Saturday, February 27, 2010

O Ye Of Little Faith vs Be Prepared

Yes, I finished my Olympic challenge!

Part of my challenge to finish a project was also to use up some stash. I have a basket of Simply Soft that needs to be emptied. I checked the yarn requirements for the size 6 T-Top: 12 ounces. I had one full skein of Dark Sage (7 ounces,) a partial skein (about 3 .5 ounces,) and some Ecru which I did not bother to weigh. Big mistake. Of course I would have enough- most patterns overestimate the yarn requirements anyway! Along about Monday of week 2, I began to panic. Would there be enough to finish? Maybe. Maybe not. I could make the body a bit shorter and the sleeves a bit shorter. These sweaters are not knit for an specific individual, so surely someone would be able to wear it not matter what size it was. But I wanted it to look good and be able to keep someone warm.

I was so torn. Would I have enough to finish?

I caved. I pulled out my trusty Michael's coupon and headed to the store on my lunch hour. I purchased the backup skein. I knit and knit and knit.

I finished it!
This is what was left:

I now have added back a skein of Simply Soft.

The basket is groaning! Maybe, though, I will knit a hat to match. There's always room for redemption!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

The Frog at the Olympics

Thursday I joined the Knitting Olympics- my first ever join-up for something sponsored by a blogger. Even though Ravelry has its own Ravelympics, I decided to support the Canadian Yarn Harlot, since she came up with the original idea 4 years ago.

My entry form stated that since I had to work Friday night, I'd be praying for snow and an early closing of the library. Thanks, God!

Did anyone else see the frog at the opening ceremonies? He was there, rippiting rippiting, representing all the athletes who, despite years of training, failed to take the day seriously and counted on former glories to see them through. The yarn and needles were ready, the pattern (Guideposts Knitted T-Top) was somewhere in another room (but no matter- I had knit the sweater several times before,) and I was ready. The pattern calls for the the sweater to be knit in 2 pieces, but I planned to do it in the round. However, apparently I cannot multiply by 2. Not only that, but also I forgot that knitting the garter stitch in the round requires purling every other row. Rippit.Rippit. Another also is that I cannot watch orcas flowing through light water or ice floes breaking up without dropping a stitch.

Results for the first 3 Olympic hours?
One (1) inch of knitting.


Snow total?
Four (4) inches.