Tag Archive for ‘gifts’ at adam knits!

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Ah, Dry Heat, I Love You. 11 Aug 07

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?

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?

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!

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…

Published

Adam

in dallas, emma, finished objects, friends, gifts, hats, knitting and vacation

Being Ambidextrous Is Hard! 03 Jul 07

10 Comments

Thanks to everyone who left me well wishes on my burned hand, I appreciate them! Let’s just say that it’s not wise to touch the lawnmower exhaust 5 minutes after mowing the lawn…because this will happen:

I spent Sunday evening holding an ice bag and attempting to do mundane tasks with my uncoordinated left hand, because my poor fingers hurt so bad. Let’s just say I hope I never break my arm, because it’s down right impossible to eat with my left hand, as evidenced by the stains on my shirts and shorts from that day. But thankfully, it doesn’t hurt anymore and I’m able to once again eat without looking like a 2 year old. Oh and reskein yarn too, cause that’s a fairly important task.

I haven’t tried to knit yet, but I think I’m gonna attempt some work on the secret stranded project tonight, since the herald of July signals that I don’t have too much time left to finish this one. I tried to enlist Dallas’ help to do a few rounds, but he seemed to be all thumbs when it came to holding both colors. And not to mention that he wasn’t too keen to be featured in another blog post after the last photo shoot. (My entreaties of “you’re an Internet superstar now, your public needs you!” didn’t seem to perk him up either)

dallas gets in a bit of knitting before bed

I guess that leaves it up to me to complete the hat on time ;) It shouldn’t be too bad though, I’m definitely getting better at holding one color in my left hand, and everyone’s tips were super helpful. For me it’s been a matter of just getting my left hand used to having some form of structure so I can tension the yarn, rather than sitting there like a limp noodle that occasionally pushes stitches forward. I’m able to wrap the yarn on the left without using my right hand to thread it now, so I’m making progress.

Speaking of progress, I’m also super proud of myself in the bike commuting arena. I managed to ride in 4 days last week, and would have done 5 if my legs didn’t collapse into a pool of Jell-O when I woke up on Thursday. But I’m getting stronger and losing weight (3 pounds last week!), so the results are very encouraging. It’s a bit hot for the ride home these days (today’s commute will be extra sweaty since it’s 97 right now!), but I seem to have managed so far. If anything, all the sweat just adds up to a pound here or there ;)

Be sure to go check out the Yarn Nerd site soon too, because this week’s shop update is live and ready for the taking. The new colorways above are inspired by some of my favorite summer time treats, and I think they’re pretty awesome. There’s still plenty to be had, but it might not last too long, so go check it out!

And tomorrow’s July 4, woo-hoo! I’m hitting up a BBQ/Pool Party and then checking out some fireworks, how about you? Whatever you do, make sure there’s knitting, and be safe!

Published

Adam

in biking, colorwork, dallas, gifts, holidays, knitting, shop, why me? and yarn nerd

Garter is Good for the Soul 03 Jun 07

12 Comments

I hope everyone’s having a good weekend, I know mine has been busy! I worked like crazy yesterday, cleaning the house, mowing the lawn and dyeing some yarn. It wasn’t all work though, I got to relax a bit, read a book (what a concept!) and go out to my favorite microbrewery with my roommate for dinner. Nothing like sitting outside on a beautiful evening, drinking some tasty Oatmeal Stout and people watching. I’m looking forward to my lack of plans today, and hoping to get in some knitting on a few projects.

I’m still working away on the first Gentleman’s Lozenge Sock, and am almost to the heel flap. The yarn is still wonderful, and I continue to enjoy knitting every stitch with it. Funny story about that too…see in the last post I said the yarn smelled really good, and Anne replied to say that she had washed it with patchouli wool wash. My Mom commented later that evening how nice the yarn smelled, and I said, “well I don’t think it’s a very good patchouli scent, because shouldn’t it smell more like pot if it’s patchouli?” I make comments like this fairly often, and my family always gets quite a hoot out of it. Well I guess patchouli isn’t pot…but for some reason I associated it as such. Probably because I knew hippies used patchouli, and I must have equated it with pot. Little did I know that they used patchouli to cover up the smell of the other substance! Anyway, that was my dork moment of the week. I hope you get a little amusement out of it like my parents did ;)

I also have some delicious new yarn, that arrived on my doorstep on Friday afternoon. It’s some handspun BFL from Georgia of Yarn Pirate, in her Buccaneer colorway. Isn’t it gorgeous!? It’s so soft, and has the trademark squishy-ness of handspun yarn. And the colors are definitely “manly”, so thanks Georgia! It’s always wonderful to receive a generous gift from a fellow yarnie :)

She also included a tape measure from Church Mouse Yarns, a little yarn store on Bainbridge Island, which is located in the Puget Sound. I was on that same island a few years ago, but sadly wasn’t a knitter at the time, because I would have been all over that store. It’s also funny, because some of my friends have called me Church Mouse for years now (*I’m short and my last name is Church. Enough said.), so I think it’s quite apropos that I now have a Church Mouse Yarns tape measure.

I have the perfect pattern in mind for the handspun too, one which has been beautifully executed, both here and here. I’ve already swatched (and ripped that swatch out, since I think I’ll be down to the wire on this one), and am raring to go. This afternoon will be the perfect time to try and overcome my crochet dyslexia and cast on.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Published

Adam

in gifts, hand spun, knitting, nerdy and weekend!

Jolly Good Old Chap 30 May 07

19 Comments

Not too much to report here, I’m just cruising along in full summer mode. There’s been yarn dyeing, grass mowing, rose bush pruning, book reading and even sock knitting. It’s really quite lovely.

On the sock knitting front, I’ve been itching to cast on Anne’s hand-spun, and I finally snagged a copy of Knitting Vintage Socks to help in picking a pattern. I had looked through this book once before, and was a bit scared of it since I hadn’t knitted socks at that point, but wanted to give it a second try. Well, why didn’t I do that sooner? Cause this book is amazing. I think it’s possibly the best compilation of stylish men’s sock patterns that I’ve ever found. There’s not a single pattern in the book that I don’t want to make either for myself or as a gift.

vintage socks + handspun = I'm an Englishman

I love this book so much in fact, that it makes me fancy myself an Englishman, wearing fine suits and sipping tea, all whilst wearing some very fine looking socks. Then all I’d have to do is get into trouble and hire a butler, and I could very well star in a remake of Jeeves and Wooster! That would be quite fanciful, don’t you say old boy?

Needless to say, I think that the Gentleman’s Sock with Lozenge Pattern will look great with the handspun, don’t you think? I haven’t even gotten to the leg yet and I’m already in love. The simplicity and texture of the purl bumps on top of the ribbing is just genius. Absolute genius. The handspun is soft and squishy, with a wonderful sweet smell (what did you wash it in Anne?). I’m enjoying every stitch, and know that I’ll be very sad when it’s no longer on my needles. (Although it will be on my feet!)

In dog news, Dallas and Emma now refuse to talk to me without their agent present, because they now insist that they are internet celebrities. See, I submitted their baby hat photos to Meg at Cute Overload, and lo and behold, the pictures were accepted! If you don’t know what Cute Overload is, you should check it out…it’s most definitely the Slashdot of all things cute. (If you don’t know what /. is, then I’m afraid I have no other analogies. You’re on your own.) So if you’re now a reader because of Cute Overload, thanks for stopping by! Hopefully I’ll finish contract negotiations with the dogs soon, so that I can use their tremendous modeling skills for future knit related photo shoots.

Speaking of baby hat wearing dogs, I have some pictures of the actual baby hats in their new environment. Here are the hats, being modeled by little Samuel and his older sister Lucy. Aren’t they adorable?

In fact, this baby knitting thing is so satisfying, I think I might be doing it more often for my friends. Just don’t tell my Mom ok? She’ll give me the “you need to give me Grandchildren!” speech if she knows I have baby knitting fever! __Haha, just kidding Mom, don’t hurt me!__

Published

Adam

in baby, gifts, knitting, patterns and socks

Obsession is Normal. 24 May 07

37 Comments

My neighbors must think I’m a loon. Actually, they might not be too far off. If you were in my neighborhood yesterday, you might have been taken aback as well. So what on earth was I doing?

Well let’s just say that I had a little dog photo shoot involving baby knits…

No Schnauzers were physically harmed during this photoshoot, although emotional damage may have occurred.

"did you say treat? you better deliver!"

I better get a freaking treat out of this.

"Arrrr! shiver me timbers, I’ll get you for this! Arrrr, dArrrrr, dΘ"

I would explain, but there’s really nothing to explain. Some good friends of mine just had their second baby, and seeing as I have had lots of time, I cranked out a few hats for their adorable new son. I wanted to get some pictures of the hats before I gifted them, but wanted something more than an ordinary lightbox shot. I thought about using a comforter (like brooklyntweed does for baby knits) to model the hats, but then I realized that I had something even better. Live models with furry little heads. Next thing I knew, I was laying in the grass, saying “Treat!” over and over, trying to get my poor humiliated dogs to look at the camera. The things I do for the blog…

You have to admit though, these pictures are darn cute.

Dallas is wearing a very lovely Top Down Bonnet in some red Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky. I loved this pattern, but I wasn’t paying attention and increased too much, so I ended up making the child size instead of the baby size. It’s all good though, because I promised my friends a hat for their daughter over a year ago, and now I can finally deliver on that promise! Sorry it’s taken so long guys!

Emma is wearing a Children’s Cotton Hat, from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, knitted up with less than 1/2 of a skein of Patagonia Nature Cotton. It was leftovers from another baby hat, and I didn’t have too much, so this hat turned out to be more of a baby skull cap. I also knitted another one with some Manos Cotton Stria, but it wouldn’t stay on Emma’s head. I really like that hat pattern, it’s quick and simple, and makes a very cool looking baby knit.

So congrats on the new baby Sam and Rosemary, he’s absolutely adorable! Hopefully there’s not dog hair on the hats, but Schnauzers don’t shed, so they should be hair free! ;)

In other news, the yarn for my Seamless Hybrid came yesterday. It came in a USPS shoe box, which prompted me to wonder why I was receiving shoes that I hadn’t ordered, until I opened it and was greeted with the sweet smell of wool. Ahhh, Cascade 220, how I love thee. This color is so great too, it looks like a mixture of coffee and red wine, with a bit of chocolate thrown in. I’m planning to use the olive green to do the sleeve hems, and possibly the neckband too. I can’t wait to get started on this!

one of these things is not like the others

I also wound up my Tree Scum Handspun, to begin the project planning phase. I’m such a planner when I knit, and I want to be especially conscientious with this yarn since it’s so nice. The project planning phase (or PPP) usually involves making a swatch or two with different needle sizes, washing and blocking those swatches, then measuring them to get accurate gauge. Of course, this all gets written down in my yarn notebook, so that if I ever use a particular yarn again, I can just "check my notes". Then I pick a pattern, and usually adapt it in some form to suit what I’m looking for. Then I can finally cast-on! There’s also obsessive amounts of trying on and measuring during the knitting phase, to ensure that the item comes out perfectly.

tree scum handspun - waiting for the cast on

I know my process is a bit obsessive, but _what else would you expect from an engineer?_ And one benefit is that I can almost always guarantee that my knitted objects will fit well. The few times I have strayed from this process are the few times where things have gone horribly wrong. So I take comfort in perfecting my art through the use of my calculator, ruler and notebook. Someday I hope to pass the knitting bug onto my kids, and leave them all of my notebooks so they can know what a weirdo their Dad was. As if the dogs in hats pictures aren’t proof enough ;)

So what’s your process? Are you like me, or do you prefer to be a bit more free form? No judgment here, I’m just interested to know if there’s other obsessive knitters out there! Besides Grumperina of course, because she totally rocks the math skills too.

Oh, and if you have any pattern ideas for my handspun, please toss them into the hat! I’m thinking something Nancy Bush, or Anne’s Smokin’ Socks, but I’m open to suggestions!

Published

Adam