A Little Yarn On The Side

Bob:  We're here at Ravelympics Training camp with some very surprising developments. Ron:  Right you are, Bob.  In a sudden burst of activity, Ms. Sutton blocked FIVE scarves yesterday, without incident.....   Bob:  It looks like there might have been a little kitty subterfuge involved, but Ms. Sutton has completed her stretching exercises, and possibly even more surprisingly,  is on day 3 of what could become her endurance test. Ron:  Now this is earlier than you expected for the endurance test, isn't it Bob? Bob:  It is indeed, Ron.  We had expected to see a little more activity with the mohair sweater but some ongoing yarn thinning problems have landed it in the Project Protection Program, and we believe the sweater is currently in hiding somewhere in Montana and answering to the name "Beauford." Ron:  Certainly an unexpected turn of events, but with the new baby sweater already being on the third day, it's off to...

Bob and Ron have the weekend off, so I thought I'd do a quick update without them. I have had a weekend all by myself.  This was not actually the intention, as we had agreed to go on a 3-day camping trip with friends, but my back could neither handle the car ride there nor (most likely) any part of actually being there, so Andy went with our friends and I have had a resting/crafting weekend.  The fact that MY weekend involved indoor plumbing was an added bonus. I have 2 more mitten ornaments: a pair of fleece pants finished (which are in the washing machine which makes them difficult to photograph, but you can take my word for this one),the start of a Mr. Flurry snowman: a potential project for my "high jump" item:   which is a brioche stitch ha t.....that currently makes me want to drink heavily, but I'm hoping will improve once I get past the beginning whole-bunch-of-needles-and-few-stitches nightmare.  This is why I generally prefer hats that start wit...

Items needing to be blocked: Blocking day beginning: Blocking day after Theo's "rodent gift episode:" Tomorrow:  Blocking Day part two...............

Bob:  We're back at the Ravelympics training camp, where Ms. Sutton is showing tremendous progress on the one-row scarf: Ron:  I believe she's more than half finished with the scarf, is that correct? Bob: It does look like it Ron.  From here it looks like she might be even farther along--maybe 65%. Ron:  Now this is her core training project--any chance this is also her endurance test project? Bob:  Not a chance.  Ms. Sutton has spent a small amount of time with the mohair sweater, and even some time with Ron:  Cross stitch, now that is a surprising turn of events.  Seeing such an uncharacteristic move this early--could it be Ms. Sutton is cracking from the strain already? Bob:  It's hard to say, Ron, but the presence of the slowest possible craft Ms. Sutton has ever undertaken is a bit worrisome, though perhaps she is trying to finish up her "12 threads" for the 12-12s event before the year advances too far.   Ron:...

Ron:  We're here at day 3 of the Ravelympics training camp. Ms. Sutton is still going strong with the wind sprints, but it looks like she may also be moving on to another exercise as well: Bob:  Now this could be either the endurance test or the core training as it looks like the one-row scarf that Ms. Sutton has made so many, many, MANY times. Ron: It does certainly look like one of her "go-to" patterns, though it could be problematic for her "12 12s" challenge as there is no category for scarves. Bob:  She may be using it in her "catch-all" category of "12 gifts," provided that there is a single person Ms. Sutton knows who hasn't already received a one-row scarf.  Ron:  Good point, Bob.  We may be seeing some gift knitting.  As Ms. Sutton has just been spotted working on the mohair sweater, she can't yet be attempting the 10-day endurance test. Bob:  Could this sweater be a serious contender for the endurance tes...

Bob:  With the summer Ravelympics less than two months away, we're here at the Ravelympics training camp for Team Stashdown .  Knitletes are preparing for what could be the most grueling Ravelympics we've seen yet. Ron:  How right you are, Bob.  The winter Ravelympics follow closely on the heels of the most grueling knitting season:  the Christmas sweater smackdown.  Knitletes who managed to pound out a cabled men's sweater in the month leading up to Christmas are lean, mean, and hardened, so they're focused and ready for the winter games.  The summer games could be a different story. Bob:  That's right, Ron.  With summer vacations, hot weather making wool completely unappealing, and the general disgust often experienced by knitters who branch out into the cotton yarn family , summer is often a slow knitting time.  And aside from the isolated odd-ball knitter family, there is no general crafting mania building up to Easter or St. Pat...