Ravelympics 2008

The Ravelympics 2008 have come to a close. There was struggle. There was victory. There was defeat.

Team GlassNeedle competed in, and won medals in several events

The Mamajama 3 won medals in WIPs Wrestling.

I won a total of 4 medals in WIPs Wrestling, 2 in Hand Dyed Hurdles, and 1 in the Sweater Sprint.

Ravelympics 2008 - Sweater Sprint - DONE!

I'm done! I'm done!

I can't believe I actually finished it. I don't like the seams, the next sweater I do will be in the round because I just don't like this sewing nonsense. I'm not too fond of how I did the collar either, but I'll live with it becasue - I KNIT A SWEATER IN 14 DAYS! FOURTEEN DAYS!!!!

Ravelympics2008 - Hand Dyed Hurdles

I have my second medal in the Ravelympics in the Hand Dyed Hurdles!

A Letter to Knit Picks

"Game on! The Ravelympics began on Friday! I'm competing in the Sweater Sprint (OMG a sweater in 17 days? Am I insane? Wait, please don't answer that.) knitting the Plain Vanilla Pullover from More Big Girl Knits (bought on Sale from Knit Picks!) with Swish Worsted (it's so yummy!). I'm knitting like a maniac, then tragedy strikes!

The 32" interchangeable cable for my Options needles breaks - it separates at the metal-meets-purple-plastic joint right when I'm in the middle of the row!!

OH NO!!!!!

Stitches dropping left and right!! KNITTING CARNAGE!

I manage to calm myself and implement a crisis plan to pick up the stitches, wiggle out the needle and swap cables with no damage (and little time lost, I have a schedule to keep if I'm going to finish in 17... no 15 days! YIKES). Thankfully, I have another 32" cable handy in my tote that my mom got when she gave the Options needle set to me (mom's are the best!). Sleeves and Back of the sweater are done! Whew! I might actually make it even though one 32" Options cable gave up it's life in the herculean effort...

I cast on for the front and get two rows done and disaster strikes AGAIN! My remaining 32" cable separates right at the joint just like the first cable!

OH NOOOOOOOO! Oh the Horror! Oh the Humanity!!!!

Thankfully, I have 24" cable that's not occupied with another project. So I was able to recruit the 24" cable into service I feel like Rocky at the top of the stairs!"

The above was part of a letter that I sent to Knit Picks Customer Service. The very next morning, Amber sent me an email letting me know replacements would be on the way!!

WIPs Wrestling Complete!

I have received my first medal in the 2008 Ravelympics!! I completed the Rainy Day socks for WIPs Wrestling. And I'm making great progress on my sweater for the Sweater Sprint.

Ravelympics, Olympics, and Tibet

The Olympics and the Ravelympics start tomorrow! This is exciting (and problematic) for me on several levels.

I’ve always been a big fan of the Olympics. We got our very first color TV just in time for the 1980 Winter Olympics. My brother was sick at the time, like stay-at-home-from-school-for-a-week-and-whine-on-the-couch sick. So the new color TV was a delightful acquisition in his eyes I’m sure. The remote control was a delightful acquisition in my eyes. (muah ha ha haaaaa). You see, we’re talking the OLD DAYS here, where you actually had to get up and walk over to the TV to change channels. We had never had a remote control before. I don’t even think we knew what it was. Well, I discovered that I could sit at the top of the stairs, unseen by my cranky-sick brother and point that little remote at the new shiny TV

Click

Bro: WTF (or whatever teen aged boys said in the 80s). Stumbles up and changes the channel back to what ever he was watching, slumps back on the couch.

Me: Giggles evily.

Five minutes later.

Click

Lather Rinse Repeat

This went on for quite some time until the Mother caught me and well, we know how that turned out.

But it was an Olympic year. We watched the hockey team win. And since the RemoteControl-Torture Olympics, I really get into the event every time it airs (Big yays from me for splitting the summer and winter events to happen in different years!). I love the obscure events like shooting and judo. Women’s Hockey is the best. Watching the distance running events? Not so much fun. There’s so much drama! It brings out all of my all-american-flag-a'waving pride!

As I have previously discussed, one member of my household is none to fond of certain aspects of the Olympic experience (namely, the theme song, gymnasts and horses. Oh and the kung fu fighting which is very limited despite her impression).

However, I’m especially torn about the China Olympics this year. Regardless of the fact that my company is hosting a lunch in honor of the beginning of the Olympics (that is very sweet) as we have large facilities in China, I just can’t really support the Olympics this year. I highly respect all the Chinese people I have known over the years but I can’t get behind anything sponsored by the government of the People’s Republic of China. The genocide in Tibet , the atrocities of the revolution, there are countless examples where the government has trampled human rights and have decimated cultures. I will celebrate Chinese as individuals, but not their government as a whole

But I will rally behind the Ravelympics!!
This is a fantastic event on Ravelry where you sign up for Olympic Teams and compete in events! I’m in the Sweater Sprint, the WIPs Wrestling, and Hand Dyed Hurdles. I’m concerned about being able to finish my sweater in time, but I will try my best!! That’s what counts in the Olympics, er, Ravelympics, I’ll certainly get an A for effort!

More on the sweater as I progress…

Fiber Mania

This is my week of Fiber Mania! I met Bev (AKA emmasdaughter) at the College Street Café in Clinton on Monday. I think we might make Mondays a regular meeting! Then I met Vanessa (AKA DivaMissV) at Panera’s on Tuesday. I hope to make this semi regular too! Yes yes, I know! Three days of knitting (because we can’t leave out the Rome Wednesday’s group!) might be a bit much (especially when MissV and I forget all about the time and leave poor hubby sitting in the parking lot for HOURS! Sorry MrV!!). But I think I’m going to need the inspiration. I’ve got a lot going on:

The Sock Madness:
The Mother has roped me in to some sock insanity. We’re in the “Pair-a-Month” challenge on Ravelry. I joined a few months late, and the Mother has convinced me I need to catch up. I have 5 and a half pairs done. So in the next 5 months I have to do 6 more pairs. August will be tough to double up on this challenge (see madness below), and Sept and Nov are reserved for the Pentathlon. But if all goes well, this should be no big deal (so sayeth the madwoman).

Ravelympic Madness:
The Ravelympics – sign up, choose an event, cast on during the opening ceremony, cast off by the closing ceremony. Mom has convinced me I can knit a sweater in 17 days. You know, its insane and an almost impossible task, but I’m going to go for it!

Secret Surprise Project:
This one isn’t going into Ravelry, and I have to get some yarn for it. But it shouldn’t take too long.

Claire’s Jawbreaker:
I’ve finished the back but the front is giving me some trouble. I just have to concentrate for a bit. I hope to have this done for her way before Rheinbeck (crosses fingers)

The Super Secret Super Exciting Project:
This one is going to throw a wrench in all my plans! I’m so excited about it that I’m obsessively tracking my LoopyEwe delivery (see above). I just can’t wait for the yarn to arrive so I can get busy!

The Shawl(s):
I got it in my head that I wanted to spin and knit a shawl for myself in 2008. Then I thought I’d spin and knit 2 shawls for 2 of my girlfriends. Well, that might have been a bit ambitious. I’m not even all the way thru the first 4oz of fiber. Its just been too hot an humid to spin! The stuff just felts in my fingertips! So I’m not sure I’ll get THREE done, but I do want at least 1.

Whew, that’s a lot of stuff!

Gymnasts are forces of EVIL

LeeLuu: So Mommy, we're going to the Olympics?

Me: No, LeeLuu. We're doing the Ravelympics?

LeeLuu: Is Poppy coming? Because he has peanut butter and you never give me peanut butter.

Me: I give you peanut butter all the time

LeeLuu: Poppy's tastes better. The Olympics are filled with forces of evil.

Me: No, there are no forces of evil in the Olympics, just gymnasts.

LeeLuu: They Kung fu fight.

Me: Gymnasts are not kung fu fighters. Can I knit please?

LeeLuu: I don't like knitting. You should stop and give me peanut butter. You never give me peanut butter.

Me: Yes LeeLuu.