I changed my mind...

Olympic Knitting Day12

(aka big pile of yarn)

After accepting that I was never going to finish my Olympic Liesl in time for the closing ceremonies, I came up with another plan.   You see, I was never all that crazy about the color of the yarn (pretty but not my pretty).   That combined with a friend announcing her pregnancy and the color I really like becoming available brought me to plan B.   I ripped out the incomplete (to put it mildly) Liesl,  ordered a Liesl's worth of Comfy Bulky in Planetarium (a very me blue), and am using the SeaFoam Comfy to make a baby blanket for the expecting friend (who despite my pleading wants to be surprised by the baby's gender). 

I usually crochet my baby blankets but am doing something a little different this time.   One of my favorite shawls is the Silk Swirl Shawl by Joan Schroader.   All I am doing here is following that pattern but with a bulky, rather than lace wt., yarn.   I am still undecided re: the edging (a simple ruffle perhaps?).   It is going really fast, looks nice and feels divine.   As this is for a summer baby in Florida, cotton is the order of the day.

Olympic Knitting....

Olympic Knitting

Epcot Canada

Not very sporting, I know, but I have accepted the fact that there is no way, after four rip-outs, that I will never get this sweater done in time for the closing ceremonies of this years Winter Olympics.   I will complete the sweater, just not on time.      For now, I will work on this sweater until the Olympics end.  Then, I think, I will finish Shawl That Jazz (only needs another inch of ruffle) before finishing Liesl.  Next Winter Olympics I am going to knit a dishcloth scarf.

Olympic Liesl

Day 9

Saturday we went to Epcot to celebrate our 14th anniversary.   Among other fun things, I got to work on my Olympic Knitting in Canada.   We were at Disney during the last Canadian Olympics (summer) and there were tons of Olympic themed items for sale at Epcot Canada.   This time not so much.   I was a bit disappointed with that.   I had really wanted to get an Olympic tote bag for my Olympic knitting (hokey, I know).   Also, missed were the Dale of Norway knitting kits in Norway.   I think, like so many other places, Disney is cutting back.   All was not lost, though, I found a cute knitting tote in England (photos to come).  It has sheep in a field and the caption "Baaad Girls".

At guest services we picked up Anniversary buttons that we wore all day.  Consequently, we were picked as the "first family" for the show at the USA pavilion.   It was so much fun to be made a fuss over but Hubby and I agree that the best part was getting to sit on real chairs for the concert (rather than benches or the floor).   We may be getting old but at least we are doing it together.

One step forward, three steps back...

Olympic Liesl Day 1

Day 1:  Stayed up late, cast on, knit a row and went to sleep (by this time it was technically day 2)

Olympic Liesl Day 3

Day 3:  Trouble getting started and staying on track but by now I was feeling good, like I was on a roll.

Olympic Liesl Day 5

Day 5:  Past the yoke increases, messed up a row, pulled back too far, a dropped stitch ran, much swearing insued, ripped the whole *!@# darn thing back, cast on, knit a row, went to sleep.

Olympic Liesl Day 7

Day 7:  Moving right along (again).   It will be a miracle if I finish this *!@# dang sweater in the time alloted.

Knitting Olympics

www.bistrodeleon.com

This is our favorite "grown-up" restaurant, where I knit between courses at yesterday's Valentine's Day lunch. See, it is not that I am not working on my Olympic  Liesl whenever possible.  The problem is that I have ripped it out and restarted it three times!    First, I forgot the button holes.    Then I skipped the first row.   Then I did not like the placement of the button holes (and one was on the wrong side).    Despite these trials, I like the pattern (it is, despite all evidence to the contrary, easy to understand) and I LOVE the yarn (KP Comfy Bulky).    The fact is that this is not an unusual start to a project for me.    I know what I like and am not afraid to rip-out and re-start to get it.   What is different about this project is the time issue.   While I am sure that I will have a Liesl to wear this spring, I am not sure if I will have it by the finish of the Olympic Games.   I guess that is what makes it a challenge.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's a beginning....

Liesl day1

Did you see the Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony?    It was wonderful; beautiful, artistic, compelling and very Canadian.   We loved it.  An unexpected bonus were the performances by my favorite musical artists (Sarah McLachlan, K.D. Lang, and Loreena McKennit).   Hubby and tween stayed up too (teen is visiting the ex this weekend).   A good time was had by all.

Casting on as the Olympic Torch was lit required staying up past midnight.    Not being a night person (I usually go to bed at 9), it was a struggle but I did it.   Still, done in with fatigue, I barely managed to cast-on and knit one row before stumbling off to bed.   I worked on it some more this afternoon while watching speed  skating and will get a little more done tonight while watching Apollo Ono.  

The pattern is proving to be easier this time, which is something of a relief.   I was worried that I might be losing my knitting grip.   The deadline is still a bit daunting but so long as I get more done each day than I did last night, I should be okay.

Keep knitting and don't forget to cheer on your Olympiads.

Let the Games Begin….

Tonight is the night.   The opening ceremony for the Knitting (and other) Olympics begins at 7:15pm (EST).   I am as ready as I can be.    The yarn (KP Comfy Bulky) and needles (KP Options) for my chosen project (Ysolda’s Liesl) are here, and good to go.    It is only a matter of time.

I didn’t actually make it through the last Knitting Olympics (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome stinks) and, I have to admit to doubts about this attempt.    It is not so much the time crunch.   I know that if I find the pattern doable, the sweater will get made.   It is just that, lately, I am having a hard time with things that do not usually challenge me.   This pattern is just one of those things.    I have already cast on and knit a bit, twice, only to find out that I did not like the yarn or understand that pattern.   I am an accomplished knitter.   I have read the Ravelry notes and spoken to a couple of friends who have made it.   It is not hard.    I chose it because it is obviously a challenge to me, but what if I am not up to that challenge.    Maybe I am just having performance jitters.   Surely I will feel better once I get going.

The time approaches, my friends.   Are you ready to cast on?