I've been neglecting my blog :(

But then again, with a wedding to plan, I've neglected just about everything, including my knitting.

But at least now, I'm back to knitting, in the last month, I'm finshed one project and working on 2 more.

A pair of socks Spring Forward from Knitty and also Branching Out from Knitty.

The socks for me and the Scarf for a friend.

So back to knitting we go.

Woohoo!!!

Sweater for Me!!!

Ok, so my future Mother-in-Law deceided to knit me a sweater, I had to share it because it came out sooooo cute. I really like it, and I think she did a great job on it.

It's official....I've become Bridezilla!!

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Sprial Petal Shawl.

Ok, this is my 1st real attempt at lace. I hope it comes out well, But I really can't guarentee that it will.

I like the pattern this is what it should look like.




Right now this is as far as I've got.



Wish me luck.

Basic Ribbed Socks...I'm posting so I don't lose it again.

Materials:
100 gm sock yarn – the samples used Fleece Artist’s Merino Sock yarn. This pattern works for any sock yarn with a 28-30 stitch gauge
1 set of 2.5mm double-pointed needles

Gauge:
32 stitches, unstretched, across 4 inches/10cm in K3 P1 rib with 2.5mm needles.

Method:
Cuff:
Cast 60 stitches onto a single needle. Distribute stitches evenly across 3 needles. Join, being careful not to twist.

Work 15 cm/6 inches of K3 P1 ribbing, as follows:

Round 1: *K3, p1; repeat from * to end of round. Repeat this for every round.

Turn Heel:
This portion is worked flat in plain stocking stitch.

Knit first 27 stitches. Put remaining 33 stitches onto a holder. Starting with a purl row, work 21 rows of stocking stitch, slipping the first stitch of every row. The right side is facing for next row.

RS: Knit 18 stitches, SKP, turn
WS: Slip 1, purl 9 stitches, p2tog, turn
RS: Slip 1, knit 9 stitches, SKP, turn

Repeat last two rows until all stitches have been worked. Ensure right side is facing for next row. 11 stitches remain on the needle.

Re-establish Round and Create Gusset:
Knit all heel stitches. Using that same needle, pick up and knit 15 stitches along selvedge edge at side of heel, using slipped stitches as a guide. With a new needle, work in pattern across the 33 stitches of instep – those stitches that you’d set aside on the stitch holder. Using another new needle, pick up and knit 15 stitches along selvedge edge at other side of heel, using slipped stitches as a guide. Work 6 stitches from the first needle.

The beginning of the round is now at the centre of the heel. There should be 20 stitches on the first needle, the 33 stitches of the instep on the second, and 21 on the third. Rearrange the stitches if you need to.

From here on in, the 33 instep stitches will be worked in the rib pattern, and the gusset and sole will be worked in stocking stitch – that is, knitting every round.

Decrease Gusset:
Work a round even – keeping the instep stitches in pattern – twisting all picked-up stitches.

Work a decrease round as follows:
Needle 1: Knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1.
Needle 2: Work all stitches in pattern.
Needle 3: K1, ssk, knit to end.

Work an even round, keeping continuity of pattern.

Repeating these last two rounds until Needles 1 has 13 stitches and Needle 3 has 14. 60 stitches total on your needles.

Work until foot measures 5 cm/2 inches less than desired length.

Shape Toe:
From here on in, you’ll work entirely in stocking stitch. Rearrange the stitches so that you’ve got 15 each on Needles 1 and 3, and 30 on Needle 2.

Work a decrease round, as follows:
Needle 1: Knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1.
Needle 2: K1, SSK, knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1.
Needle 3: K1, SSK, knit to end.

Work 3 rounds even.

Work a decrease round followed by 2 even rounds, twice. [6 rounds total]
Work a decrease round followed by 1 even round, three times. [6 rounds total]
Work 7 more decrease rounds. 8 stitches remain.

To finish, either graft together final stitches or cut yarn, draw through the final stitches and tighten. Weave in ends.

Playoff Push

Hershey, it's not just for Chocolate!!!

Ok, the 1st road trip of the season, we went to Hersehy, we took a little drive, off to see our favorite little hockey team. And since we were there, we went to Chocolate town. And to take a little Chocolate town ride....Sadly the cows in the ride so say SMOOOOOOOOOTH any more, they now sing and say Chocolate is MOOOOOOtricious!!!

After Chocolate town...off to Hockeytown....Ok, so the outcome of the game wasn't exactly what we wanted they lost....and yes they deserved to lose.

After the 1st period they fell asleep.....and never woke up again. The only bright spot on the team....was the player that I wanted to see, my favorite player, New York Islander Shawn Bates, he was sent down to Bridgeport for a conditioning stint, it was his 1st game that he played since Jan 30, 2007. So it's been almost a year sinces hes actually played in a game, and during that 1st game he scored his very 1st Soundtiger GOAL!!!!

That was a wondeful thing too. I got to see the 1st goal that he scored this season, and it was a pretty one.

Really the main reason we went to Hersey was I wanted to get my Jersey signed, i've waited for 3 years to get his Jersey signed, and now....IT'S FINALLY SIGNED!!!!

He was really nice about it too, so thats a good thing. So my night was complete, the only thing left to do....Drive home from Hershey.

Finally after a quick stop to get something to drink and a not so quick stop for dinner and gas, we got home at 330am....uggghhh!!!

My Vacation.....

I'm a little delayed with posting, but I'm almost back to my normal self here in my new home.

I want to thank Maxine, for a wonderful "vacation" she sent me some great goodies from England.

Some yummy chocolates, and tea, and some awesome yarns.

I really want to thank her, and so sorry it took me so long to post it.

Home Sweet Home....Finally

I have to say, I'm finally moved in. It me a long time to do, but now, I'm in. And hey almost settlted, it's gonna take me a little bit to get everything in and done, but it's a work in progress, and I think it will be for a little while still.

But, right now, everything is unpacked and all utilities are working (ok, so I lived without cable for 5 days and when the cable man got here today, they told me...hey you actually have cable, it was already turned on UGGGHHH!!!! I could have at least watched the last baseball game of the season (for us anyway) but thats ok to, it's hockey season, and we won't even mention football season, there are 11 weeks left and if we are lucky the dolphins may actually win 1 or 2 of those games.

Once all the craziness dies down, I will have everyone over for a visit.

See you soon.

Vikki

I just had to share this one!!!!

Why did the yankees have to lose on my Birthday!!!

So it was a beautiful day at Yankee Stadium, unfortunatly I didn't get the outcome that I was hoping for.







But then again, when they play on my birthday, I ususally don't. The Yankees played Tampa Bay, but really since they are playing the last place team, that dosen't automatically involve a win for them...ususally it just doesnt even end well for them.




Phil Hughes was looking for his 1st win at Yankee Staduim....but guess what...he's still looking...for some reason....I think when he pitches....the rest of the team just dosen't show up.



All in all it was a great day. I even got my picture taken with Derek Jeter...well sorta.




All I can say is

LET'S GO YANKEES!!!!

And theres still a lot of baseball left to play....I think they can still do it.

I did a crazy thing....

Ok when have you known me not to do crazy things.

I bought a new car but it was about that time for me to do so...and no that wasn't the really crazy thing, but how many people do you know buy a new car and buy the exact same car that they just got rid of....ummm I did!!

Well there was a couple of good reasons for it. The new car when I drove it off the lot on wednesday night had 1 mile on it...ok now it has just a few more, but thats ok too.

But today it officially feels like my car. I installed the Sirius, which made me happy because I hate terrestial radio...it's all about the Sirius!!!



Now my question is for you. Can you tell which is the old and which is the new!!!

I finished my socks!!!

I just had to post some pictures. I finaly finished my 1st pair of socks.

Yes they were torture, they were awful, and terrible, and the 1st sock was frogged about a million times.

I didn't have 2nd sock syndrome and I now have my very 1st pair of hand knit socks, which I love. I can't wait to make another pair.

Because I didn't have enough yarn I had to go buy more.

I know I probably shouldn't have bought more yarn, but I did.

I found out about the best sale about 2 months ago and have been waiting patiently for it. Farmhouse Yarns had an awsome sale, it was by invitation only and she had bins and bins of yarn, just about anything you could think of....I found. I was able to get a really good deal. I save myself over $200.00 by buying it today.

I only had to take an hour drive to East Haddam to go get it. I even got to see some of the sheep that it came from.

I can't wait to start knittin with it. I don't know what I'm going to make, but I'm sure I will figure something out.

Whale Watch Weekend....aka...WWW

It was a great weekend!!!

One of my friends asked me if we could go away for the weekend and go on a whale watch, so I took my little travel agent skills and planned us a trip.

We stayed in Danvers MA and drove up early saturday morning, had alot of fun. After an easy ride up, and a late lunch, we went to get our boat....which was seven seas whale watch we saw lots of whales.







After the whale watch, we went wandering around gloucester as well, which is such a cute little town.



After a long day in sun we went to dinner (at the ever so exciting Chili's) we decided to explore the hotel a little bit....it was beautiful.



Then it was off to bed, the next day we got up and went to explore Salem. We wandered around the city a little bit and we walked up and down Essex Street and did a little shopping, then off to the Cemetary, I saw the graves of some famous people, so that was cool too.

All in all it was a great weekend, and I can't wait to do it again

Stitch and Pitch

Ok, so I had my own little version of the real thing....actually I do this probably 2 times a month or so.

We have a local independant team in town, so we go a lot. And I ususally bring my knitting.

But yesterdays game was a little more special than ususal.

I finished a sock!!!! Ok, so it was just one sock, but it's done, and that's all that matters. I can't believe it's done. I hope the next one is a little bit easier. I'm sure it will be.



And yes, that is my foot.....with the game behind it. And in case you were wondering, its the New Haven County Cutters....and they won the game.

Who ever said socks were easy to knit....LIED!!!!

Ok, so I deceided to knit my 1st pair of socks. Ok thats all well and good, but I'm about 12 hours of knitting in and I'm driving myself crazy.



I've got some progress going, but I really thought I was not going to make it when I turned the heel, the flap was frogged about 5 times and lets not even talk about turning it. WOW!!!



But now I think I finally got a handle on it and I'm doing better. I like the way they are turning out, so maybe in a day or so I'll have it done, and not to worry, I won't end up with SSS (Second Sock Syndrome)

Wish me luck.

Knitting is sport...

Well the yarn harlot said so, it must be true!!!

A sport is defined as "a physically and mentally challenging activity carried out with a recreational purpose for competition, self-enjoyment, to attain ecellence for the developemtn of a skill or some combination of these"

Clearly according to this definition KNITTING IS A SPORT!!!

Describing knitting as a sport goes a long way toward making us less crazy in the eyes of the rest of the world. People accept passion for a sport, and if you put knitting in this context, you no longer have to explain why you find it so intereting. Sports are interesting,. If thousands of people can cather in stadiums all over the world and watch grown men in thight pants try to move a ball from one end of the grass to the other then surly a person can develope an interst in watching a loop of yarn move from one needle to another. It's really all a matter of perspective.

If knitting is a sport you don't have to explain why you have a neddle collection, swift, or ball winder. Sports have equipment. You dont have to explain why you have so many patterns. Sports have training books and playbooks. Knitting classes and groups, sounds like practice with the coach. You don't have to explain the boundless interest and passion for knitting as long as grown men are painting their shirtless bodies with team colors. You dont have to explain all the yar....Well, you may have to explain all the yarn but wouldn't it be easier to explain if there was a closet full of hockey equipment right next to it? I think so too!!!

Alyssa's Slippers

One of my friends, have been bugging me for a few weeks now, she asked me if I could knit slippers for her daughter, she's one (actually she wanted them for her birthday last week)

I didn't know what to do, and wasn't sure what do you knit a 1 year old, but after a few patterns, and a whole lot of yarn, I came up with this.



I hope she likes them!!!

Three Things.........

That Knitters would like others to understand.

1. We can knit and listen at the same time. Just because I'm knitting dosen't mean that you don't have my attention, I'm multi-tasking!!

2. The best you can buy me is YARN!! Do not think that because I have a lot of yarn, I don't need more. I have a lot of yarn, because I like it.

3. Even though I'm cursing and gritting my teeth so hard that you could crack diamonds between them, I assure you that I like knitting. I think it's fun and I am relaxing.