WIP Wednesday - Beautiful and Bright

I often think of my blog on my way to work on Wednesdays.  As I drive across a bridge, the colors often inspire what I start my post about.  Today, the colors were just so vivid.  The trees are finally at their greenest and the pale blue sky just made the color stand out.  The bright orange of the construction sign contrasted with the blue steel of the bridge and the red car in front of me.

Anyway, these colors are great examples of why I love colorful projects.  I love using the rainbow of colors at my fingertips to make something beautiful and bright.

Candy Skein Leftie

Let's Go Pens!

Well my lucky Leftie got a bit larger this week and the Pittsburgh Penguins advanced to a 2-1 lead over the Ottawa Senators.  I did knit on it during the third game but with a minute left I put it away because I thought we were going to win.  Clearly it needs to be out and in progress during the entire game.

Juicy Hitchhiker

Pretty Pink and Purple Hitchhiker

So I have mentioned this shawl when talking about Tropical Ginger Hitchhiker but I haven't had a chance to get a good picture or much work on it.  Thankfully, I had a lot of time yesterday where I worked on at the Election Polls.  We didn't have a great turn out for our local primary but I had 15 hours where I had to occupy myself and reading and knitting were my favorite options.  I needed something easy that could be picked up and put down and this shawl fits those requirements.  I also worked on a solid Justice League Square as well.

There was a part of me that wanted to finish the other hitchhiker but it is still benched.  Honestly it had better be late June before that thing is worked on again.  (read: Stanley Cup Finals are in the middle of June)


Juego Sin Fin en el Verano (Endless Juego in Summer)

I am working on the Juego Knit-A-Long with SpaceCadetCreations in Celeste base.  The colors are Endless Summer and Burnt Clay.  The Endless Summer was a Yarn Alliance exclusive from last September.  I love the green blue and orange that is weaving it's way around clue one and clue two is starting to grow on me.  I wasn't too keen on the clue at first but seeing the later clues has enabled me to keep working on it.  The burnt clay is really lovely and I just love squishing the ball I wound.

I have kept my swift and yarn winder in my car as well as my Maryland yarn to avoid the temptation to start all the projects but I really need to bring it in soon.  Anyway, I put two large Pens tumblers on the floor and stretched the yarn around it to wind the ball for this project.  It worked fairly well.  I tried it again for Leftie and it was a bit messy (Huge honking knots)!

Anyway, that was my week.  Hope yours is going well.

#letsgopens

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

WIP Wedneday - Hockey Knitting

After watching game 1 last night of the Pens/Senators series, I have calmed down a bit.  The series is still going to hard fought and gritty but I liked the Pens play last night better than anything in the first series against the Islanders.

As I mentioned in my first playoff post, I really got into crochet and knitting during the 2009-2010 season because it was just enough distraction that I could watch the game but not get so invested that the vein in my forehead would pulse.

In all seriousness, it was bound that I would knit because I really liked to crochet but wanted to learn something new, so here we are 4ish years later and I am still working on new and interesting things.  But as any knitter in the Pens Rav Group will tell you, superstition is a very tricky thing.

Tropical Ginger Hitchhiker

Ooo Stripes!

During the first series, I picked up the Hitchhiker.  I had already started it and it's turning out really pretty and the pattern is super easy.  So why switch when one project is close to being done.  I have 32 teeth done and need to get to at least 42.

As the series went on, the Pens play was mediocre but I kept knitting and watching.  During the last game, I got so exasperated  I put my knitting down and picked up my ipad and started to read a book because it could block out the screen.  It wasn't an immediate recovery, but they ended up wining.  When I then thought back to the other games the Pens won, the hitchhiker was no where near my fingers when they played well.  So into the craft bag for you dear shawl.  See you on non- game days.

Candy Skein Leftie

So last night, I picked up the Leftie to knit the last part of the green leaf.  I had worked on it a bit last Thursday but didn't finish the row.  I wanted to finish the row and then I was going to go back to the hitchhiker.  However, when I looked up at the game while my hands worked the stitches I noticed the play on the screen.  These were not the pod penguins that showed up in series 1 these were the guys I knew and loved.  So my hands kept knitting.  I worked on that shawl all night.  Back and forth I went in the grey and the team was very dominant in the offensive zone.

Here is what has been accomplished so far

As they played, I realized I just found my playoff knitting.  But there is some credence to this project.  Tami from CandySkein is a Pens fan and since she dyed the yarn there was definitely good juju on the yarn.  Seriously, these things matter!

I know to those who may not follow the sport, this account seems a little silly but as hockey fans we are very superstitious.

It's only weird if it doesn't work!  (I know it's about football but it still applies here!)

Okay that's better.

#LETSGOPENS  For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

And the stress just escalated to epic levels....Round 2

I just recovered from the first round and the second round starts tonight...way to give us fans a breather.  I have no idea what to think of with this series because the Pens did not perform the way I had hoped.

#LetsGoPens

Here is a quick series recap:

Image from Islander's Wikipedia Page

Opponent:  New York Islanders
Game 1: NYI 0 - PENS 5
Game 2: NYI 4 - PENS 3
Game 3: PENS 5 - NYI 4 (OT)
Game 4: PENS 4 - NYI 6
Game 5: NYI 0 - PENS 4
Game 6: PENS 4 - NYI 3 (OT)

The series was back and forth.  The Pens were hot and shut down the team in 2 games and did just enough to win in the two over time wins.

The Islanders came out with no expectations and that is the scariest kind of team. Many thought the series would be a sweep but the pesky and talented team came to play and gave the Eastern Conference Leaders a run for their money.

In the 2010 playoffs, the Pens were surprised by a Montreal team that steam rolled the Capitals and trapped the Pens.

In the 2011 playoffs, the Pens made the playoffs despite Malkin out with an MCL injury and Crosby sidelined with concussion symptoms.  My expectations were not high but the team couldn't close out the series and Tampa Bay moved on.

Last season in the 2012 Playoffs, the Flyers just made my blood boil.  They instigated chaos and in return got the Pens away from their game.

In comparisons to the past couple of playoffs these games felt different.  There were flashes of brilliance and then tons of mistakes.  The series was really won in the special teams.  The power play was on point and the penalty kill really kept the games close.  All in all, this series added a few more gray hairs on my head.

My dad got to watch a practice this season.  This is Dad with Matt Nisknanen and Craig Adams

I think the funniest thing that I will remember from the series was during Game 6, I was at home watching the game with my dad.  We were synchronized with our comments during the game (read: swearing at the team)  There were moments at the exact same time the same curse word would leave our mouths.  Then we yelled at the announcer to call the game rather than give us some inane fact that didn't matter the play on the ice.

Dad and i are cursing in sync.This is how we roll.#letsgopens
— Heather (@hmg_PGH) May 11, 2013

So as I gear up for the Senators in the next series tonight I am anxious and nervous but I wouldn't want it any other way.

#LetsGoPens

<3 Heather