Friday, February 12, 2010

Yarn, needles, plan...

The Knitting Olympics Athletes Pledge

I, a knitter of able hands and quick wits, to hereby swear that over the course of these Olympics I will uphold the highest standard of knitterly excellence.

I will be deft of hand and sure of pattern, I will overcome troubles of yarn overs and misplaced decreases. I will use the gifts of intelligence and persistence (as well as caffeine and chocolate) and I will execute my art to the highest form, carrying with me the hope for excellence known to every knitter.

I strive to win. To do my best, and to approach the needles with my own best effort in mind, without comparing myself to my fellow knitters, for they have challenges unique to them.

While I engage in this pursuit of excellence and my own personal, individual best, I also swear that I will continue to engage with my family in conversation, care for my pets, speak kindly with those who would ask me to do something other than knit, and above all, above every stitch thrown or picked, above every cable, every heel stitch, every change of colour, I swear this:

That I will remember that this is not the real Olympics, that I'm supposed to be having fun and that my happiness and self-worth ride not on my success....
but on my trying.                                                                      (authored by Yarn Harlot)

All set to begin cast on tonight....except for one thing.... haven't figured out what design to do on the yoke.  Think I will be winging it as I go along.  Also, have switched to a new yarn for me... Leche.  It has milk protein in it.  I know, weird, but it is machine washable and came in the right color.  My usual go-to yarn (Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran) was not available in the cream today at Seed Stitch. I do have one skein of the Debbie Bliss Rialto to use in the colorwork however.  The best part was that I got 15% off today because it is the month of my birthday!   I'll be swatching and browsing through my copy of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting for a yoke pattern during the opening ceremonies.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Knitting Olympics

Signed up for the Knitting Olympics on Yarn Harlot's blog. Need a quick baby gift for my friend Steve's new baby.  I plan on doing my version of the Debbie Bliss Raglan Baby Sweater with a few extra details thrown in.  I'm planning on some yoke colorwork detail and I think the picot edge hem on the cuffs and bottom edge like I did for Diane's twins.  Of course to make it a real challenge....hat and booties will have to be included.  "Training" begins today...need to get the yarn and the design in place.