Category Archive for ‘weekend!’ at adam knits!

Archive for the 'weekend!' Category

Letting Out My Inner Bum 28 Feb 08

Let’s just pretend that two weeks hasn’t gone by ok? Moving right along ;)

Anyway, I’ve been up to my usual tricks, including work, homework avoidance and lots of orchestra practice. I had a big concert this past weekend, featuring some of the most difficult music I’ve ever played in an ensemble. Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances may sound nice, but man is that thing a beast! The tempo is pretty much the equivalent of a Mack truck barreling down the highway at 120 MPH. In the end though, I got most of the notes, so I was fairly pleased with myself.

As far as knitting goes, I have no proof I’m actually knitting anything, so you’ll just have to take my word for it. My primary project right now is top secret, but the big reveal should be soon. I also have a lovely sock going, but at this blogging speed, you’ll probably see a finished sock by the time I get around to the pictures.

I had a small Yarn Nerd shop update last week, including a lovely new merino/bamboo/nylon yarn I’ve termed 900 MHz Bambylon. (Try to type that 10 times fast!) The small batch I put up went fairly quickly, but I will have more on the way soon, so don’t despair, there’s plenty of bamboo yarn action to be had.

Also, I will be receiving a shipment of some new yarns soon, including a Superwash Merino DK Weight and a Merino Sport Weight. Both yarns are absolutely lovely, and the DK Weight is a great replacement for my older 1500 MHz Merino base, which I had to discontinue. So look for a future shop update with those yarns, I think you’ll really like them!

I’ve been fighting off a bit of a bug this week, and so I whipped up some soup to soothe my tempestuous stomach. Nothing like a delicious chicken and rice soup made with wild rice and rotisserie chicken to cure what ails you.

Thankfully, I’m mostly on the mend, save for a pesky sore throat that just won’t go away. I wouldn’t mind if the deep sexy voice stayed around for a bit longer though. Anyway, it’s a good thing I’m feeling better, since I’m off on another snow excursion this weekend.

I think a weekend spent ripping up the mountain with my Dad, Uncle and little Brother will definitely do me good. Maybe not my throat, but definitely my inner ski bum. You gotta shirk that responsibility and play everyone once in a while right?

So whatever you’re doing this weekend, make sure to take a least a few moments and let our your inner bum. Lay around, knit a bit, watch TV or just sleep in a little longer. Because all work and no play turns Jack into a raving lunatic.

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Adam

in a nerd's life, family, knitting, music, school, snow, weekend!, work and works in progress

Putting It All Together 10 Nov 07

24 Comments

Thank you all for the wonderful comments on my knitting anniversary, and the encouragement for my portly pooches! They’re doing quite well, and after a nice haircut, Emma is not as pudgy as initially suspected. I suspect Dallas is mostly a giant hairball too, he just hasn’t gotten his haircut yet. A few more weeks of regular evening walks and I’m sure they’ll be back to their skinny supermodel selves. And extra walking is something they certainly don’t mind. :)

I did just receive the BFL yarn yesterday, so I’ll pick the winners from the contest in the next blog post. I’m quite flattered that so many people think I’ve been knitting much longer than 2 years, but I assure you, any perceived skill is merely ridiculous amounts of practice. My friends and family deserve the credit, since they’ve put up with me knitting non stop for this long! (I think those warm hats and socks might have something to do with it…)

Also, if you haven’t picked up any Yarn Nerd from The Loopy Ewe, there’s still a few skeins left, so get on over before it’s all gone!

I’ve been hard at work this week, trying to get my Seamless Hybrid finished before the onslaught of winter, and I’m starting to make progress. I finished the 2nd sleeve this week, which means I’m now ready to start the yoke, and join the body and sleeves together.

I’m very close, but still, I haven’t been able to find time to sit down and start on the yoke. I want a nice block of uninterrupted time, since it’s the first time I’ve done anything like this, but I couldn’t seem to find that in my schedule this week. I think I might retreat to my favorite coffee shop tomorrow morning for a bit of solitude with my notes and the wool. It’s shaping up to be a good weekend. :)

I also got a bit of mail love this week, in the form of a stunning sock from Megan, as part of a single sock swap. She knit me the first sock, and sent me some yarn and the pattern so I can knit the second one. It’s an I Love Gansey sock (modified to have diamonds instead of hearts, you know, since hearts have cooties), knit up in a lovely chocolate shade of Rowan 4-Ply. It’s super squishy, and I can’t wait to knit the mate! Now if I can only find the time to cast on…

Megan also sent me this amazing sock cube from Schrodinger Originals, which has become my de-facto European Carryall for my knitting. There’s just something so awesome and so geometric about keeping your knitting in a sewn cube, it’s like storing structure inside structure, math inside math, etc…

So thanks Megan, you rock! I can’t wait to knit the second one; now if I could just finish the other socks and sweaters and shawls first!

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Adam

in gifts, knitting, patterns, schnauzers, sweaters, techniques, weekend!, works in progress and yarn nerd

Fiber Heaven 09 Oct 07

20 Comments

So I went to the Taos Wool Festival this past weekend, and it was heaven. I’ve never been to a fiber festival before, and wow was I missing out! I drove up with a friend, and we had a great day involving fiber, food and a winery detour on the way home. There was so much delicious yarn and fiber, it was nearly impossible to make a choice on what to buy. In the end I did make a choice, and ended up picking the following:

A lovely Maple Spindle, which has already been put to good use.
A skein of brown Alpaca for only $10!
A skein of white Cormo wool for dyeing fun. (this is a new breed of sheep and I must say it’s fantastic. let’s just say that it might be a future addition to Yarn Nerd’s bases…)
A big skein of gray Border Leicester, also for dyeing fun.
A skein of 80% Llama/20% Soysilk, which is pretty much as soft as it comes, and it’s tweedy!

I think I did pretty well, although my checkbook might not agree. I did resist bringing this guy home though…

Somehow I don’t think that the city of Albuquerque, and Dallas and Emma would have agreed with that decision ;)

I also got to meet up with Amber, who was in town from Virginia visiting family, for a bit of lunch and fiber shopping. Her Grandma came with her and was quite the sport while we caressed yarn and talked knitting. It was good to meet you Amber, and if you ever decide to move back to New Mexico we can hang out! Hint hint. ;)

Amidst all the new stash, I’ve also been working on depleting some of the stuff I have already. It’s Fall TV Season, which means lots of evenings hanging out in the living room, working away like a sweatshop knitter. Gotta get those Christmas Knits done! Some of the big things I’m working on include my Seamless Hybrid (almost done with the body, and I’m working on a sleeve in the photo) and my Mom’s Garden Shawl (that’s right Mom, I’m knitting on the shawl!).

It’s also Socktoberfest, which means I have a few pairs in the works. I just finished this sock, which Emma is so delighted to model for you. It’s a Gentleman’s Fancy Sock (from Knitting Vintage Socks), knit in one of my favorite sock yarns, Austermann Step. And as much as I love it, I’m going to be strong and put it in the Christmas pile. I just have to remind myself that other people need warm handknit socks too. ;)

I’m also working on a Thelonious sock in the Pumpkin yarn from the last post, for a swap that I’m doing. It’s quite tasty. The socks are the perfect bus knitting project, since the sweater and the shawl are a bit much to carry in my bike bags.

Oh, and I finished a hat a bit ago, for a friend’s birthday, as shown by my lovely model. (Don’t you just love dogs in knits? I do!)

It’s the Foliage pattern from Knitty, knit up in 3/4 of a skein of Manos 100% Wool. It’s fast and it looks great, so it’s a really good gift knit. Or you can use it for making your dogs look dorky… ;)

Well it’s bedtime, so I better shove off, but I thought I’d pop in to say that I am alive, and that I’m keeping quite busy these days. It must be this cold snap that’s making me all knit crazy…nothing like the feel of wool through your hands when it dips to 50 degrees outside.

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Adam

in finished objects, gifts, hats, knitting, socks, socktoberfest, swag, the stash, weekend! and works in progress

Yarn is Squishy 20 Jul 07

14 Comments

I love Fridays. Especially when you have every other one off during the summer. It’s quite nice to stay home, kick back and put your feet up. In a pile of yarn that is.

The store is all stocked up with some new yarns, including a new colorway called “Love and Peace or Else”, that I absolutely adore. It has black, gray, red, maroon and a bit of white. Everytime I see it, I got into a sudden fit and begin drooling all over the place, because I love it so much. It’s perfect for Project Spectrum, and it’s guaranteed to bring out your inner Bono. Love and Peace or Else is the title of a U2 song in case you were wondering. I know, I’m so hip it hurts. ;) I guess it’s a good thing that I saved a skein for myself huh? I don’t have any red socks, so I figure I should rectify that. (This is how I rationalize things in my head at least.)

Now that’s some tasty eye candy!

There was some roving in the store, but some crazed people with itchy trigger fingers snapped it up in about 2 seconds. You know who you are ;) There’s more of that on the way though. There was something about dyeing that roving that turned on a switch in my fiber-addled brain…I don’t think I’m gonna be able to hold out on the spinning bug much longer. I’m currently shopping for a drop spindle, since a wheel would definitely blast the budget to smithereens right now. I know there are certain ones among you who might try to persuade me with links to inexpensive wheels, so don’t even think about it! I don’t need to be enabled right now, gosh! Idiots!

Now that I’ve packed up all this morning’s orders for shipping, it’s time to mentally psych myself up for tonight’s excitement. That’s right. I’m going to the Harry Potter release party…

OMG HP7!!! OMG!

Now I realize I might be a bit crazy, (and super nerdy), but I’m really excited for this book to come out. I joined the Harry Potter craze a bit late, i.e. after book 6, so I’ve never had to wait with baited breath for the next installment. Well now I have to wait, and if I have to wait, I might as well get all excited and go to the launch right? At any rate, I’m sure I’ll be staying up very late tonight reading this book…is anyone else joining me?

Whether or not you’ll be staying up late tonight, I hope you have a good weekend! I know I’m going to :) As long as it doesn’t rain during tonight’s Isotopes game, it’ll be absolutely perfect.

Oh, and one last thing.

It’s official. I’m a dork.

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Adam

in albuquerque, nerdy, project spectrum, shop, weekend! and yarn nerd

Happy Independence Day! 04 Jul 07

8 Comments

Happy 4th of July everyone! I’m off to the family cookout, to enjoy tender steak, tasty beer and a swim in the pool. Oh, and this little festive cheesecake I whipped up today ;) Looks pretty good huh? I think so!

it's a wonder I haven't snuck a slice yet!

I hope that whatever you do today, you get to relax and enjoy the company of friends and family, while celebrating the wonderful things that make the US a great place to live. Like fireworks! Have a great day everyone!

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Adam

in cooking, family, holidays and weekend!