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So Far, So Good! 12 Jun 07

Well I successfully survived my first day of bike commuting, and I must say, it was an absolute blast! I rode the route on Saturday, to get a feel for the roads, and then yesterday was my first real ride. I packed up everything on Sunday night, got up early on Monday and rode in to work. It only took me about 35 minutes, compared to 15 minutes when I drive. That also doesn’t take into account that most parking at my job is a 10 minute walk from the buildings, so it really takes 25 minutes to actually get into the office. On a bike, I can ride directly up to my building, so that’s a big perk.

The weather was super nice yesterday too, it was nice and cool in the morning, and there was some afternoon rain, so it was overcast and cool when I went home. It sprinkled a bit on the ride back, but it was the perfect amount to cool me off without getting soaked. All in all, I really enjoyed it, and I’m looking forward to making it a daily practice. Especially since I went both Saturday and yesterday, and am hardly sore at all. I thought it might take a few weeks before I would be able to ride continuous days, but I could have totally gone today if I didn’t have to do some errands across town right after work.

Wait, I take that back, I am a bit tender in one place…my butt! (Haha, I said butt! Sorry Mom!) It’s getting a bit better, but after Saturday’s ride, I could barely sit down! I almost went and bought one of those little pillows for people who break their tailbone! I am assured that this is normal, and it will pass, but I’m not so sure it’s completely normal for such a cushy body part to complain so vehemently. I guess a bike seat just has the magical power of being able to transfer shock waves all the way into your skeletal system, despite all the natural padding.

At any rate, the first day went well, and I’m going to make it my goal to ride to work for the rest of the week. I think biking may be the only way to save the yarn budget from rising gas costs, so I’m super determined! :)

I also managed to finish my Zeebee this weekend! I love this hat, and I find myself wishing it would get colder, just so I could wear it! (Haha, just kidding! Don’t listen to me Weather!)

Pattern: Zeebee by Schmeebot
Yarn: Yarn Pirate’s Handspun (thanks again Georgia!) BFL, in the Buccaneer colorway. About 104 yards (3.2 oz)
Needles / Gauge: US #10 → 4 spi and 8 rpi
Knitting Time: One week (June 2 - June 9)
Notes: My head is 22.5 inches around and 18 inches from ear to ear. I wanted to make my hat as close to 19 inches around and 9 inches long as I could, while not running out of yarn.

Planned Dimensions:
→ 19 inches * 8 rpi = 152 rows / 8 sections = 18 rows / section
→ 9 inches * 4 spi = 36 stitches.

My plan was to make sure that each 1/8 of the hat weighed 0.4 oz, which would let me use all 3.2 oz of the handspun. When I knit one section using the dimensions above, it weighed 0.5 oz, so I knew I had to make it smaller. I tried again using 32 stitches and 16 rows of short rows, which was exactly 0.4 oz.

Final Dimensions
→ 32 stitches and 16 rows of short rows for each 1/8 of the hat. You work 16 rows of SR decreases, followed by 16 rows of SR increases, and repeat 4 times, then seam up.

I only had about 5 yards of yarn left, so my careful planning paid off (when does it not? ;))

I really love the Zeebee pattern, and the hand-spun only made it better. I highly recommend this knit, so check it out! I even loved it enough to brave the scorching desert heat at 1 pm, just for blog pictures. Daisy even came outside with me, and watched from her little spot of shade as I fiddled with the camera. I think it’s funny that I’m standing in the sun with a wool beanie, and she’s laying in the shade. Maybe dogs are smarter than people after all. ;)

Published

Adam

in finished objects, garter stitch, hand spun, hats, knitting, schnauzers and work

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

in baby, dallas, ee, emma, finished objects, gifts, knitting, knitting techniques, nerdy, patterns, schnauzers, socks and sweaters

I Heart Yarn 19 May 07

16 Comments

All this free time is making me go knitting crazy! I love it! I actually got to go the LYS yesterday, for the first time in who knows how long. It’s been a few months at least. It was a wonderful experience just to browse, fondling many of the yarns and thumbing through the books. Sometimes I think I’m around yarn so much with all the dyeing, that I forget how much I really like this stuff.

I did pick up a few things at Village Wools yesterday, including this Debbie Blish Cashmerino Chunky in a deep red color. It’s super nice stuff, and I’m planning to knit up an undisclosed baby item as a gift for some friends who are expecting. (Past due now actually!) You guys know who you are! ;) I think it will look pretty sweet, and I’m looking forward to working with this yarn, because it’s so unbelievably soft and buttery. Yes, buttery.

I also got a copy of the fabled book, Knitting Without Tears, by the knitting legend herself, Elizabeth Zimmerman. I’m planning to make a Seamless Hybrid Sweater (much like this one by the talented Julie Frick) over the summer, and I figured I should get the instructions first!

Oh, and somehow 6 skeins of Cascade 220 wandered into my shopping cart the other day and are now on their way to me. It all happened so fast, I don’t really remember it, but I’m pretty sure I gave into the bad angel on that one. (But at only $4.89 a skein, I just couldn’t say no.) I place all the blame on Jared, with all his gorgeous sweaters, how could I not be tempted to learn sweaters for myself?

Then to top all the yarny goodness off, my Tree Scum Handspun from Anne arrived today. It totally makes me weak in the knees. Just to look at it and know that it was spun from roving blows my mind. It’s a beautifully spun yarn, with very even singles and plying, and the colors are phenomenal. I’m super excited to cast on my for first handspun experience, I think it’ll be a good one.

my first handspun (well I didn't spin it...)!

Now the hardest thing I have to decide is which project to cast on for first! (Oh and don’t worry Mom, I’ve actually gotten 5 rounds done on the Garden Shawl in the last few days, so I’m not neglecting it entirely!)

And what would a Saturday afternoon be without a sky picture? Today’s picture was taken just moments before hail started pelting my street in a torrential downpour. This is only 5 minutes after there were no clouds in the sky. New Mexico weather is weird stuff…

I did manage to have a little panic attack when it started hailing, since hail and I don’t have a very good history. (Google the 2004 Socorro Hailstorm if you don’t already know what happened). But all is well, because I have a garage now, and was able to get my car into safety in mere moments. Then it promptly stopped hailing. Yeesh!

I’ll leave you with some shots of the kids dogs, since I think it’s been a while since I’ve had obligatory dog pictures on the blog. I got them some new collars today, aren’t they sweet? (You know you’re living in the fast lane when you get excited over new dog collars). I had to bribe Emma with her chew bone to get her to take a picture…she’s such a diva. And Dallas? Well give him a toy and he’s pretty much oblivious to everything around him.

the only time she lets me take her picture...

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go make a pile with all my new yarn and roll around in it.

PS: All the Ravelry invites are spoken for, sorry if you didn’t receive any love from the random number generator! Just be patient a little longer ;)

Published

Adam

in albuquerque, dallas, emma, knitting, local yarn store, patterns, schnauzers and sweaters

Mmmm, Yarn! 17 Apr 07

9 Comments

That’s what Dallas was thinking the other day as I was reskeining some yarn! I turned my back for a second and looked over to see him chewing on a freshly wound skein of Raspberry Sherbet. He didn’t eat any of it luckily, but he did manage to completely destroy any hope that poor skein had of ever being knit up into anything. He’s pretty thorough with those teeth!

Oh well, what can you do eh? He did get a scolding for playing with something he wasn’t supposed to, but I can’t really fault the poor guy, he’s completely out of toys! I need to go to the discount store and buy some more dog toys, since he destroys them as fast as I can buy them! He certainly keeps me on my toes that’s for sure :) And I wasn’t too mad, since it was one of my mini skeins (more info on those to come with the upcoming shop update), so at least it wasn’t a 450 yard skein that was ruined.

And I thought only cats liked yarn!

Things are still chugging along here…the shop update is getting closer to being ready, but school also continues to loom over my head like an anvil. It’s like I told a friend today…I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but there’s still a bunch of roadblocks and potholes on the road before I get to the light!

I spent most of this evening trying to figure out how to find the bit error rate for a multi-carrier communications system using repetition codes and majority decoding for BPSK modulated subchannels under flat Rayleigh fading. Any one know the answer to that one? I think I got a solution, but I’m still not entirely sure…which is usually how the homework for this class goes.

Speaking of evening, it seems to have slipped away into night time, and I’m getting tired so I think I’ll hit the hay. I was a bit worried 15 minutes ago, because the water randomly shut off, but it seems to be back on now so I hope it sticks around until the morning. Just another small test to see how close my sanity is to the breaking point I suppose.

Here’s hoping a little sleep will bring me back from that breaking point…just ever so slightly. ;)

Published

Adam

in dallas, grad school, schnauzers, shop, unm, work and yarn nerd

Cough, Ouch! 30 Mar 07

14 Comments

I guess it’s going around or something. First Carole’s daughter, then Scout, and now me! I’ve had a sore throat most of the week, but it seemed to be getting better, until it got the best of me this morning. I woke up and knew that I wouldn’t be going to work today. I think it might have been the hacking cough coupled with sharp pain that tipped me off.

So anyway, I now join the ranks of the sick, and will be hanging out at home for most of the day. I suppose it’s not all bad, since now I can catch up on BSG and get some knitting done. :) I’m very anxious to finish this sock, mostly since I’ve ripped it out about 5 times now. Gauge has definitely conspired against me for this sock, but I finally have beaten it, and will soon finish a lovely Jaywalker, knit toe-up with a short row heel in my 1500 MHz Sport Sock Merino. It’s quite nice, and I’m looking forward to knitting the other sock, now that I’ve figured out all the weird gauge issues. (This of course assumes my feet are somewhat the same size. If this assumption is wrong, then I’m screwed.)

I also have a confession to make. I’m a bad father. Emma’s birthday was last week (the 22nd), and I completely spaced it until this week. I know some of you might think it’s a bit odd, but I felt bad that I didn’t get a cake or anything! When I’m going to dog obedience class every week I always remember, since we are allowed to bring cakes and treats for our dog’s birthdays, but my schedule this semester has prevented me from being a regular. I suppose not all is lost, since Emma doesn’t know it was her birthday, so if I get the cake and celebrate a bit later, she won’t mind ;)

So Happy Birthday Emma! You’re 14 in dog years now! And just as ornery as a human teenager! ;)

And speaking of birthdays, Happy Birthday Scout! Hope you feel better too, cause sickness is the suck.

I’m off to drink some more water, blow my nose, pop some pills and cozy up to a dog or two. This would be the perfect day if all the sickness was gone!

Published

Adam

in emma, frogged, knitting, schnauzers, socks, why me? and yarn nerd