re on a roll!!! And if you keep up the spinning you won’t need to buy more yarn. So they say anyway!
Congratulations Adam!! Sounds like you can’t wait to move in!
oh WOW!! congratulations on your new home . . buying a house was the best thing i ever did with my money. my first home was a dream come true and i hope you’ll find it the same.
Congratulations Adam. How exciting!!!!!! Your yarn that you spun looks great. I still haven’t tried BFL yet. Still working on some Corriedale.
So very exciting!!! Just say the word and your dad and I will come help you pack. It’s a great investment for your future, and it is a great feeling to own your own home. Emma and Dallas are going to love the place…I can picture them laying in the sunroom like they owned the place!!! So proud of you!
Congratulations! Now get ready to spend all of you time perfecting the perfect house :)
Wow! Congrats on the home purchase. That is so cool. We’ll want to see many, many more pictures. And a shed with electricity sounds like the perfect place for a workshop / studio. Once again, CONGRATS!
Hito congrats on the house! who knows maybe Tori and I might come live with you once you move in! hahahaha but seriously!
Congratulations! That does seem a pretty good reason to put off the wheel purchase to me.
Congratulations Adam!!! That is fantastic news. Can’t wait for the tour.
Eek! Lendrum! I love mine soooo much! I totally recommend it if you end up buying one!
I am so happy for you.
Awesome news! Congrats!
I see you aren’t giving credit to the person who gave you the real estate bug. Once you get it, it doesn’t go away until you are in your new house!
Add my congratulations to the list! Although, is there ever such thing as a “no-fixing-required” home? Good luck with the move, and with the new adaptations that you’ll bring to it… expanded kitchen/dye lab, an addition for yarn storage??
You’re too friggin’ fun.
I love the hutch. I think I’ll stalk YOU until you move… then steal it from the moving van when you’re not looking. Now just pretend you didn’t hear of my plan so it’ll work.
Congrats on the new house!
Congrats! Buying a house is a big deal and has been the most nerve-wracking thing I’ve ever done! (no kids yet, so that might compete, but I wouldn’t know!) You got to the good part pretty quick!
Also in Denmark someone wil look foreward to se your new house from the inside.Bigger,better and the right price - it must be sooooooo good for you.
Gitte from Denmark
Congrats on the house! I looked at thirty (yes, 30) houses before finding the one we’re about to buy. Enjoy! =)
Hey! You have Nichole on here too! Yay!
Congrats on the new house! What part of town is it in?