A Little Yarn On The Side

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...

Bob:  Before we continue our coverage of the 2010 Ravelympics, we pause for a few words from our sponsors: For those times when knitting is becoming overwhelming and you can't decide between a shot of tequila or a handful of chocolates to steady your nerves.....  It's time for for Anthon-Berry's liqueur-filled chocolates.  Anthon-Berry's--when one vice just isn't enough. And...they're lean!  They're mean!  They're racing machines!  It's..... The Racing Grannies RC racers!  Grandmothers--they're not just for knitting anymore! For that special knitting friend--you know who she is--it's  the Crazy Cat Lady Action Figure!  Comes complete with green carpet slippers, 6 cats, and a wild look of desperation in her eyes.  (Not recommended for small children or anyone trying to get a date) Planning a party for a few of your knitting friends and looking for a little ice-breaker?  It's....  the Inflatable Party Sheep!  ...

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-...