A Little Yarn On The Side

It's March 1, the end of the Ravelympics, and it's time to get back to normal on the blog....or as normal as it ever gets.  Thanks to everyone for the cheers and support.  Knitting that much put me behind on almost everything else--including catching up on everyone else's blogs--but I'm slowly catching up. Since yesterday was the end of February, checking in on the monthly tallies:      Projects finished:  3      Yards of fabric used: 1.5 (quite pathetic)      Yards of yarn used:  2108 (YAY!)      Skeins of yarn used:  18 (SCORE!) So Year to Date:      Projects finished: 13      Yards of yarn used:  3550      Skeins of yarn used:  25.25      Yards of fabric used:  10.58 To make my goal of 100 projects a year, I have to average just over 8 projects a month, which puts me sl...

      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...