My Gold Medal

Tada! I received my gold medal today...:-) [see sidebar] Isn't it lovely? I am ever so proud. If you haven't visited www.yarnharlot.com yet you're missing something. She has written a very amusing post-script to the whole Olympics thing.

I didn't quite know what to do with myself after I finished the socks. So...I started another pair of course. These are for me (a real treat). I am off to New York on Saturday to visit family and wanted to have something started that was portable. Before I started the socks, though I made sure to block the pieces of the sweater I made for my (newly adopted) niece, Molly. She's 15 months old and I'll get to meet her this weekend! Auntie is very excited...:-)

Off to do laundry now...or I shall be naked in New York....brrrrr....

Sono Rifinito!

Okay, yeah....I'm speaking Italian in honor of the Olympics.

Sono così felice di essere fatto! Ho rifinito due giorni davanti a programma!
[I am so happy to be done! I finished two days ahead of schedule!]

Total actual knitting (and frogging) time: 39 hours, 48 minutes.
Number of loads of laundry done in the last two weeks: 1
Number of times house vacuumed: 1
Number of times bathroom cleaned: 1 (and that was done by #1 son)
Number of hours of sleep lost: too numerous to count

The precious twins are now soaking in their tepid Eucalan bath. Their recipient will be back stateside in early March and I can't wait to give them to her.

Congrats to SOCK TEAM USA!
Debbie :-)

...the light at the end of the tunnel....

Good gracious I got so much done tonight! I'm ready for toe shaping, which means I should be done tomorrow - woohoo! Too tired to do a picture - I'll save that for when I'm finished...:-)

ciao for niao

How Many More Laps?

I'm in the homestretch I think....about to make my way down the foot on the second sock. So far they are looking more identical than fraternal, which is a good thing...:-) My goal today was to finish all the gusset decreases and voila! It helped that for possibly the first time, I actually got some knitting done at our knitting ministry meeting tonight. I'm usually flitting from one knitter to another helping with this and that (which I love to do, by the way - I am not complaining!).....but tonight it was nice to just sit, knit and visit. Because, fellow travelers, I'm tired. I just checked my mental calendar and can't believe that I do not have to be anywhere else but home for the next four evenings. That is -- in a word -- rare. So I do believe I can finish before the flame goes out - woohoo! I will be sorry to see the Games end though. It means I have no excuse not to clean the bathroom.....on the other hand, I'm very close to running to Mervyn's to get more underwear just so I don't have to spend precious knitting time doing laundry.....hmmm....

Sock 1....

Okay. Finished sock #1. I'm a full day behind schedule. But the last two days have been worth it. I went to Stitches West and soaked it all in, taking three classes and spending hours at Market (I was good and only went a tad over my "budget").... I took classes from Leslye Solomon (Continental Knitting), Sally Melville (Color Knitting) and Beth Walker-O'Brien (Aran Knitting) and sooo wanted to get home last night (and today) to practice stuff from class and play with my new yarn (luscious baby alpaca for some socks for me (!) and a beautiful purple heathery wool for an Aran for me (my first attempt), but I had this sock to finish!! I guess in my "hurry-up-edness" I decided it was long enough and got the toe shaping all done only to discover that it was...uh, well, not. Ripping back a sock is NOT fun. And it's time consuming. Lots of Olympic penalties there! My overall time on this first sock was just under 20 hours. Not my personal best. Or maybe it is...since I've never timed myself before...I had better break my own 'record' on sock #2 if I'm going to beat the Olympic flame. No, I don't have Monday off! At any rate, I'm happy with the way the sock turned out. [click on the picture to see it up close - the ribbing is cool.] Now on to its' (hopefully identical rather than fraternal) twin.

p.s. What can I say about Sally Melville? Knitting Greatness. Awesome teacher. Just a regular ol' gal like all of us. And very funny, eh?

Day 5 - all gussied up

Total elapsed knitting time: 11 hours, 18 minutes. Yes, folks, I'm using a stopwatch - hey, it's the Olympics! I'm in the homestretch (kinda) on this first sock. The gusset is completed and I'll be starting the foot tomorrow. This is good since I can be more mobile with it and not have to refer to the pattern anymore. I should be able to turn on the afterburners now! To stay on track I need to have this one finished by Friday night. I put myself a little behind by not knitting last night. Can you imagine me not knitting? I'm not sure what the problem was last night - I guess I just needed some down time. Where's my cheering section?

Day 4

I'm pretty much on schedule I think....I spent my lunch hour today turning the heel and picking up gusset stitches. Tonight I'll do the gusset decrease and then it's a nice trip down the foot! I have a few non-knitting things to attend to tonight (how irritating)....wish I could just knit all night. But alas....

Day 3

Managed to get almost 3 hours of knitting time in, which was a feat in itself. I'm debating leg length now - a few more rows? or not - before starting the heel flap. Luckily the person I'm making these for has the same size feet I do, so I can be my own model...:-) I'm very happy with the way these are turning out - which is a relief! The picture doesn't do the yarn justice at all.

GO SOCK TEAM USA!

Day 2

Well......I managed to get only about 4 more rows done today. In my fantasy world I spent the whole day knitting. In my real world, there were cars to get and drop off at the shop, projects to get done around the house, errands to run, and a company party to attend (complete with feather boas!)....just got home. Since the socks don't look any different than they did yesterday, although I know they are a fraction longer, I will not bother with a picture. Time to rest up and flex my fingers for tomorrow! Knit on!

Day 1

Total knitting time: 2 hrs. 56 min.
Total inches: 2.5
Total rows: 27
The picture's a bit out of focus, just like my eyes. Doesn't seem like much knitting for 3 hours work, although I was interrupted a bit and was watching the Opening Ceremonies and keeping an eye on the Sharks game (they won!) Sweet dreams for now.

...and so it begins...

Not much knitting time today since I'm at work, but here's what I was able to get done while I kinda sorta had lunch. A whole six rows! Woohoo! The picture quality isn't up to par since I took it with my phone, but you get the idea. A sock is born...:-)

The Knitting Olympics Athletes Pledge

I, a knitter of able hands and quick wits, do 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.
Let the games begin!
[official pledge, courtesy of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, aka the Yarn Harlot]

I Am Ready

Just about 12 hours until cast on....and I'm ready. I have relegated all negative thoughts about not being able to finish to the trash bin. The plan is to plug away, knitting at every possible nanosecond. My family will get tired of seeing me like this....so what else is new? It's nice to have an "excuse" not to clean the toilet. Here is my athletic equipment - pattern book, needles, yarn. It's Rowan Felted Tweed in a very nice steel grey. These are birthday socks for a friend, who happens to be the friend I went to Scotland with two summers ago. She picked out this yarn in Edinburgh for me to make her socks. Alas, it has taken me this long to get around to it. I'm slow. She's patient. Wish me luck!!

Countdown to the (Knitting) Olympics

First off, I deleted the post with all my pictures. I decided it was just too much to scroll through. I'm going to have a link somewhere to my photo album which I think will be much simpler. Who knows when I'll get to that. The Olympics are coming! I'm hyperventilating a bit about finishing a pair of socks in 16 days, while also 1) going to work; 2) paying attention to family and critters; 3) attending Stitches West for 2 days, including 9 hours of classes; 4) gathering my tax stuff together to send off to the tax guy; 5) preparing two devotions for the women's retreat at church; 6) doing some cleaning out and rearranging so #1 son can move in; and oh yeah....7) sleep!

I love being busy and I hate being busy, all at the same time. More later!

sad, sad day.....

Not one stitch of knitting was done today. Way long day and way tired....you know I'm tired when I fall asleep during "24". Jack couldn't even keep me awake.....so why didn't I just go to bed? Because I was determined to get buttons on my blog. Ta da!!

Knitting Olympics

Talk about crazy. I think I want to sign up for the Knitting Olympics. You have to knit something during the Olympics - can't start until the flame is lit and you have to have it finished by the time it's extinguished. And it has to be something that's a bit of a challenge for you. Gee, that give me a pretty long list. I want to make a mobius scarf (a scarf with no ends and a twist in the middle) - though I fear I may take the whole 16 days trying to cast on this oddity of knitting, since I really want to knit the version that you don't have to graft together, very intriguing....we'll see!

Hey, here's something that's finished! I knit these for my sister for her birthday. The yarn is from Simply Sock Yarn Company and the pattern (twisted rib) is from Sensational Knitted Socks - the best sock book I've found yet. I will never knit socks on anything but two circulars anymore (oh, and they must be Addi Turbos!)

here I go....

I'm not sure how this is going to work but let's give it a go. My intention today is to get something up on this blog. I need to remember to enjoy the journey and not get too frustrated at my inept blog-ability. I'm looking forward to a relatively peaceful day with no children around - time to blog and knit and get a few other things down around here.

WELL....funny how things change. Oldest son just called to tell me his car died last night and he needs help getting it towed, etc. "Whatever's convenient for you, Mom." ...no comment... Okay, I'm not complaining - I'm glad I have the time today to help him out.

But let's try posting a picture first, otherwise I will feel like I've done nothing here. This is the shawl I'm working on. It's for a woman at church, sweet Doris, who is at home recuperating after a long and serious stay in ICU. This is ministry work and the yarn was donated (by Mrs. Anonymous). The pattern is actually for a baby blanket knit diagonally. Not sure how I'll finish off the long edge yet but I have time to figure that out. I've only had to rip back twice and not too far - woohoo! The yarn is Marks & Kattens Monsun in a really nice shade of green. It's made in France - ooh lala!