sheepless in suburbia...

Reaching the podium...

 

Nordic Lap Blanket - hemmed, ends woven in, washed and blocked.

43" X 59"

Finish time: 5:57 PM Mountain Standard Time

 
 

              

 

My Olympic Landscape...

And so I knit. And knit. And knit. And knit more.  I feel like I have been climbing a mountain and finally the summit is within my sights. And now there is nothing left to do, but continue knitting. One stitch, one row, one pattern repeat.  

And so... I knit.

No time to write...

Lessons learned:

• Over confidence leads to disaster.  I do know my pattern now - but I fell into complacency on a pattern turn - making a four row repeat error. I sustained a "frogging " time penalty (speed is great but I'm also going  for technical merits as well) and have managed to get myself back on track.
• I knit best during the day - the natural light is optimal for these failing eyes of mine.
• I can knit through the pain- oddly my hands, wrists and fingers are achy, but it my gluteus maximus that is taking a real beating.
• Chocolate covered expresso coffee beans are my friend. (I don't think they are on the doping list).

Refocusing ...

Week One of my Ravelympic journey has been a long week in some respects, and all too short in others.  My first few days were marked by falling short of my "requisite row goals" (let's call those my qualification rounds). As each day racked up less than stellar finishes, I began to lose hope. Yesterday I called it a day, joined Youngman 2 for Ginger Beef Brunch at our favorite Chinese restaurant. I watched a movie. I surfed through Ravelry for a bit, trying to convince myself that I had set a goal too lofty, too grandiose and just by starting it I deserved a self served pat on the back. But I want more than that. My goal was to cast on during the opening ceremonies and CAST OFF during the closing ones.

Last night I completed my first border. I have 4 days to get myself back on track while I knit the centre of the lap blanket...

And so I knit.

A few laps behind...

I am in need of some serious knitting time here...  I have let myself become distracted suffered a number of time delays due to half Marathons (basking in my own glorious reflection) and Valentines Day. Do they give a gold medal for scarfing down chocolate, red dye #016D jelly beans, and heart shaped tooth sticking  jujubes?

The Men's Downhill was thrilling, and I could not knit and watch at the same time - one had to reign supreme ... and I confess the knitting lost. I also stopped knitting during the Men's Snowboard Cross. Plus The Old Guy is installing cabinet drawers, Cosmo "the substitute sheep" dog required a heavy brushing (in which I acquired enough fibre to warrant opening my own mill) and I have discovered that Youngman 2 is actually on reading week - and that's why he is only "checking in" to refuel, change his socks and get more gas money.

I have also acquired some personal injuries along the way. My rear end is suffering immensely as I am not used to sitting for such long periods. I have worn a Olympic sized oval rut into my left forefinger as the yarn slides over the knuckle towards my needles - requiring me to pull out the big guns - my Turbo Addis.  The good news is that I haven't sat on my glasses,  lost control of my pattern on the turn around or heaven forbid! dumped my beer on anything requiring me to yell " does anybody have a spare zamboni?"

A big day...

... this morning while everyone was snug in their jammies, I was on the trail.  I completed my first winter half marathon with 2 friends. The race is aptly named "The Hypothermic Half" and the weather did not disappoint with a damp overcast -4, which in retrospect is quite balmy. The hoar frost was absolutely spectacular. I've been in training for the Weekend to End Women's Cancer 60 km walk, and I am delighted to announce that I recorded my personal best walking time!

After a carbo loading brunch of hash browns, 4 bacon, 1 sausage and fruit salad,  I came home to a box of my favorite chocolates and the smell of salmon on the Barbie. The Old Guy is preparing a special "Chef at  Home" dinner. I have soaked, ate chocolate and am now ready for part two of my day...

... Day three knitting to come.

    Opening Ceremonies 2010...

I was all set for the big opening ceremonial long tail cast on... yarn, needles, pattern, row counter ... pizza.  The much anticipated ceremonial first stitch...

On the actual knitting front - I managed 12 rows. I have calculated a required 20 rows per day to complete in good time. Which may not sound like much. But...

Cast on: " 99..100...101...102... 103..."

"Wow! that was cool!"

"What?"

"Ya missed it..."

"Oh...  oh rats... 1 ... 2... 3... 4..."

Row 2: knit knit knit knit knit knit (my flick finger is getting a little cranky...)

Row 3: knit knit knit knit knit (I'm an ambidextrous knitter so I have a "no purl advantage" when it comes to stocking stitch projects).

Row 4: knit knit knit knit knit knit... (I think my bicep is cramping!)

"What's the matter?"

"I think I'm getting a bicep cramp"

"And what row are you on?

"... 4 "

" You're hooped..."

(Opening Ceremony results)

Let the games begin...

And now without further adieu this is my Ravelry 2010 project. It is from the Patons website. Going with the winter games theme it is a Nordic fair isle pattern. I haven't done fair isle in ages - so the good news is that there are only 2 colours being worked at any one time.  For the Go! Canada Go! theme - it has maple leaves along the borders, and I'm using yarn locally produced at Custom Woolen Mills using  wool that is 100% grown in Western Canada.

I can't start until the opening ceremonies officially begin this evening. Perhaps I need to practice my longtail cast on...

Ravelympic Logos and Avatars...

This is the official 2010 Ravelympics Logo. It has been my desktop wallpaper on both my home and work computers for a month. To keep me motivated.

This is my sheepless avatar for the 2010 Ravelympics. I am a proud member of Team Canada. I am in 2 events. The Nordic Colourwork Combined and the Giantslalom-ghan (now say that 1o times with a mouthful of marbles!).

Pop back tomorrow to see my 2010 project...

Countdown to Ravelympics 2010...

I continue my pre games training. I've wound all my yarn from skeins to balls. I have enlarged the pattern charts for my elderly eyes, and am currently working on my "chart sample" just to make sure the pattern is correct. (You can see the developing Maple Leaf motif in the photo above). I am currently trying to determine exactly how many rows I need to knit daily to stay on track for "casting off success" during the closing ceremonies. I'd really like to not cut things that close...