Blow the Horn, Ring the cowbells...Finished!!

Click on the picture to see the detail.

Love my "lady bug" tape measure!!

The Men just won a GOLD in Curling!

Something Different

Over on the other blog "Myfanwy" I had determined that I would not go to Little Red Mitten after work. Well, the evening stretched before me and I thought what the heck the weather isn't that bad and getting out will do me a world of good. So I gathered up my Olympic Knitting and grabbed a pattern book and off I went. I stayed for the knitting get together but I had to leave after half an hour. Can't explain how I felt but I had to come home. Nuff said. Maybe another time.
The book in the picture below is the one my mother bought when she was expecting me. It cost a whopping 50 cents. Which was a substantial amount in 1947. Yeah, well now you know old I am, so be it.

The wool is called "Sublime." Ready for this? Merino, cashmere and silk. It is enough to give you a reason to get up in the morning.
I just felt like I wanted to knit something different next. I like to have a baby "something" on hand and in the cedar chest. My mother went through this book and added postie note comments on many of the patterns. This one says, "Dad made you this one." He made this for me again, when I was expecting Corinne. (Thirty-nine years ago) All my babies wore it. It was green.
I have told the story before how my mother bought 2 oz of pink wool, needles and the book. My father had her teach him how to cast on, knit and purl and away he went.
So, with all this nostalgia I am going through I decided to knit the sweater pictured above.

Olympic Update ..going for the GOLD

Nupps out..Beads in...I am very happy with the result. I am using #6 blue lined topaz. The camera flash doesn't do it justice. The beads lend a lovely sparkle. When finished I will attempt a picture outside in natural light. This 100 % soybean yarn is very nice to knit with. Some of the residual dye has come off on my fingers but I will rinse it in vinegar when I am finished.

I am going to go into another ball to finish the edging...nuts I was hoping to get this out of one skein. 13 rows to go!!!!

Executing an Olympian move....

O.K. as I previously mentioned I have too many stitches. Going back is not an option. If I maneuver in 3 more stitches on each side of the center stitch I can add two more motifs for the this section and keep going forward. It is do able. It is what the Olympics is all about. Creative license. The clock is ticking.

"later in the day" OK that worked ... except it turned out to be four stitches. This yarn is not suitable for "nupps" they are sloppy and I don't like them I will switch to beads instead. See "creative license."

First Quarter Semi Finals

On track......

edit... Oh no I overshot

I have 210 sts

instead of 195

yikes

Faster, Higher, Stronger

I signed up for the Knitting Olympics over at the Yarn Harlot. It felt like a good idea and will give me something to work for. This is as close as I am ever going to get to the Olympics as I am allergic to exercise and have bragged for years that my idea of strenuous exercise was to read War and Peace again.
My venue will be the Swallow Tail Shawl on 3.75 needles with 100% soybean yarn. Hand dyed in Mississauga, Ontario by Dye Version, Hand Dyed Fibres. Must have Canadian Content!


I swatched in training mode. Supplies on hand: chocolate, hand lotion, stitch markers, row counter (with accompanying stunning neck cord, executed by moi) and lip balm for the tense moments when I lick my lips to much....pattern, scissors, yarn wound and I should be good to go. Yes, that is my Crown Royal bag full of Addi turbo's. More precious than rubies. I started during the opening ceremony but failed in the preliminary start. My event is about to start....again
I have 3 teddies ready for stuffing and a fourth on the needles. They are on the side lines until the torch goes out.
Let the games begin.....and as my son would say, "Maple Leaf Forever"