A Little Yarn On The Side

      Bob:   Well, it's been a tremendous couple of weeks, but it's time to say good-bye to the 2010 Ravelympics.  With tonight's closing ceremonies, the games and the knitting frenzy come to an end. Ron:  Hard to believe it's only been 17 days.  What a tremendous woolly output we've seen from the nearly 10,000 worldwide participants.  Bob: We're here with one of the participants.  Tell us, Ms. Sutton, how do you feel now that it's all over? Toni:  Well, Bob, I think I'm still a bit shocked to have actually finished. Ron:  So you weren't sure you would finish? Toni:  There are just so many things that can happen--a design flaw, running short of yarn, broken needles, a freak moth invasion--nothing is a given in competitive knitting. Bob:  Now that you've come this far, what are your plans?  Are you considering turning pro? Toni:  Well, Bob, I did consider it briefly, but the life of a professional kn...

Bob:  We're back at the 2010 Ravelympics, and after 15 grueling days, Ms. Sutton has just crossed the finish line for the Sweaterboard Cross. Ron:  Well, I don't mind admitting that I never thought she would pull it off.  And entire sweater in 15 days--and by a woman who actually set aside a nearly-completed sweater for almost 2 entire years before sewing the sweater seams. Bob:  You certainly make a good point, Ron.  This is well outside of Ms. Sutton's usual knitting behavior.  She has really been pushing hard during the games. Ron:  She certainly has.  And her support team has truly been phenomenal.  Theo was on hand for the entire final push.     and her very patient husband has been cheering her on during the entire event.   Bob:   Do we have a shot of him as well. Ron:  No--apparently he has left on an "emergency white chocolate martini run," and is unavailable for comment. Bob:  How about...

Bob:   We're here at Day 14 of the 2010 Ravelympics.  Tensions are mounting as the final days tick by.  Will the contestants finish in time? Ron:  With just 3 days to go, it's anyone's game.  Just one mistake--one frogging--and it's all over.  The knitletes are DEFINITELY showing signs of stress now. Bob:  Checking in with Ms. Sutton, she now has a second sleeve finished but not attach ed, and the first neckband partially done.  She might really make it on time! Ron:  Do we have pictures of her progress? Bob:  When our cameraman approached her about taking photos, I believe her response was "Get stuffed, you moron, can't you see I'm knitting?????" which he chose to interpret as "no photos right now, please." Ron:  Ah, I see.  Well, contestants do tend to get a bit cranky during the last few days of competition.  Perhaps we can try again tomorrow night. Bob:   Good idea, Ron.....let's hope tomorrow is a w...

Ron:  This just in:  Ms. Sutton is approaching the sleeve cap shaping!  There could be a finished sleeve very soon now, and then it's all down to the button bands.  Can she stick with it long enough????? Bob:  Keep it right here for the latest developments for the last few days of the 2010 Ravelympics.

Bob:  We're back at the 2010 Ravelympics.  It's been 12 grueling days of extreme knitting, and I think the strain on the competitors may be starting to show. Ron:  I think you're right, Bob.  With just one sleeve and the button bands left to go, I think Ms. Sutton is starting to lose some steam.  Bob: The pressure of knitting an entire sweater in 17 days is extremely high, and not many knitters can cope with that sort of project dedication.  Not normally an extremely monogamous knitter, I've been surprised that Ms. Sutton has shown the dedication that she has. Ron:  Good point, Bob.  She's surprised us all by getting this far, and I think we might just see the end of the 10th skein of yarn tonight. Bob:  That would definitely make up for the lack of knitting earlier today.  There was the early deciding-to-try-making-pad-thai-for-lunch distraction, and then this afternoon, I was afraid for a minute that we had lost her entirely. ...

Ron:  We're back, ladies and gentlemen, at the 2010 Ravelympics.  It's been a tense 24 hours here, but with some quality tubby rubbing time the hostage situation has been cleared up and Ms. Sutton is back on track for the Sweaterboard Cross. Bob:  She's certainly faced some challenges during the games, but she buckled down today with new determination and we have definitely seen some major progress today. Ron:  We certainly have, Bob.  One sleeve is completed, the second is cast on, and for the first time it looks possible that Ms. Sutton will not only finish her sweater, but possibly finish it early .  Bob:  Anything is possible at this stage, Ron.  She's definitely playing a smart game right now.  She's knitting the sleeves on double pointed needles to eliminate the need for seams, and it really seems to be paying off for her. Ron:  It certainly does, Bob.  She's a much faster knitter than purler, so switching to circular...

Bob:  Here we are, ladies and gentlemen, at Day 10 of the 2010 Ravelympic games.  Let's check in with Ms. Sutton to see how she's progressing... Ron:  THIS JUST IN!  It appears we have a potential hostage situation developing.  Ms. Sutton's project is being held by an unknown assailant.  Oh, the agony Ms. Sutton must be feeling!!!! Bob:  Can we get a visual of the sweater-napper? Ron:  I'd say he means business--just look at those eyes.  Any word on the wool-napper's demands? Bob:  It's a bit early, but it sounds like he is asking for two hours of playtime and some extended "tummy rubbing." Ron:  A heartbreaking development, truly.  Keep it tuned here for updates on this latest Ravelympics development...

Bob:  Well, here we are just past the half-way point of the 2010 Ravelympics.  With only 8 days remaining, we're now approaching "crunch time." Ron:  This is the time when we'll really discover what our competitors are truly made of.  Bob:  Right you are, Ron!  It's time to separate the Fun Fur from the merino--sink or swim time.  We now check in with Ms. Sutton's progress.  She's finished the 6th ball of yarn and is almost done with the seventh, but she's now using two balls at once, so progress is going to be much slower. Ron:  True.  Now I understand that when she split for the sleeves, she opted to knit the back separately before moving on to the two front pieces.  Any speculation as to why she might take such a step? Bob:  To be honest, Ron, it's often hard to imagine why Ms. Sutton does things, but in this case I might guess that she wanted to move things along more quickly by not messing with three skeins of yar...

Ron:  We're here at the 2010 Ravelympics on day 8 and we're fast approaching the half0way point of the 2010 games.  Will our contender finish her sweater in time? Bob:  It could go either way right now, Ron, but there are unconfirmed rumors of a sleeve opening sighting.  If that is the case, Ms. Sutton could well be on target for finishing her sweater before the games end.  When the games resume tomorrow morning, we will definitely be looking for confirmation.  Will it be down to the wire.......?

Bob:  Here we are on Day 7 of the 2010 Ravelympics.  With less than 10 days to go, the competition is heating up. Ron:  How right you are, Bob!  Between the sweat pouring off the furiously-knitting competitors and the ever-growing pile of woolly goodness, there's definitely a warming trend here at Ravelympic headquarters. Bob:  As some of the contestants finish their projects, many of them are entering new events, but others are already looking forward to some of the upcoming knitting events, aren't they?  Ron:  They are indeed.  Of course the first one coming up will be "The Bachelor," where 10 women compete to knit our bachelor a sweater to try to see if ANY of them can survive the dreaded Boyfriend Sweater Curse. Bob:  Then right after that, we move on to "Knitting With The Stars," featuring 5 B-list celebrities who, never having knit before, will have to produce ever-more challenging knitted items until only one celebrity remains ...

Bob:  We're here at the 2010 Ravelympics on Day Six, and the competitors are definitely starting to feel the pressure after almost one full week of knitting. Ron:  How right you are, Bob! With only 11 days to go, it's gut-check time.  Will the project really be finished and does the knitter have the stamina to go the distance? Bob:  Let's check in now with one of our competitors--Ms. Sutton, are you with us? Ron:  Looks like we might have been disconnected there, Bob.  I thought I heard her mutter something about a gym and "warding off knitter's ass."  I think perhaps Ms. Sutton's dedication has waned slightly. Bob:  Too bad--she was showing such strength.  Can we get a shot of her progress to date? Ron:  Yes--here we are: She's now on the 5th skein of yarn, and if our calculations are correct, she'll need a total of 12, so she might be one-third of the way there. Bob:  Let's hope so, Ron, as the 2010 Ravelympics are ju...

Bob:  We're here at the 2010 Ravelympics and the Sweaterboard Cross Event.  One entire sweater knit in 17 days--that's quite an undertaking. Ron: It is indeed, Bob!  This is the kind of knitting that tries women's souls.  Knitters must dig deep into their background--their training--to compete at this level. Bob:  We've been watching Ms. Sutton in her first Sweaterboard Cross event.  Do you think her training will allow her to go the distance? Ron:  Well, as you know Bob, Ms. Sutton spent her formative knitting years in the late 70s and early 80s with only Red Heart worsted to train with.  That was a tough, ugly way to begin, but being part of the pom-pom era can really only strengthen a knitter. Bob:  Too true, Ron.  Growing up on the wrong side of the sheep can definitely toughen up a knitter.  But what about the project monogamy required for this sort of marathon knitting?  In the past, this has not been Ms. Sutton's...

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Bob: We're here at the medic tent the injured Sutton sweater.  It looks bad, folks.  A 6" by 2.5" patch is incorrect, and we're waiting to hear if the injury can be healed, or if this is the end of the road for this sweater. Ron: It's sad to see such a debilitating injury this early in the competition......  Bob:  Wait!  Do you see what I see???  Ms. Sutton is going to try using the ladder technique to correct the problems.   She is actually going to undo each column of stitching and, with the aid of a sterilized crochet hook, rework each column to be the correct pattern!!! Ron:  What a tremendously brave attempt!  To undo 6 inches of knitting by reworking one column at a time--this will take hours!  If it can even be done!  I thought I had seen everything.... Bob: They're applying the anesthesia now and we'll be hoping to hear the results in a few hours......

Bob:  The torch has been lit, and the 2010 Ravelympics have officially begun! Ron: Right you are, Bob!  We're joining the action at the end of the first full day of competition.  Now Ms. Sutton got a delayed start--do you have more on that Bob? Bob: Informed sources tell us that Ms. Sutton spent much of last night at a pre-Valentine's Day dinner party with friends, and her cast-on was delayed almost 12 hours.  It's too early to tell how much of an impact those lost hours will make, but it was a gutsy--if not actually a smart--move on Ms. Sutton's part. Ron:  I see Ms. Sutton has chosen the cable cast on, rather than the more traditional long-tail method.  A good strategic move, do you think? Bob:   I do, Ron.  Ms. Sutton has often struggled with running short of yarn on the long-tail cast on, and after a 12-hour delayed start, she can't afford many more delays.  Ron:  I see Ms. Sutton is altering the pattern during cast on-...

Bob:  With just hours to go before the torch-lighting for the 2010 Ravelympics, we take a look at some of the last-minute preparations being done by one of the contestants.  Ms. Sutton, thank you for taking time to talk with us this morning.  Tell us, what sorts of things are you doing today?   Toni:  Well, Bob, first I did a little dusting. Bob:  Now I notice you're chosen to use Endust at this point.  Are you mostly a spray-polish duster? Toni:  Well, generally I'm a "this-is-a-big-freakin'-waste-of-time" sort of duster, but I thought the house might be a bit frightening two weeks from now. Bob: I see.  I notice you've been accumulating a few things today.  Can you tell us about them? Toni: Certainly, Bob.  First there's some hand lotion --always a necessity for any type of knitting marathon, especially here in the drier climates.  And of course a large supply of coffee   to help me keep my focus. Bob:...

Ron:  With less than 24 hours until the 2010 Ravelympics kickoff, we're here with one of the contestants .  Ms. Sutton, what you can tell us about this year's competition? Toni:  Well Ron, to date there are more than 8300 knitters from around the world signed up and ready to compete.  Some will be competing on multiple events--such as perhaps the Scarf Super-G as well as Sock Hockey--while some of us are tackling a single, larger project. Ron:  So participants have 16 days to complete their events.  That's a lot of pressure for what many of us would consider a grandmotherly-sort of sport. Toni:  Don't let the stereotypes fool you.  Anyone who has ever witnessed the carnage at a 50%-off sale of cashmere yarn can tell you, knitting is not for the timid. Ron:  You're signed up for the Sweaterboard Cross and the Stash Compulsory Dance, which--let me get this straight--is an ENTIRE sweater made from stash yarn within 16 days.  Is...

Ravelympics (and, I suppose, the Olympics) kick off Friday at 7:00 PM in my time zone.  And I will be out having dinner with friends.  I know--where's my dedication?  Where's my team spirit?  Obviously, I may not be cut out to be a professional "knitlete"  (You've heard of poetic license, right?  This is blog license--I can make up any words or terms on my knitting blog that I want, provided they have something to do with knitting.  This is one of the perks of ignoring reality) as I have no intention of changing plans.  But I do promise to cast on the moment we get home. I am getting ready, though.  I have lined up audio books, movies, we have lots of spaghetti sauce in the freezer, and the ingredients for white chocolate martinis are in the refrigerator (which won't really help the knitting but WILL make attempting to knit a sweater in 16 days seem less crazy).  Just under 2 days until the kickoff.....maybe I should be doing stretche...

One of the things that I hoped the "100 Projects" project would do is to force entice me into finishing some of the sewing and knitting WIPS laying around.  I mean, let's face it--the idea of starting and finishing 100 projects in 365 days is a bit crazy....even for me.  While it seems to have had no impact on the knitting WIPS, this weekend I did finish I apologize for the rather bad picture--I didn't realize it was that bad until I had already thrown the jacket into the washing machine.  I'm about 50% happy with it.  The thing is supposed to have shoulder pads, but I have really broad shoulders for a woman, so that part looks fine without them, but the sleeves are unbelievably long--and not in a way that would be fixed by shoulder pads.  In stocking feet, I am 5' 8" tall.  I don't have short arms.  In fact, I have rather long arms.  So, what Amazon tribe are the psychos at the pattern company using for models??????? Not that I'm not thrille...

Make sure one is actually WEARING the wrist pin cushion before jabbing the pins at one's wrist.....

which Theo thinks is quite disgraceful. I did finish the front of the cowl-neck sweater and I think I moved the neckline up far enough so that the world will have to continue to wonder whether my belly button is an "innie" or an "outie." The sleeves have been started, so I'm hoping to finish it before the Ravelympics start on Friday.  Of course, I'm hoping to finish a whole dang sweater in 17 days, so I am hardly one to be trusted on such things. I was really hoping to finish this fleece jacket today but since this project had been started more than a year ago, there was a good hour devoted to finding all the various pieces and parts.  I think my original plan was to do some sort of decorative stitching on this somewhere, but now I'm almost wondering about some sort of embroidery? It's going to be a bit dull otherwise, don't you think?

The lid to the lace weight bin will almost close without having to set something heavy on top of it!!!!! In my world, we learn to celebrate small achievements......

So last night--after posting my totals for the month--I finished the "WIP Celebration Scarf:" which was intended as a long scarf that would go in the gift bin, but somewhere along the line I got the idea to make it a shorter scarf to be worn tied at the neck--ascot style, I think?...and to keep it.  Unless I really, really, really need a gift before I get the chance to wear it.  (I lose a lot of scarves and socks this way) So, 11 projects done in the first month!!!!!!  Of course, after that I was so excited that I immediately cast on and if you're thinking that yarn looks suspiciously familiar, you would be correct!  It's the same yarn I used for the WIP Celebration scarf....which was left over from the Kimono shawl.  I'm not sure exactly how much of this stuff I have, but let's just say I'm in no danger of running out on this scarf.  It's going to be simple, but a wide, drape-y scarf for Andy to wear with his nice winter coat.  I've been looki...