Team Midwest

Ack! I forgot to post!

2006-03-05T16:56:00.000-06:00

Hey people! I thought that I should just tell y'all that I did complete the olymipics!!!! I just forgot to post!! Go to my mom's site for verifacation! http://www.hankeringforyarn.com Here are some pictures!

For those who didn't quite get to the gold...

2006-02-26T20:34:00.000-06:00

Check out the Jamaican Bobsled Olympic Spirit Award instead! Very nice button available.

Well, I gave it a shot

2006-02-26T18:24:00.000-06:00

I think that this particular project was doomed from the start. I had the gauge problems on the original project. How frustrating! I didn't get the look I liked at the gauge, and when I had enough of it to know that it wasn't going to work, well... too much time had gone by. That is one thing about being familiar with different kinds of yarn - I have now discovered this. I haven't really worked with Homespun before. It is a great yarn but I would never want it at that gauge - and this was a LB sweater made with Homespun - I think it made it look icky - almost like 1/2 felted fabric or something.

So anyway, when I switched I just didn't have time to finish. I gave it a shot though. I am doing a wonderful lacy type poncho (lacy in stitch - not in yarn) made out of Bernat Soft & Chunky which is a yarn I love. It is pure white and I think it will be wonderful for spring. It isn't heavy due to the stitch pattern even though it is chunky yarn. I love it.

So alls well that ends well. Just no gold this time around. But on the really cool side, my daughter Hannah (if you're happy and you know it frog your yarn posting) did finish and is getting her photos and postings ready. She is 15 and I think deserves a standing ovation.

Sooooo.... are we going to do this again in two years?

Adelle
http://www.hankeringforyarn.com

KNITTER DOWN!!!!

2006-02-26T12:23:00.001-06:00

"Ooooh, that hurt!! What happened there, Peggy?"

"Well, Dick... this is really tragic. The contestant obviously was visibly shaken by that horrible and debilitating accident that occurred right in front of her just a moment ago. She let herself get distracted just enough that she didn't notice when she dropped a stitch during that K3tog until a few rows above it. By then it was too late, Dick... the stitch had dropped down enough rows to unravel those 4 yarnovers, and after that there was just no recovery possible. You can see that she is putting a brave face on it, and is going on to finish the other sock on the needles. Truly a determined competitor, but there just won't be enough time to make up the lost rows in this competition. I'm afraid that medaling is out of reach for her."

"Well, Peggy, that's a real shame. You hate to see such a promising knitter lose the gold just when it seems within reach like that. What a disappointing finish for this knitlete!"

"Yes, Dick, you can hear and see the disappointment of the audience, they were really pulling for her."

"Well, you have to give her credit, she's really put her heart into this competition. I think we'll be seeing her again in the future, and hopefully we can expect great things. What do you think, Peggy?"

"I think you'd better get your hand off my knee, Dick."

"Well, that's it for this Olympic reporter..."

Just Call Me "Bode"...

2006-02-26T12:23:00.000-06:00

I decided over lunch on Friday that I was probably going to be the "Bode Miller" of the US Knitting Olympic Team - you know, lots of hype, great potential, didn't come through in the clutch...
Case in point:

Here is the status of my project at noon on Sunday (aka - Closing Day!). Yes, that's my FIRST sock and no, it's not done. I don't know if it was the partying in the Olympic Village, the sprained ankle from the pick-up basketball game or perhaps ALL the interviews that I had to do, but I was not able to get any further...

And I have some major mistake going on - for some reason the bottom of the sock is now knitting a garter pattern, rather than stockinette, despite my best efforts to correct it. Also, the ribbing pattern is all off and it doesn't fit this size 8 foot.

What have I learned from little experience? Not much really, other than I have a lot going on and not enough time to dedicate to knitting. And when I do knit, I have to concentrate more on the project at hand and not so much on speed. Perhaps this being my first attempt to compete at the "senior" level (Only been knitting since Aug05) has something to do with it too.

At any rate, the sock is going to be completely frogged soon and the yarn put to something else, as I really like it - perhaps a less challenging pattern for socks.

So CONGRATULATIONS on all of the gold medal winners out there - you did a great job and deserve all the KUDOS that go with it...And Thanks to all of my teammates and fans for the encouragement and support - I am sorry I let you down, but I am not giving up...must start training for 2010!!

More gold and glory!

2006-02-25T10:57:00.000-06:00

Yay! I did it! It's full of errors, but oh well--it's done. Check out my blog for my Olympic joy.
Amy
www.knitthink.typepad.com

Shawl Specs

2006-02-24T17:59:00.000-06:00

Peacock Feathers shawl pattern from Fiddlesticks. Yarn: Laceweight yarn hand dyed in the Violets Colourway from Sweet Georgia. Just an aside here - Felicity at Sweet Georgia is happy to custom dye yarns for you. Just a message from your friendly sleep deprived yarn enabler. Now, where were we? I used probably one and a quarter skeins - the second skein was much more pink than the first, but as I changed skeins near where I started the last chart, it very satisfyingly looks as thought I meant to do it that way.

I'm quite pleased with the outcome - I am never entirely sure whether my knitted projects suck or not, but I quite like this.

And another gold medal for Team Midwest!

2006-02-24T13:22:00.000-06:00

12 hours straight knitting and we have the winning pair.

Congratulations to all my fellow team mates who have all finished.

To those who still have some knitting left: Go go go! Gold is within your grasp: See the gold. Feel the gold. Be the gold. Go Team Midwest!

Now I'm done, what next?

Gold for Team Midwest!

2006-02-24T12:47:00.000-06:00

I will post more details later. I have knit for almost seven straight hours to finish this *ucker and I have to get up very soon.

BEEP

2006-02-23T23:50:00.000-06:00

We interrupt your blogging schedule for an important announcement...

For more details on this dramatic event, check out my blog.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging. Thank you for your time.

Hehehehehe

Whew!

2006-02-23T20:03:00.000-06:00

My Hourglass Sweater is finished and I even wore it to work today. I'm glad to be done - and I love the sweater.

Our eyes, they glow.

More details at Stumbling Over Chaos.

For everyone still knitting - Go, Team Midwest, Go!!!

Ah Capri!

2006-02-22T19:07:00.000-06:00

My shawl is blocked & ready for wear! :) Read all about it & see the pictures at Amy Artisan!

Thanks to everyone for the kind words of encouragement during the process! The rest of the Olympic days I will be working on some simple dishcloths & cheering on my fellow Team Midwest Knathletes.

Go TEAM MIDWEST Go!!

Another Gold Medal

2006-02-22T17:15:00.000-06:00

I MADE IT!!! My beaded socks are done. I would never have thought I could actually get a pair of socks done in less than 2 weeks without putting the rest of my life on hold. This was a great experience.

Hang in there.... there is still a lot of knitting time left.

Sherry

Row 220

2006-02-22T13:37:00.000-06:00

I swear, I'll get a better photo of this thing soon!

My Kiri Thus Far

2006-02-21T19:44:00.000-06:00

It looks small, but it's pretty far along.... I think I may make it.

*Edit* If it helps with scale, it's on a 40 inch addi circular.

Team Midwest Medal Count??

2006-02-21T14:55:00.000-06:00

Score one Gold Medal for Team Midwest. My toe up socks are wonderfully comfortable and have already been worn, washed, dried, and worn again. More info on my toe-up trials and tribulations at Wound Too Tight .

I'm still cheering for all of you and I'll keep my needles raised until the torch goes out. Happy Knitting.

Deb

Having a Fit

2006-02-21T13:22:00.000-06:00

Aaaaargh!!!

After a long drought, I suddenly have a deluge of jobs with really tight deadlines, and I'm going to be working long into the wee small hours... which leaves me no time for knitting, just when I thought I was sort of getting a handle on the Boats and was mildly hopeful that I might finish by Sunday.

Do I really need 2 hours of sleep per night? If I went entirely without....

A Good Fit

2006-02-21T10:17:00.000-06:00

After a great long weekend, that actually included a little knitting, I am back to my second cuff. I am comfortable that I will make it. My mom loved them and on several occasions encouraged me to make sure that I finished them for her quickly. They fit her really well. I use the Crazy Heels and Toes method so the fit is always good on socks.

One sock down

2006-02-20T17:10:00.000-06:00

One sock to go...

Anyone else feeling that the Sunday deadline is coming up too quickly for their liking? I may be looking at five/six days of not speaking to anyone and just knitting. Taking a day off work is tempting...

A Crappy Photo

2006-02-20T13:29:00.000-06:00

This is a terrible photo, I know - the carpet is actually cream coloured, and I swear there's a stitch pattern in there somewhere, but it was late, and I was dodging the intervention of several curious cats.

Shawl is now up to row 190-something. I may need a shoulder reconstruction at the end of this, but By G*d I will Finish This Thing.

Something I have learned while knitting this shawl:

- When cursing my Addis for having prematurely lost their slick shininess, I should check both the Addis and my hands for residual traces of Cadbury Creme Eggs. Ahem.

I also learned the depths of my self-control last night. We were sitting on the couch, I was knitting, Dave was watching the NBA all-star game. I was concentrating on lace charts. Dave was concentrating on relaying as many basketball stats as he could without drawing breath. "Lebron James...blah blah blah...Rasheed Wallace....blah blah blah....Kobe Bryant...blah blah blah..."

And I DIDN'T turn to him sweetly and say "You know I love you, but for the LOVE OF YARN if you keep spouting basketball at me when I'm trying to knit lace, I will garotte you with my Addi's!"

Moving right along...

2006-02-19T18:21:00.000-06:00

I've finished both sleeves, attached them to the body, and am working on the yoke and raglan decreases. The end is in sight!!

Chaos has helped by lying on my pattern during critical moments.

"It's a rough job, but somebody has to do it."

Knowing Just Enough To Be Dangerous

2006-02-19T17:53:00.000-06:00

Ignorance isn't bliss in my case, I suspect... I've turned the heels, and am convinced that I don't have a CLUE what I am doing. I am knitting boats, I think.

I can't even take a decent picture of them. I think they are ashamed of themselves, frankly, and are trying to hide from public ridicule.

HA!! If they are determined to make me suffer, I am not about to suffer alone. Take THIS, rotten wooly monsters from Sock Hell:

Just keep knitting!

2006-02-19T17:23:00.000-06:00

Well...I am certainally surprised at how fast my knitting is going.

Last night...we were watching Stargate SG1, as usual, and I stopped and said to my mom, "Look! I think that I am over half-way through!" It is amazing, isn't it? How fast the time can go by when you just are having...fun! I am getting so good at knitting, that I don't even have to look at the yarn when I knit! I love knitting. It is great.

But, on the down side...my blasted arm/neck hurts really bad. I am having problems knitting....but I keep on thinking of Dory.....

JUST KEEP KNITTING!!!!!!

Knitting Injury

2006-02-19T16:39:00.000-06:00

Alas, I have succumbed to the dreaded knitting malady of tendonitis of the right arm. I have used warm compresses, Aspircream, Aleve to no avail. My tendon's are just plain refusing to stop hurting. I guess it's a case of not enough pre-Olympic training. I thought I had done enough, taking two knitting classes in the weeks leading up to the games, but nothing prepared me for the hour after hour of knitting while watching [and learning] curling. Agonizing over the pain of defeat and the joy of victory while coming down the luge run, coupled with endless rows of knitting and purling have done me in. I'm not ready to completely give up on my Gold medal, but the chances of finishing the hooded sweater are dimming. If only I could learn how to knit with my feet!!!

And she's off

2006-02-19T16:05:00.000-06:00

Thank goodness for Opal yarn, their pattern, DPNs and my trainer's wallet! I have progressed quite nicely on the socks and have come up from the behind to possibly be on course to finish in time for the closing ceremony next Sunday evening. Phew! Just have to finish Sock 1 quickly and launch into Sock 2. May have to take a day off work to finish though :)

Off the needles!

2006-02-19T15:09:00.000-06:00

After a wild & crazy morning of binding off the shawl - hearing yarn break - tinking back several rows & redoing the last couple of rows of the shawl & binding off a second (& successful) time my Capri shawl is now ready for blocking. whew!

Here are the details & a current picture:
http://amyartisan.com/blog/2006/02/19/off-the-needles-onto-blocking/

Knit On! :)

Going Pretty Good

2006-02-19T00:40:00.000-06:00

I am almost to the cuff on the second sock (toe up). The gusset increases went faster than I expected. The bead work on the cuff is slower, but I am happy with my progress. It usually takes me ages to knit a pair of socks.

Peacock Progress

2006-02-18T19:05:00.000-06:00

This is the stitch pattern approximately.. the photo is awful, but the batteries on the camer were dying, and I was in a hurry! I'll try and get a nice photo tomorrow.....

I'm up to row 170ish. Sounds good until you realise how many rows there are to go and how LONG the rows are now!!

If you are happy and you know it frog your yarn!

2006-02-17T17:37:00.000-06:00

Hm...First post... well, the title pretty much gives it away.

I was knitting along and watching TV and my mom (Adelle), all of the sudden, said that I had to frog my yarn. I looked at her like she was crazy...I mean, I am not a frog...so she must be loosing it. So she saw the confusion on my face and said that I needed to pull out all of my yarn to about 15 rows from the bottom. I looked at her with WTF look and she said that it had to be done. Okay, mom you have officially lost it. That single thought kept on repeating in my mind as I slowly pulled out my beautiful yarn. My wonderful shawl that looked like candy was reduced to nothing but a small triangle. My mom was trying to comfort me, saying that it had to be done because the pattern was all screwy, and also said that if I increase on both ends, it will look better.

Five hours later, I got it all back, plus a little more. What did I learn from this experience? If you are happy and you know it...frog your yarn!!

The Knitting Olympics Made TIME Magazine

2006-02-17T14:05:00.000-06:00

Did y'all see this in TIME? A friend of mine sent this to me this morning....How cool is this?

Doesn't knit my socks any faster though....But I do have 4 rows done...and 10 days! EEEEEK!

That Midwestern Olympic Pride

2006-02-17T07:35:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday fellow teammates!

First, have you seen Etherknitter's way of categorizing Olympic Knathletes into the "traditional" winter sports? It is quite humorous - I would have never been a figure skater.

Since we have several lace knitters on our team...here is some Olympic inspiration for all of us... just look to the great free skate performances by fellow midwesterners Evan Lysacek and Matt Savoie as proof that you can comeback from some troubles in the first round & still end up with a satisfying Olympic experience!

Knit On!

Countdown To.... Oh, Heck!

2006-02-17T06:24:00.000-06:00

I was just over on the Harlot's page, and ended up hyperventilating and whimpering (perhaps a bit shrilly) while staring, hypnotized, at the countdown button.

The Pirate says, "Glad to see you've got this in perspective, and are handling it in a rational way."

"Panic and horror?"

"Yeah, that about covers it."

Okay, I cannot put this thing on my own personal blog. I go there too often during the course of the day, and I think the pressure would probably render me entirely dysfunctional and unable to perform normal tasks. Like knitting stupid unending never-going-to-get-to-the-heel lace socks, for instance.

But should we put it on our Team homepage?

What do you think?

10 Rows Knit = 6 Rows of Progress

2006-02-16T07:38:00.000-06:00

Overall Capri is coming along rather well. Last night was a bit of a bump (how appropriate since I was watching moguls during the problems).

Here's my account of what happened:
http://amyartisan.com/blog/2006/02/16/four-rows-forwardfour-rows-back/

Moving right along

2006-02-16T06:59:00.000-06:00

I have the Hourglass sweater knitted up to the armpits. Sleeve 1 is done and ready to be joined onto the yoke. Sleeve 2 is about six inches long. No pictures because this black sweater just doesn't photograph well.

I don't have cable or an antenna or anything, so I haven't been watching the Olympics. I have been watching DVDs of the 1999 Tour de France, which keeps my knitting speed up. To balance out the potentially increased tension and gauge problems from watching something intense, I have been sipping pinot noir as I knit. :)

Keep going strong, Team Midwest!!! We can do it!

First Sock Done

2006-02-16T00:15:00.000-06:00

Well the first sock is done. It really did not speak to me while I was knitting it, but now that it is done I like it better. I got about 2 inches of the second sock done. I also posted a full picture on http://justonemoreskein.blogspot.com/

Go TEAM Go!!

crunch time

2006-02-15T16:56:00.000-06:00

Ack...here's where the newbie knitter gets in over her head! Oh, well, I shall persevere. More details on my blog...I'm too tired to repost it all here...
Amy
www.knitthink.typepad.com

A new pattern and a do over

2006-02-15T16:45:00.000-06:00

Well, ok, I admit it. I don't think I understood my pattern so left scary tiny would-be sock languishing on the dining table as it would have been fine for a small child with tiny legs but not for me! So I frogged it and found a really simple sock pattern and I've re-cast on tonight for another go.
The first row looks promising so fingers crossed. Otherwise I'll be looking for small child to be giving these socks to!

An inspirational knitting cheer...

2006-02-15T12:09:00.000-06:00

Knitting, knitting, it's so neat
The Midwest knitters can't be beat!

Knitters, knitters, you're so cool
Knitting things that make me drool!

Knitting, knitting, it's the best
So much better than all the rest!

Gimmie a K!
Gimmie a N!
Gimmie an I!
Gimmit a T!

What's that spell?

GO TEAM!!

2006-02-14T18:39:00.000-06:00

Alright, the Knitting Olympics have begun and I swear that I made a fair effort at starting. See:

Seriously, I actually was working on sock 1.0 during the opening ceremonies and the lighting of the torch. Soon after though, I was frogging it, as I had too many stitches... somehow I had screwed up the twist part! (You can see that I used the yarn and wound it back up, right? That counts, right??)

As of now I don't have anything on the needles, so I'm going to make another attempt...I mean there are mulitiple heats and average scores in the events, so I figure I'll be ok...Right?

Just 10 days to go...many others have done more work with less time.

Thank goodness we only have two feet

2006-02-14T17:32:00.000-06:00

One sock is done and the other is ready to go. Because I'm too lazy to re-type, read all about it (and a few other rambling thoughts) at Wound Too Tight.

Keep on Knitting....

Arg....

2006-02-13T22:54:00.000-06:00

Well my knitting is going fine, it is just my life that will not cooperate. I just found out that I am going to have out of town company this weekend. I will love to see them, but now I need to pick up the house, make sure we have organized meals, etc.... My husband is on travel all week and the girls have a week of projects and tests.

Don't these people know I am trying to knit???

Do Over, and Over Again...

2006-02-13T18:38:00.000-06:00

Got the toes on the Tiger Eyes done, both onto the circulars, did the first 5 rows of lace... and somehow managed, on a row that should have ended with 31 lace stitches on the one half of the sock, to end up with 30 stitches on one and 32 on the other. Attempts to frog back to the point of error proved fruitless, had to frog the entire and start again. Got to row 8, and again ran aground on stitch count. This time managed to only frog back to row 4, that seems okay, so I started up once again and so far (knocking on wood as I type) have got to row 10 without major screw-ups.

I'm getting lost a lot, my eyes are not cooperating at all!

Anyway, making slow and unsteady going, but am going nonetheless, which I suppose is something. I don't know about getting done in time, though! I'm thinking I'm going to be lucky if I get the heel turned by the time the torch is extinguished...

Judges Allow a Do Over

2006-02-12T21:52:00.000-06:00

After frogging my entire shawl at noon today I've recovered & have passed where I was when the decision was made to "do over" - read about it here:

http://amyartisan.com/blog/2006/02/12/olympic-update-judges-allow-a-do-over/

Knit On fellow Team MW Knathletes!

sigh

2006-02-12T20:47:00.000-06:00

Adell, you and I are in the same boat.

I only managed to find a few brief hours to work on my Kiri shawl this weekend. Due to previous plans and an unexpected migraine on Sunday. But there's still 14 days left. I can make it... can't I?

Disaster Looking For A Place To Happen

2006-02-12T18:14:00.000-06:00

Well that kinda sums up what is going on here. False start but I think it is okay now. This wasn't a stumble out of the block, it was a fall flat on my face out of the block. So, with that said...

The gauge turned out to be all wrong. I hate gauge. I detest it. I have bad, evil words I want to say to gauge strips. In fact I am thinking them now and these are not nice grandmotherly words, proving that the face of knitting has changed. I think what happens is that I hate doing the gauge so much, that I get myself all tense and then throw the *&^%#$ thing off - then I start the actual project and get all comfy and relaxed and end up with something that is like 10 to the power of 4 bigger than it was in the practice swatch.

So I had to start over AGAIN - but I think it is okay now.

In the meantime, my daughter is in this too, and she is knitting a shawl and she is on straight needles. I didn't think a brand new knitter, who is only 15, could knit that far in two days. She needs a circular needle. Do you think I have a circular needle in the size she needs? NOOOOO That would be too easy! And do you think there is even one blasted U.S. 13 circular needle in this whole town???? NOOOOO. So I am on Ebay last night in the middle of the night, trying to find one (which I did) and convincing the seller that I want to pay for priority or overnight or strap the damn thing to a carrier pigeon's leg and get it here NOW!! (I really want this kid to succeed in this - good for the ego and future of the craft - blah, blah) It's that mother thing - my kid needs a needle - "DO YOU FEEL LUCKY?"

So anyway, we are, otherwise doing fine. I would love to hear if anyone else is having some "glitches" And where are the Nebraska knitters??? *whine*

*sigh* I feel better now.

Adelle
www.hankeringforyarn.com
www.nebraskaknitters.com

A Good Start

2006-02-11T23:14:00.000-06:00

Glad to hear we are off to a good start!!

I am not sure how, but I have managed to get the foot, heel, and into the cuff on my first Glad Raggs sock. I am starting into the beaded lace cuff which I am a little nervous about. Lace is fine, I just have not done any bead work before. I sat in front of the tv for the Opening Ceremony and several events tonight - not sure how much I saw. I was knitting fast.

I will post a progress pic on http://justonemoreskein.blogspot.com/ tomorrow after I get some of the more interesting part done.

Enjoy!!

Slow start, but I'm off!

2006-02-11T15:27:00.000-06:00

It's snowing lightly here in my part of Iowa. I only know this because I just took a break from work and climbed out of my dungeon office to look out a window. Yep, I'm working today. And tomorrow, too. And all next week. But I did cast on and get a couple of inches knit last night while watching Arrested Development and then some of the opening ceremonies. I found that the cat had chewed the cable on the needles I had planned to use, so had to drag out my Denise needles instead. They're okay, but I need a more slippery needle I think, so I'll stop off somewhere when I leave work and buy some. (We only have one LYS here where I refuse to shop because the owner has been unpleasant every time I've tried to shop there. Not that she'd be open when I leave work anyway.)

So, it's a start!

And we're off!

2006-02-11T13:12:00.000-06:00

Hi all! It's a sunny Saturday here in Minneapolis. We had a fresh dusting of fluffy snow last night so everything is gleaming and bright.

I joined Jeanne for some Opening Ceremonies knitting last night. Well, actually we watched about two minutes of the Ceremonies, caught some 80s music, and switched to Shrek2 and then The Princess Bride. We had great timing and managed to catch the torch being lit, which I really wanted to see. Wow.

I made great progress and am about 8" into my Hourglass Sweater. I'll have some pictures from last night up on Stumbling Over Chaos later today or tomorrow and I think Jeanne will have some up at k3tog soon, too.

Hope everyone is knitting up a happy Olympic storm!

Hey, guess what? I knit you a sweater!

2006-02-11T12:41:00.001-06:00

Just kidding.

RAH! RAH! SIS-BOOM-BAH!

GO TEAM!

Going for Gold!

2006-02-11T11:39:00.000-06:00

Hello fellow Team Midwest Knathletes!

Did you watch the Opening Ceremonies? Weren't they spectacular? How are your projects coming?

I'm making good progress on my event...another Team Midwest Lace event...the Capri Shawl from Morehouse Farm.

Read all about it here:
http://amyartisan.com/blog/2006/02/11/going-for-gold/

Knit On!

Go Team MW!

2006-02-10T16:01:00.000-06:00

The cows have danced in the stadium, the Italian Prime Minister has spoken, the fat man has sung, the flame has been lit.

I've now cast on for my first socks!

Go Team MW!

(btw, I'm MW of Belgium)

Killing Time (and Poetry)

2006-02-10T11:55:00.000-06:00

Please forgive my post
That’s all in rhyme
Just 16 days
That’s all we’ve got for time

The Midwest Team
Joins the throng
For the worldwide
Olympic Knitalong!

Our projects were chosen
With the utmost care
But I’m sure in two weeks
We’ll all be pulling our hair.

Some chose lace
Some chose a sweater
Some will knit socks
What could be better?

Thousands of knitters
All over the world
United by one fact
We’ve all knit and we’ve purled.

We’ll all work together
Though we may never meet
Cheer eachother on
Until the project’s complete.

There’s hundreds of teams
But which one is best?
Well duh, isn't it obvious?
It’s our team – Midwest!

Greetings from the Iowa contingent

2006-02-10T11:16:00.000-06:00

Hi all! Probably I should have joined the "What the Hell Was I Thinking?" team instead, but I'm ready to go! I'm knitting the Sitcom Chic sweater from Knitty with some TLC Cotton Plus (in an attempt to substitute for the Cotton-Ease since I really need an easy to care for cotton sweater to wear at work). It's in a boring cream color that I had lying around. Anyway, I've never knitted a sweater in less than a year before, so this will definitely be a challenge. That and the fact that I work second shift and for some reason feel it's "wrong" to knit during the day (gotta get over that one), and the fact that I'm working overtime ALL weekend I'm definitely working under a handicap. But I've taken the Pledge , got my skeins wound, and will be ready to go as soon as I find out where the kitten has hidden the needles I need.

Pledge Time

2006-02-10T11:13:00.000-06:00

The Knitting Olympic Athletes Pledge has been issued...check it out!

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2006/02/10/needles_raised.html

Hello, Midwesterners!

2006-02-10T11:11:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone! I was just tickled to find out that there's a Team Midwest. My name is Jessica, living in the suburbs of Kansas City, on the Missouri side. That's pretty midwestern. I found the needles I needed yesterday and swatched in training, so I'm ready for the Opening Ceremonies. I'll be knitting the Baby Bobble Jacket from Debbie Bliss' "Cotton Knits For All Seasons" for my two year old niece out of some Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport yarn in dusky rose. The reason this will be a real challenge to complete is that my niece will be coming to visit me in exactly one week and I know I'll be playing with her much more than knitting. Good luck, team!
Jessica
http://showmeyourknits.typepad.com

Hi Happy Hello!

2006-02-10T08:31:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone! I’m Just A Knit Wit (aka Kelly) and I live in the ‘burbs of Chicago.

Anyways, here’s my little drama with the whole Knitting Olympics thing.

My yarn didn’t come!! I only was just told that it’s on back order and won’t get here for probably another week. ACK! So I am changing my project. Originally I was planning on doing the Rosebud scarf from Scarf Style, but now I’ve changed and I’m going to really really push myself and do the Kiri Shawl. I’m working in some KnitPicks Shadow in the Redwood color that I had lying around the house. It’s a beautiful heathered yarn and while I was swatching and trying lace for the first time last night I noticed it has beautiful streaks of deep purple here or there.

By the way… if you’ve put off buying a ball winder and a swift like I have, just hand wind 440yds of lace weight yarn. Believe me… you’ll break down and buy it. Especially when I realized that I had another 880yds to go. I’m just praying it gets here before I run out of yarn.

Toe Up X 2

2006-02-10T07:47:00.000-06:00

Hello from Minnesota where our feet our always cold. To help prevent this and in an attempt to cure my terrible "second sock syndrome" I will be attempting toe-up socks, two-at-a-time. I'm using a pattern provided by my friend Beth with Artyarns Supermerino color #105. The toe-up technique is new to me as is doing two-at-a-time. However, I've been teaching the Magic Loop method to anybody who will listen to me for quite a while!!

Go Midwest!!

Responsibilities of the official spectator/cheerleader

2006-02-09T20:17:00.000-06:00

Hey, Mama Tulip, I just discovered that Sandy has listed some important things for specatator cheerleaders to keep in mind during the Knitting Olympics...

Or, you could just play the Knitting Olympics Drinking Game at our expense!

This evening, I'm getting my gear ready for the Opening Ceremonies Knitting Pajama Party kind of event that I'm going to tomorrow evening. More details at my blog tomorrow sometime (along with more pictures).

"Hey, Chaos, get away from that! You're not old enough to drink!"

Every team needs a cheerleader, right?

2006-02-09T17:49:00.000-06:00

And here I am. I'm a mama, and a tulip, but I'm no knitter.

However, I like to knit vicariously through others and I've graciously accepted an invitation from Chris to cheer Team Midwest on. Even though I'm Canadian, and when y'all start talking in your knit lingo I scratch my head and scrunch up my face and decide it's better to just smile and nod.

GO TEAM!!

This should be fun!!

2006-02-09T14:37:00.000-06:00

Hello from St. Louis. I am going to make a pair of socks for my mom. She has cold feet so I try to keep her stocked with nice warm socks. I am going to use the Glad Raggs pattern from the Six_Socks_Knitalong Yahoo Group with beads!!. (I would make that a hot link if I had even a clue about how to do that. Today is my first blogging experience!!)

I have a crazy work life, one daughter in elementary school, one in middle school, and a husband that travels a lot. When I told my 5th grader what I was doing, she immediately responded with, "Both socks? In two weeks? Really?" She is a knitter too, so she knows I am being ambitious here!!

Should be fun. I am eager to hear how your projects progress - I cannot imagine tackling a sweater in two weeks - WOW!!

Sherry

An appropriate introduction from Chicago........

2006-02-09T14:28:00.000-06:00

Just a quick post to say hello to my new group, and to snag a button for my sidebar..........Tee Hee!

Go Team MidWest!!!!!!!!!

Here!

2006-02-09T13:18:00.000-06:00

I am thinking of this as the team roll call. I'm here!

I will be knitting the "Violets by the River" shawl from Blackberry Ridge. I purchased the kit, with silk yarn in the color of sunrise, in May 2005. I believe it has aged enough. Time to go!

Training/preparation:
Read through patter, check!
Needles of correct size, check!
Yarn, check - it was in the kit!
Markers, check!
Chocolate, dark, check!

Left to do: Wind skein into a ball while distracting the cats and read through the pattern just one more time.

I'm in Minnesota, very near St. Paul, so there is no question about qualifying for mid-west!

Greetings!

2006-02-09T07:40:00.000-06:00

Greetings fellow midwesterners! I look forward to seeing our progress in the next couple of weeks as we tackle our individual events.

My project is queued up & ready to go; however, I'm not revealing the exact details till the torch is lit. I have posted a picture of the yarn over at Amy Artisan. In reading through some of the posts already out here it sounds like several of us have the same types of plans for the coming weeks!

On this last day of training, some training advice from another midwesterner:

*I think I can. I think I can.*

Repeat from * to * until [insert project name] is complete.

I Found My Way Here!

2006-02-09T05:16:00.000-06:00

I am so happy to be part of Team Midwest. I think a group blog is a great idea.

My name is Adelle and I have the blog for Team Nebraska, so if any of you are from Nebraska (now or ever), head on over to Nebraska Knitters.

So I guess in the world of blogging and knitting, Colorado and Nebraska are now part of the midwest! Close enough. Now I am off to put that button on my Hankering For Yarn site. I love your button!!

Oh, I guess I should mention. I am making a cardigan. It isn't a difficult pattern but I am thinking it will be a challenge for the 16 days, what with working and being a widowed mom to two kids. It is a classic pattern and I am making it out of Homespun. I wanted to make it out of something really snazzy but I am have limited LYS here (read: none) and I couldn't order what I wanted online and have it reach me in time. So I decided to go with the Homespun; it will be very warm and snuggly and since it is still freezing out here, it will fit the bill just fine!!

Everyone take care. Tomorrow is the big day! (There is a team called "What the Hell Was I Thinking?" - I wonder if we will all end up there!) LOL

Adelle

Michigander here... but not a yooper.

2006-02-08T21:50:00.000-06:00

I was born and raised in MI. Tri-City and burbs of Detroit. I'm a Wolverine. In fact, Hail to the Victors is my cell phone ring tone. Sadly though, I did not learn to knit until I moved out to Colorado. I asked to be an honorary member of Team Midwest for several reasons.

1) born and raised in MI. when people ask where i'm from, I still say MI.
2) don't some people count Colorado as part of the mid-west?

and last, but not least

3) who can resist a button with a cow on it?

So, my competitive event is the Lady Elenor Entrelac Stole from Scarfstyle.
I plan on knitting with some Interlacements Dyers Choice (over 1200 yards. 1300
if I recall correctly).

i need to stop now b/c my cat is draped over the left arm... which is cramping.
Chris, tell your cat to get off me!

Lace contingent, part 2

2006-02-08T19:03:00.000-06:00

Me too on the lace...I'm going to do the Branching Out scarf from Knitty. It doesn't look so bad...and it's only a scarf...right? Right???

Lace Contingent

2006-02-08T13:15:00.000-06:00

Hi,

I'm here, too. I committed to doing something in lace, since I don't have much experience with it, but haven't yet found a pattern I like that won't be *so* complex that it completely stops me from being able to watch the Olympics... I'm a rabid Winter Olympics fan, and will feel completely deprived if I don't see all the skating competitions that are on the major network (it is, perhaps, a blessing in disguise that I don't get cable, or I'd just hole up for the entire Olympics, glued to the TV, ignoring my husband and son's pathetic pleas that I stop just long enough to take a bath). Somehow *hearing* the skating competitions just isn't the same...

But I am committed. If push comes to shove and I don't find something preferable, I will attempt 'Tiger Eyes' from "Socks, Socks, Socks", which not only look nasty complex but *also* are toe-up socks, which I've never done before. They look difficult, but they are a relatively small project, and won't need blocking or much finishing - I'm hoping that I might get away with watching at least the more competitive levels of the competitions. Ha. Ha.

Kudos: Thanks to Chris for thinking to start up this blog!

~Eileen
St. Paul, MN

Welcome to Team Midwest!

2006-02-08T06:57:00.000-06:00

Hi and welcome! After Kat with a K contacted me asking for the Team Midwest address for her amazing list of Olympic teams and Adelle emailed asking to join, I decided we needed a team blog for the duration.

If you'd like to join, stop by my blog (Stumbling Over Chaos), send me an email (my email address is in the sidebar there), and I'll add you to the team.

My Olympic project is the Hourglass Sweater from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. I'll be knitting it from black Brooks Fiber Farm Four Play yarn, which is a 50 wool, 50 silk blend that feels like sueded velvet. The yummy yarn should keep me from going nuts during the miles of stockinette stitch I'll be knitting! My immediate training concern is practicing my provisional cast on so it doesn't take me two days just to do that.

Back to training...