January 27, 2006
Knitting Olympics and Injury Reserves
I have caved. I have given in to peer pressure! I am a joiner, what can I say?! I'm thinking about joining and being a part of Team USA in the Knitting Olympics! Am I crazy to try and knit something to completion in just 16 days? Will I drive myself crazy? Probably. Will I finish? I hope so. The good thing is...if I'm crazy, there are a lot of other crazy knitters out there too! When the Yarn Harlot speaks, the masses listen!
So, now it's decision time! What should I attempt to knit that will be challenging and at the same time something that I can accomplish? These are the options (and the projects that I already have yarn for in the stash!):
•Ene from ScarfStyle- knit with Lorna's Laces "Helen's Lace"
•Charlotte's Web #2- (because I'm going to have the first one done any day now!)- knit at a bulkier guage with Noro Silk Garden. This might be too easy, as it's a lot bigger than a real Charlotte's Web.
•I don't think that I want/should knit a garment because I usually don't do so well at getting everything seamed together and it has to be completely put together and blocked. Yikes!
Does anyone have any other suggestions? What are you going to make for the Olympics if you are participating?
**will insert picture as soon as I can**
Why am I on the Injury reserves list, you ask? Well, about a 2 weeks ago I developed this weird dry spot on my finger. It's right where I wrap my yarn around my finger! Cynthia thinks that it's a knitting callus...ha! That's a sure sign that I've been knitting too much lately!! It doesn't hurt all the time, but it doesn't appear to be going away. Weird, huh?
My computer is going in to the Apple store today, Drew says that it is officially a hardware problem. Dang. So...if anyone wants/needs to get a hold of me through email, they can email me at: sheepinthecity AT gmail DOT com . I'll be checking this address a couple times a day at work and a couple times through out the weekend. Everyone cross your fingers that whatever is wrong with my computer is easily remedied!
Posted by Stacey at January 27, 2006 07:33 AMDelurking to say: Yeah, go Team USA!
Posted by: christine at January 27, 2006 11:55 AMI am doing Branching Out from Knitty as my first lace project. I tried it before but the yarn was wrong for it. I have some Alpaca that I am going to try this time. I figured a scarf was small enough that I might actually finish it on time.
Posted by: Nancy at January 27, 2006 12:06 PMA Charlotte made with Silk Garden definitely sounds interesting.
Posted by: Lauren at January 27, 2006 12:36 PMSending your computer healthy vibes. Re: the finger - put some serious salve on it before bed each night. I had one knitting callus that I split open with a 0 when I was doing a lot of sock knitting for the first time. I got a lot of those "dot" bandaids to protect the area and that, along with salve, helped.
I THINK I'm knitting the Hourglass Sweater. It has minimal finishing (knit in the round), which I think is going to be critical.
Posted by: Chris at January 27, 2006 12:37 PMglad to see your up for the challenge! I think Ene would be a nice knit. I've joined the cable team. I'm working on First Aid from Rowan 32(?). It's a cable cardigan - yes I'm insane, but aren't we all?
I've recently been afflicted w/ the knitter's callous also. It tends to happen more when I'm working with thick wool. A little bit of hand lotion seems to do the trick!
Posted by: melissa at January 27, 2006 12:43 PMI'mmaking my first fair isle sweater - but it's for my nephew, so it will be really small. You could also do a garment for one of the little people - your niece, perhaps?
Posted by: michaele at January 27, 2006 12:47 PMThanks for all the tips about my finger...it really is the oddest thing! I'm going to try and put more lotion on it and maybe a bandaid while I'm knitting with the Rio de la Plata yarn. I first noticed it when I started using that yarn?! Thanks for the encouragement about my computer too...thank goodness for extended warranties!!
-Stacey
Posted by: Stacey at January 27, 2006 12:49 PMI'm making Tubey from knitty.com for the Olympics. It's essentially two tubes, one for the shrug portion and one for the body, and there is only one seam where you join the two. I'm horrible at finishing garments also, seaming is the worst. I'm making mine with Elann Peruvian Alpaca, which is soft, but the color I ordered doesn't look at light as it does on the website. I'm thinking of exchanging it for another color, but I"m not sure it would make it there and back in time.
Posted by: Karen at January 27, 2006 01:34 PMI love Ene. The one Cyn is working on got me thinking about it.
Posted by: Kim at January 27, 2006 02:04 PMWelcome ot the team! Me, I'm on the US Lace Knit team. I'm going to be making a self-designed lace stole. I'm probably out of my freakin' mind, but then...that's nothing new.
Posted by: Erica at January 27, 2006 02:08 PMI was going to make Fleur from Rowan Vintage Style, but then I realized it's fingering weight, so now I'm all over the place, trying desperately to decide. It's the Pre-Olympic Challenge: pickign the project!
Posted by: Christine at January 27, 2006 02:22 PMI am going to attempt my first socks!! I think all those options are great! And well I wouldn't be able to finish any of them in time unless well my work observed Olympics (the whole 16 days) as a holiday. They should though really.
Posted by: Jeni at January 27, 2006 03:25 PMI wouldn't do another Charlotte (for the challenge) if I were you. I've found that it is much harder to push through when you do a project a second time right after doing it the first time. It just doesn't have the fun factor too it.
Ene is beautiful... If you've wanted to do that one, go for it!
As for me... I'm still dithering a little between project choices, but I'm leaning towards the Flower Basket Shawl and one (not a pair) sock.
Posted by: Leisel at January 27, 2006 05:34 PMI don't know what Ene looks like, so I can't cast my vote for ya. I'd vote for the Charlottes Web, sinc I adore Silk Garden, but I wonder how that would look? It's a pretty slubby yarn.
Although it says next to my name on the "Athletes" page that I'm knitting socks, I've changed that to Picovoli by Grumperina in MagKnits. Crazy? Probably. I'm looking forward to it though!
Posted by: Faith Fiberflash at January 27, 2006 06:34 PMI have to vote for Ene. GO FOR GOLD!;)
Posted by: Kylie at January 27, 2006 06:59 PMStacey,
I vote for ene. I want to try it, but it looks like it could be a real challenge. Go for it and keep up posted with pics. I think it will be encouraging for all of us if you can do it!
Posted by: Becky at January 27, 2006 08:17 PMI still haven't really decided. I'm thinking of this:
http://www.blacksheepbags.com/kristina_bag.html
I mean, how brilliant! Noro Kureyon and a solid color fair isle to make it look WAY complicated?
Posted by: Scout at January 28, 2006 07:19 AMI have no suggestions, but just wanted to say KNITTER DOWN! Sorry for the bad pun, it just had to happen. See ya later.
Posted by: Wanda at January 28, 2006 10:10 AMHi! I am making a bag, one of three, still haven't decided 100%...hehe...good thing I do have all the yarn and needles needed...phew. Good luck deciding, sorry I'm no help :)
Posted by: Zonda at January 28, 2006 06:52 PMGarment. Garment. GAAAAAAAAAAARMENT. This is not supposed to be easy, missy! This is a freakin' biathalon of knitting and TV viewing. I double dawg dare you to do something with parts. Parts that have to be sewn together, into a fabutastic thing you'll wear until the 2012 Olympics.
GAAAAARMENT!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Ann at January 29, 2006 05:45 PMi was thinking of joining, too, and one of my choices is ene. i'll do it if you do.
Posted by: malia at January 30, 2006 01:28 PMWelcome to the team! I'm on Team Bobbilicious (and I've never bobbled a day in my life)! I'm trying to make Bobbilicious from Knitty. I don't have a "Team USA equipment bag", so maybe I'll have to use my new bag I purchased from Arizona Knitting and Needlepoint (thanks for the tip)! Hope your injury heals in time.
I'm knitting Ene for the Olympics so I'm voting that you should too. The more on the team the better!
Posted by: Dyann at February 3, 2006 09:57 PM