Well, in just over 12 hours the Olympic Torch will be lit here in Vancouver, BC to signify the start of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The regular games go until the 28th and then the Paralympic games go from March 12 – 21. What this means to knitters is that the Knitting Olympics will be 16 days and then another 10 days. What are the Knitting Olympics? Well, in a nutshell, you cast on a project that is a personal challenge to you when the rings are lit during the opening ceremonies. You then have until the flames are extinguished during the closing ceremonies to finish the project. Now I personally think that both sets of games should run consecutively or even better at the same time, but I’m not the one making the rules. There is a bright spot to this though. We can make our own rules for the Knitting Olympics to fit the schedule of the games. So this is what I am proposing –
You are allowed to start a project at the beginning of the first set of games on Feb 12. If you finish the project by Feb 28, great! Take a break and catch your breath, visit with loved ones you haven’t seen in 16 days, take a vacation, whatever. If you didn’t finish the project, fret not. Take a break as well, see loved ones … you get the idea. On March 12th, we have the second round. You can either start a second project, or finish the first. Either choice is acceptable and commendable. Just remember that if you’re starting a second project you only have 10 days this time, not 16. So plan accordingly. If there are any beginners out there that feel a little intimidated, don’t. The project chosen should be one that is a personal challenge to YOU! For some of us the challenge is to finish – lol. So whether it’s a scarf or full length cabled jacket, we’re all challenging ourselves to the same extent regardless of ability.
I have a challenge to throw out there to two knitters – Chris and Erin – you know who you are. I know you’re reading this so I’m challenging you to leave a comment for everybody to see what you intend to do for the Olympics. You can e-mail me a picture and I will put it up in a subsequent post. What am I going to do in return? Well, I had originally planned to design and knit a Norwegian styled sweater in the colors of Canada, but I have recently found out that Jamaica – my birth country – has a freestyle skier competing in the games. So I intend to design and knit a Jamaican Pride sweater for the Knitting Olympics to commemorate this fact. I will post regular updates on this blog and on Ravelry to show my progress. I guess that means I have to go out there tomorrow to get yarn in the appropriate color and weight. If I am not able to do that I might have to dye my own. One other thing, you can’t cast on any stitches before the torch is lit at the opening ceremonies.
If I finish this during the first round, I will choose another project for round two. If there are any knitters out there who would like to join me with this, please feel free to leave a comment as to what you are planning on making. All participants who start a project by the 14th (Valentine’s Day) and leave a comment will get recognition on a future post. There will also be something for anyone who registers AND finishes the project during the competition. What that may be will depend on the number of participants. Speaking of recognition, I posted a challenge on my post about Biased Knitting – and I got a response from Anne. Here is a pattern that she came up with for a way to knit a scarf on the bias with the slope going both ways.
CO 30 sts
Selvedge on either side …
Slip 1 (the first selvedge stitch), MI (increase making the slope to the right), (k2,p1) 4x (Anne is using a 2×1 rib), k2tog (this is a right slant decrease to match the increase at the beginning), Slip 1, k1, psso, (this is a left slant decrease for the left slant bias), (k2, p1) 4x, M1 (this is the increase to match the center decrease), K1 (the second selvedge stitch).
My initial inspection of the pattern determined that it will work, even though I haven’t test knitted it yet. For being the first one to respond correctly, Anne can go into my stash on Ravelry and choose 2 skeins/balls of any yarn I have listed there. I will then send those to her. Congratulations Anne and good luck to everyone who picks up the gauntlet for the knitting Olympics.
Hugzzz 😎
