In True Olympic Fasion......

I'm sprinting to the finish line with my last project for Ravelympics. This last project gave me quite a fit. I ripped back to the starting line over six times. I stopped counting how many times I frogged the project after that. It isn't a difficult project for me, but I think my attention was zapped this week at work.

Until I get new photos of my Olympic projects, please enjoy another WIP of mine - Cotty socks. I love Carrie's pattern, and how it works with both colorful yarns and solid yarns! If you're a sock knitter, consider this pattern for a future project.

I'll see you at the finish line with my Ravelympic projects. GO TEAM USA! I hope that we win the medal count!

Falling....

Falling behind on knitting, cleaning, and life in general. I'm even falling behind on viewing the Olympics. For shame. I've got to get cracking. Today marks the first day of three days at home, no work. This comes after seven consecutive work days in a row, so I don't mind. But I do think I need to put a little spring into my step, and color into my gray days.

How about this sock to take away the winter doldrums?
Pop sock (please notice the lack of plural status). This is the first one. I have yet to knit the second one. After the Olympics, I say!

These crazy self-striping yarns make me smile all day long. And my navy uniform may have to make way for some crazy socks in the next couple of weeks. I think it may be necessary for my very survival during these long winter months!

Fighting.....

I'm fighting with Blogger. It takes forever to upload photos on my dial-up connection. I spend more time in front of the computer just waiting than ever before. BUT - there is light at the end of the tunnel. We now have DSL available in our area! It's coming to us very soon!
So, hopefully the photo will work this time. This is the picture that belonged in yesterday's post.
Enjoy!

What are you "fighting" this week?

Tired on Tuesday

Enjoy the photograpy courtesy of my hubby.......I'm too tired to compose anything about knitting today. But I will say this, apparently we need to send the ice and snow North to Canada, as they are experiencing technical difficulties on most of the venues.....

I'm beginning to realize how little I have to say, with posting every day, instead of every month! So..........how about I just let the pictures do the talking?

A Brooks Farm Yarn Scarf - Colorways from Brooks Farms are never marked with names, but they are gorgeous all the same.
The yarn is 50% Merino wool, 50% silk, worsted weight. This project was actually my first finished object (FO) of 2010. I just need to block it to increase its length.

One of the interesting things about this scarf is that it employs what I believe to be the "knit-one-below" stitch in the pattern. It makes quite a lovely change to the knitted fabric. This pattern is a repeat of two simple rows. But if you are a knitting thrower like I am (the technical term is English style), those two rows can go on indefinitely, until you feel that you want to pull your hair out.......and then the scarf's complete. And suddenly you think you might want to knit another one. Knitting is a disease, I tell you!

Now off to get supper started and actually knit something today! I'll soon run out of things to post if I don't keep knitting!
PS - Great Olympic moment for Canada in men's moguls yesterday!

A Retro Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day! May you take the time today to let those you love know how much they mean to you. Instead of chocolate today, I've given my girls the gift of reading. They each received a book for Valentine's Day. And we also gave them the gift of rest, since we've been battling colds for the past couple of days. We slept longer than usual today for some much needed repast. I am working the next eight days consecutively. Rest is essential.

Since I'm being lazy today, lounging in my PJ's for far too long, I'm just posting some work in progress shots of my Saroyan scarf/shawlette.
The yarn I'm using is 50/50 Merino wool/silk. The color is called Retro Mint (one of my loves this Valentine's Day). This yarn has beautiful stitch definition. The stitches simply pop, looking crisp and clean and even (which is what one means when they refer to stitch definition). The ever-so-slightly shaded yarn is perfect for this project.

For those who don't know what a "shawlette" is........allow me to enlighten you.
Shawlette - a small shawl that can be worn around the neck as a scarf or neck warmer. Not to be confused with the ever popular cowl, which is a tubular item worn around one's neck. Shawlettes can also be worn around the waist, but if you've seen my hips in person, you know that they need no further attention called to them by something else swaying near that area......

I realize that on the increase rows, this Retro Saroyan Scarf appears a bit thong-like (albeit a really pretty thong) in nature. Future pictures will show the straight sections, where no increasing is made, and thong-like thoughts disappear.

And in Olympic history, America cashes in for their first gold medal. Hannah Kearney of the US (a knitter as well, go read her bio), took the gold medal in women's moguls! Go team USA!

An Olympic Event

Last night millions of Americans and folks from all over the world watched as Canada put on an Olympic event that took our breath away. I always love the opening cermonies. Everyone is filled with hope and the spirit of good competition. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the sadness that touched the world last night as everyone remembered the lost life of Georgian luger, Nodar Kumaritashvili.

The Olympic games hold a special place in my memories. I can remember watching the Olympics as a child. I must confess that I'm an official Olympic junky. I will spend the next two weeks walking around in a stupor from lack of sleep.

This Olympic year, I thought I would be different. I'd join with the thousands, literally thousands, of knitters across the globe for THE, (wait for it) KNITTING OLYMPICS. I can see that many of you are laughing now. I know there must be a chuckle somewhere. It sounds crazy, I know. But in the spirit of the games, knitters cast on knitting projects in various categories, challenging themselves with different techniques, deadlines, finishing that long lost sweater from years ago..... You name it, and there's a category for it. I'll expound on these categories some more in upcoming posts. I promise to post, really I do. It's also kind of a goal of mine to post daily during the Olympics. Considering that I'll be working 8 days in a row next week, this might be an Olympic event all in its self.

In an attempt to make my Olympic addiction viewing time productive, I joined the thousands of knitting "athletes" last night. We all cast on for our projects during the opening ceremonies. For my first project, I'm using this yarn to complete a beautiful lace scarf/shawlette. It's The Plucky Knitter's Merino/Silk aran weight yarn in the color Retro Mint.

The yarn has even gotten into the spirit of the games, fashioning itself in the shape of a "P" for team Plucky. Yes, there are knitting teams, just as there are teams in the tradional Olympic games.

I'm also knitting a Cowl out of The Plucky Knitter's 4-ply Cashmere in the color, Wild Violets.

My goal is to knit these projects in the 17 day time frame that the Olympics are being broadcast. More laughter? I know it seems crazy. Then again, I never claimed to be anything close to normal!
PS - don't worry that I will bore you with slowly progressing project pictures. We'll chat about other things too!