A Little Yarn On The Side

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...