A Classic Sock

Socks-

A Classic Sock
Originally uploaded by magknits218

Something finished to post about-finally. These were my throw in my bag and take along socks for several years. Clearly, I don't get much time to knit when I'm out and about. I actually finished these last Sunday, but just got lazy about taking the photo and posting. They are just a basic sock pattern from Nancy Bush that I got on a handout at a yarn shop years ago. I think the pattern is also included in Folk Socks.

I also finished re-re-knitting the toes on the socks that I finished the end of September.

Minnesota Wild-

What an up and down season we are having. It seems if we are scoring our defense suffers and if we can't score then neither can the other team. I won't even comment on the last game. Still very upset on the outcome.

Today is Wes Walz Day. I forgot to get my post done to be included in his scrapbook. Bummer, but I guess I had some responsibility to get a dinner done seeing as it was Thanksgiving. I hope to get some pictures. It will be a very emotional day for all Wild fans and I hope the boys don't let that affect their play too much. It seems that these type deals are usually bad luck for the home teams.

My monthly post?

I finished two pairs of socks today. Both are from TheKnitter.com. The lighter colored pair is called Margaritaville designed by Adrienne Fong. The other ones are Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Shadow socks designed by Judy Alexander. Now I can start some new ones with no guilt!

Sad note: Thing One went back to college today. The dog is acting a bit confused and her chinchilla is not too happy either.

July post

I seem to be in a rut of posting monthly. I guess better than not at all. I must try to do better. I really haven't been getting much knitting done lately though. I seem to get sleepy when I knit. I sit down and after a few rounds my eyes start crossing and I have to put my sock down.

I did finally finish my May SoTM socks from TheKnitter.com

The color in the picture isn't true. They are more of a cornflower blue.

This is one of the other socks I have been working on. It is the first of the pair and the other is part way down the foot. I really, really want to start a new pair. It is much easier to finish up projects when they are getting finished faster.

I'm a slacker!

I haven't been getting things done. No blogging, not finishing up knitting projects-all the things that I would like to do. Life has a way of getting in the way of things one really wants to do.

Here is the progress I have made since the last time I made a post.

I finally finished the July 2002 socks-Yankee Doodle socks. I had to reknit the second sock because the gauge was all wrong. I was in denial and I paid for it. Although it doesn't show in this picture, the two socks are different colors. I don't know if this is because I knit one twice or is just a factor of different balls of yarn.

I have also been working on the May socks from http://www.theknitter.com/

I really wanted to get these done before the next month's socks arrived, but I failed. Last night, I spent several hours trying to figure out if I made a mistake in turning the cables that run up the side of these socks. I haven't looked at them yet today-I'm being chicken or prudent depending on your point of view. Actually I am almost done with the leg-I just haven't gotten any newer pictures taken. My camera has been taking summer adventure pictures for my daughter.

Minnesota Wild-

Last night I found out that the Wild traded the negotiating rights for Brian Rolston to the Tampa Bay Lightening. Not too sad, as he isn't one of my favorites, but I'm beginning to get a bit nervous at wondering what the future holds for next season.

Spring has finally arrived!

Such a long winter this year. My daughter came home for the summer on May 5th, and it snowed the day before. This weather seems to have taken a harsh toll on my gardens. The lavendar and the roses seem to have bit it for sure. Some of the other perennials are not looking too healthy either. But as usual, the crop of dandelions is something to behold. Soon I will be taking up my valuable knitting time for working in the garden. On the other hand, if I have the energy, I will be able to sit and knit or read in my gazebo.

The startitis bug is hitting hard. I can't seem to stay with one project for very long. I also had these socks almost finished for 3+ days before finally weaving in the ends. That's sad. These are the April selection from the Sock of the Month club from http://theknitter.com/

The pattern is May Basket Socks and was a very easy knit. Usually I have a lot of trouble remembering a pattern and have to look at it constantly. This pattern I actually was able to memorize and that really made things move along faster. Here is a close up of the stitch pattern.

Minnesota Wild-

Off season bits of info-Niklas Backstrom and Mikko Koivu participated in the IIHF World Championships for Team Finland. Backstrom got a shutout in the Bronze Medal game yesterday. Brent Burns was named the most valuable defensive player of the tournament. He played for Team Canada which won the Silver Medal.

Current projects:

Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Shadow Socks

Luxury Socks Club from http://TheKnitter.com

May 2007

Yankee Doodle Socks-SoTM June 2002 also from http://TheKnitter.com

April Update

I have decided that tax month really sucks the fun out of life. I have been so busy between that and the hockey playoffs that it seems that I have no hobby time left. I have gotten some knitting done regardless.

I finished these socks (March SoTM from TheKnitter.com)a few days back and finally got a picture taken today. This was my first venture into knitting two socks on one circular needle. It worked out okay with a few minor setbacks. I really like this yarn (Trekking XXL)



I have cast on my next set of socks again on the one long circular. Pictures to come when they get a bit longer than an inch.


Wild-

Obviously a disappointing end to the season. I was really proud of the way the team played and I feel that they deserved better. Mikko Koivu and Brian Rolston were in my opinion the two best players for our team. It was awesome to be there for the 3 home playoff games. Will get 'em again next season.

It will be interesting to see what the team looks like next fall. We have quite a few players that are going to be free agents and I imagine the face of the team will be quite different.

Finished socks and an open letter

A Little Twisted Socks the October 2007 SotM from TheKnitter.com, Designed by Debbie O'Neill

My first pair done for March. I am being positive and hoping that I get at least one more pair done this month.

Open Letter to the Minnesota Wild-

As a member of the Team of 18,000, I would like to ask a question.

What is the matter with you? Is it too much to ask that you can win a simple game against a non playoff team? The worry has been coming on for awhile, but now I wonder if we will be using the playoff tickets that we are getting set to pay for. It makes me very sad. All this potential...

I can see the frustration on the coaches faces. A few guys are stepping up but for the most part, it is only one or two in any given game. You need to work hard and quit looking for someone else to carry the load. I challenge any one of you to look yourself in the mirror and be able to say that you are giving 100% effort. A few years back, this team made the playoffs for the first time. It was a team of for the most part little known players who were playing their hearts out for the other members of the team. Well, you are better known now for your skill, but don't have the heart of that team. Remember what it means to be a teammate. Play with some heart, some pride. Stop letting us and yourselves down. NO MORE MESSING AROUND. Be men and do your jobs.

That is all.

Signed,

A sad and frustrated fan

Where did February Go?

I can't believe that a whole month has gone by since I last posted a blog entry. Makes me feel pretty guilty actually. I will admit that I have been avoiding typing as much as possible due to wrist issues, but also I've been doing a fair amount of re-organizing and cleaning up in my fiber room. So I guess I shouldn't feel too badly.

I did finish some socks.

Tea Time
Originally uploaded by magknits218

I was really afraid that I would run out of yarn with these socks. I finished knitting them last night and worked in the last of the ends this noon. The pattern is the December Sock of the Month from TheKnitter.com, designed by Adrienne Fong.

Second pair of the year and another win

My second pair for January



These socks were the May 2002 Sock of the Month from TheKnitter.com. (I need to figure out how to do links again. Sigh) I really enjoyed knitting them, and I hope that no one notices that there are different numbers of cables on the two socks.

Wild win, 5-1

This picture was taken by my son during the warm ups. I figure that he has a better chance of getting down by the glass without being stopped. I need to work on his technique, although I must say that Mikko Koivu never seems to stop moving. Ever.



Great game. We weathered the first period, in which I felt we came out pretty flat. The scoring exploded in the 2nd with the first 3 goals by the Wild coming in quick succession. That was it for Giguere who pitched a very toddler like tantrum.
Butch scored the 4th goal right before the end of the period. Corey Perry scored one for the Ducks which killed Backstrom's shut out. Bummer. And our final goal was a nice job by Sheppard to stick with it and not give up. All and all, a very satisfying night!

Random-

This is the last thing one would ever expect to see when walking in to a hockey arena.



Apparently, the rodeo is in town this weekend.

First socks of the year & a Wild win

These are my first socks of 2008. I actually re-made them for a friend of my daughter. I had knit them with the two toe deal for wearing with sandals. After getting the thumbs down from the aforementioned daughter and thinking I would never wear them that way, they just hung around waiting for a purpose. A friend of DD saw my blog on her computer and asked if I would make her some socks. I undid the toes and ripped them back for length and then re-knit them with regular toes.


Wild-

First period: (0-0)Pretty boring. Could've used a cup of coffee to stay awake.

Second period: (2-0)Much better. Especially since we started scoring. First goal was a beauty by Pavol Demitra. Second goal by James Sheppard, his third of the season.

Third period: (4-1)The Wild's third goal was a bit strange. Belanger threw what looked like a soft shot toward the goal, and it went in. Josh Harding got an assist on that one. Finally, Gaborik got his 25th of the season. The Coyotes killed Josh's shut out on a goal by Doan. To be fair, it was a 5 on 3. Nick was in the box for tripping and then Burns made a rather reckless play that resulted in him being sent to the box for tripping as well. Score came with 2 seconds left in Nick's penalty. It was sad.

Three stars of the game:
Third Star: Gaborik with a goal and an assist
Second Star: Demitra with a goal and an assist
First Star: Harding with an assist and 27(?) saves.

Next game is at home versus the Flames on Wednesday.

Last post of the year

A monkey off my back and it's been there awhile. By my best recollection, I have had these socks in the works for 4 1/2 years. And they are done! I can start the new year off with a clean slate.

Wild-

This was a disappointing game. I thought that the team played pretty well overall. I hate to be pointing fingers, but I feel that a couple bad turnovers by a certain player contributed mightily to this loss. Game 5 of 6 with my daughter. I will be sad when she goes back to school. She is a fun companion.

Time flys (not necessarily having fun)

I have been busy knitting not blogging. I finished 2 and almost 3 pairs of socks this month of November.

The top pair have been hanging about for 3 or 4 years. Done mostly except for the final finishing. Plain laziness on my part. I don't even have anyone to give them to anymore since my daughter has long since grown out of them. Oh well, I'm sure I will find them some feet.

The other pair is the September Sock from the SoTm Club from

It is called Secret Love Socks. My first attempt at an afterthought heel. I will be anxious to see if I need to do any adjusting in that area for the future.

I am almost down to the toe of the third pair of socks. I started that pair in a class I took 4 years ago. It is quite a bit more complex and I spent as much time trying to figure out where I was in the pattern as I did with the knitting. Finished pictures soon.

My wrist is not happy.

Wild-

I think that I will choose to ignore the poor games we have played and focus on the more recent ones. Tonight we played pretty well. Not as well as on Wednesday IMO, but we ended up with the win. Seems to me we spend an awful lot of time passing and not enough time shooting, but what do I know.

Crazy Over You

This title could apply to my socks and the game.



I really enjoyed working with this yarn-Panda Wool in the colorway Circus. I worked the socks using two sets of Crystal Palace bamboo dpns. I actually finished them on Sunday evening.

I started a new pair today. I will add a picture when I make some progress.

Hockey-
The Sidney Crosby show. I think the main benefit of being at the game was not having to hear about him the whole night. Not our best effort. Kim Johnsson left the game and did not return. I still haven't found out what his status is.

And then to see the Oilers lose the game to the Red Wings with less then 30 secs. to go. Not the night for my teams.

My Halloween socks are done!

I finished these socks on Friday. Not bad, it only took me about 3 years to finish the pair. The one thing that I really found interesting is the progression of my knitting technique in those 3 years. If I were starting them now, I could do a better job with the fit, but as it was I just wanted them done so I can wear them this Halloween. Also, I joined a KAL and needed to get them done, and I did!

My other pair is just about there as well. I finished the first except for the toe grafting. The second is done up to the toe. I hope to finish them today.

Hockey-

I don't believe I want to comment at length on the last two games. Except that they didn't embarass themselves in the second game. We play the Avs at 2 this afternoon. Three players out for this game: Backstrom, Demitra, and Gaborik. Here's hoping the rest of the boys step up today and acquit themselves well. Cal Clutterbuck (what a cool name!) should get an opportunity to play his first NHL game. Our rookie, James Sheppard, got his first goal in the Edmonton game.

Two pairs finished

Two pairs finished in one day. The red, white and blue are "Betsy"; the June sock from TheKnitter.com SOTM. The other (not quite sure how to describe the color) is "Hugs and Kisses" the February kit from the same source. My pictures doesn't show the patterning very well. I hope that I will learn to get more detail to show, and I need to learn how to link things in my post.

Trying to resolve technical difficulties and add photos

I have been having problems with the computer that has my pictures downloaded onto it. Problem not entirely resolved, but I am doing a test to try to get a picture to show up here.