The End of Another Great Event

I've finally crossed the finish line and all of my events are done. I entered this project in the Lace Luge and my mittens were in the Mitten Mogul Event.



Pattern: Birds Nest Smoke Ring Cowl
Yarn: Madelinetosh Sock in Dahlia colorway
Needles: Size 5 & 6
Mods: Left out one repeat (my neck isn't that long). I also made an error in the second repeat where I should've moved my marker at the end of a round but completely skipped it. I can definitely see it now that it's blocked out. Can you see it?



Since this is a cowl and is worn bunched up, I wasn't going to sweat it (plus, realizing it about 20 rows later meant that I was NEVER going to knit back to fix it in a million years anyway with all those yarn overs!).

Overall, I really enjoyed this pattern. It has a chart (which would've made me see my boo-boo earlier on) and written instructions so anyone can do it. What I wasn't crazy about was the picot edging. That messed me up more than anything for some reason (and it's so EASY!). Next time I'll just knit a regular edge and crochet a scallop or picot edge on if necessary. Crocheting is SO much easier to rip back and fix for someone like me who can fall asleep while knitting.

I used the same yarn for my SIL's cowl (that was worsted weight though) and the "bleeding" issue was still pretty bad. Three rinses and it was still turning the rinse water pink. Oh well. It's lovely otherwise. I really should email them and let them know that's a bit excessive though.

I'm very pleased to be done for the 2010 Ravelympics. Now I can breathe, rest, and knit whatever the heck I want to, when I want to. It was fun, but I'm ready to be a slouch again. Go Team USA and Go Ravelympians!!

One Event Down, One To Go....

Pattern: Lola's Flip-Top Mittens

(pattern is in "101 One Skein Designer Patterns")

Yarn: Moda Dea Sassy in Crush (discontinued)

Team: Burnin' Up The Stash (We're teamBUTS!)

Size 2 needles

I made the women's size medium I believe (7" hand circ.) and they're a bit snug. I think I could've gone a size larger as tight of a knitter as I am.

Mods: Used the same 1x1 ribbing up on the flap instead of garter stitch and used my own decreases for the top.

I didn't add a button....yet. Still deciding if I want to.
I love this design. The flap is pretty sturdy, it doesn't seem as floppy as some I've seen and read about. Next time I would make my bottom ribbing longer as well, I like more coverage on my wrists.

I know this one is boring but it's very soft and squishy. I used this UFO as an entry for the Yarn Harlot's Olympics. I got it done but was slow at getting the ends weaved in.

Pattern: Lion Brands Baby Blanket (about 32x32)

Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun

Size 11 needles

Colorway: Baroque

This is an entry into Dawn's contest she's holding for lapghans for her Grandmother's nursing home. Just spreading a little love. I have another one already going as well. Sometimes Garter stitch is so relaxing. This is stash yarn as well. Maybe someday I'll be able to see my closet floor!

Onward for Olympic Gold. Go USA!

Olympic Spirit!

Wow! All set and cast on for the Ravelympics! What a fabulously fun thing to be involved in! This is my second time and I have to admit, it's even more fun this time. I joined two teams this year, I'm on Team Mine! (for us "selfish" knitters) and Team BUTS (Burning Up The Stash - no explanation why I'm there is necessary) I'm having SO much fun, but haven't gotten too much knitting done. Yet.

I've also joined Yarn Harlot's Knitting Olympics as well. For that challenge I'm going to working on one of two UFO's that are just the bane of my existence so they ARE a HUGE challenge for me. I don't even want to say what they are (and I said I'd only finish one to save face).
Confession: I am NOT a sports fan. I get totally annoyed at announcers voices and constant banter and I hate that "two minutes left on the clock" could take 2 hours to wrap up. I would rather just watch the very end to get the score than watch a whole game of ANYthing. But the Olympics are so different for me. It's so much more. So much much more. I especially love the Winter Ones.

Gee, I wonder why?

Hmmmmmmm.

Yowza.

Ahhhhhh........Awesome.

Back to the games.....

Ravelympic CHAMPION

Dawn's First Ravelympics Challenge 2008

My Purple Haze Faze will continue. I love my scarf.
I love it. I love it. I love it.


Jade Sapphire Cashmere-Silk 2 ply
Plum Crazy Colorway #45
Knitpicks Harmony Straights Size 4
Started Friday, August 8, 2008 8:00 pm
Ended Tuesday, August 19, 2008 2:04 pm

NOTE: Thanks to Rav still letting people ADD things to the Ravelympics (Dawn? Anna?), I found out my Purple socks DO qualify under the WIPsWrestling Category. I started them right before the Olympics started and finished them in the allowed time. They COUNT!! Woohoo!!! (Cut off time isn't until the 25th....)

Mission Complete. Many Thanks to everyone who cheered me on to victory. I couldn't have done it without your support. I'm so grateful for all of your friendships and all of the awesome encouragement you sent my way. You guys are the best.

Now I'm going to go collapse. Well, after I go cheer for my fellow Ravellers.
The games continue......

Ravelympics Update- Day ? (heck I don't know)

What I do know is that I've been a knitting machine, well...... here and there anyway. I'm probably about half way done now. I don't even know how much time I have left really but I'm going to try to get it done before the end.
Scarf's are tough. Knitting a scarf takes extended fortitude and perserverance. Knitting a scarf can be SO BORING! Add the lace bit in there and that equals my personal challenge. But hey! Row 11 isn't killing me as bad anymore! As long as I mute the TV when doing it I'm pretty much okay with it now. We've made our peace.

Well, Team USA is having it's ups and downs in the Olympics but I guess that keeps it exciting. I've still been enjoying watching what I can and tonight I think Michael goes for Gold #6. I'll be watching that for sure!

Right now I'm waiting for the gal to come by my house to do a quick medical check for my life insurance. I don't know why I'm nervous, maybe it's the whole blood work thing. As I get older my veins are getting finicky. I just wish it was over with!!! It should only take about 15 minutes, but what would I do if I had nothing to complain about?

Ravelympics-Day 2

How exciting! I really enjoyed the opening ceremonies this go around. It always chokes me up though, I'm a big crybaby.

On the Ravelympic's side, I started my HARUHA Scarf. Yes, I can spell it correctly even though I didn't in the last post. I also said I had to get my scarf done by the 17th!! Yea! Big Dufus here. I have more time to do my scarf than I thought I did!!!! I could've added another project for pete's sake!

Nah, I already feel stressed to get this done. Lace is NOT one of my favorite things to do, I think because I'm always so tired due to my sleep issues. It's hard to concentrate and I've had to TINK back a few times on this already. Not a bunch of rows thank goodness! Just one row here and there. Once it's finished I can knit whatever the heck I want to with no time restraints. See how competitive I am! LOL!! Lazy Mazy. Gotta say, I'm LUVIN my new Harmony straights too.

What do you enjoy watching during the Olympics? I love the swimming, diving, and gymnastics. But really I can almost watch anything, which is ironic since I really don't care for other sports. I honestly didn't know that some athletes get PAID to compete for medals. That took a little of the punch out of it for me, but The Big Guy says that's just the way it is. Money makes the world go round I guess.

Today has been spent cleaning out some closets, filling more bags to take to charity, and cleaning house. The girls start school on Monday so I figured I'd get their help with some chores so they wouldn't be bored these last two days. What a nice Mom I am!!!

Ohh, swimming is on, gotta run....

Tomorrow = Ravelympics

I start my Harahu Scarf tomorrow night for the first Ravelympics and I must admit, I'm getting a tiny bit excited! Technically my converted "start" time would be 8:00 AM EST since the opening ceremonies start at 8:00 PM Beijing time, but since I'll probably only have been asleep for a couple of hours by then, it's better for me to just start later. It IS a "lacey" scarf I'm working on after all. To do one of those with not enough sleep is just insane. And, I would like to FINISH this by the 17th!

Here's winning vibes going out to all our USA athletes. Go Dara! Go Michael! Go everybody!!

And go ME!! woooohooooo!!!!