There’s this thing we yarny folks do during the Olympics, starting several years ago, where we challenge ourselves to a fibery goal during the same time period as the Olympics. Most people watch the Olympics while they are knitting/crocheting/spinning/weaving, but it’s not required.
The event became the Ravellenic Games (first is was The Ravelympics, but the IOC got their panties in a bunch and apparently the suffix -ympics is their property. Needless to say, they weren’t very nice about it). The whole idea was to set an ambitious, but achievable, goal, start the project during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and complete your project before/during closing ceremonies. Somewhere along the way, lots of rules came about. And with rules, you tend to exclude some people and confuse others.
This was the first year I was excited about being a part of the Ravellenic Games. I had yarn and a pattern in mind, my swatch was knitted, washed & blocked, I was ready to go. Then there was a controversy among the leaders of the Ravellenic Games group. And then the group disbanded & reformed under new moderators. The various podcasts I listen to were alluding to the drama going on in that group & it didn’t take me long to decide that I’m not going to get wrapped up in any drama in an online forum for a made-up knitting challenge that should be JUST FOR FUN and PERSONAL FULFILLMENT.
So, I’m knitting a sweater. The Antler Cardigan by Tin Can Knits. I’d worked and reworked all the math to make the finished garment fit my proportions. I cast on when I heard the Olympic theme coming from my TV – sleeves first, two-at-a-time, magic loop. Somewhere about 8:15 pm, because that’s when I finished an episode of Torchwood on Netflix and remembered there was figure skating to be seen. After all, what would Brian Boitano do?
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| Obviously, he would knit a cardigan while watching figure skating. If he knitted. When he’s not renovating a villa or cooking on Food Network. |
I’m not doing any special tagging. I’m not stressing about what category my project falls into. I’m not submitting it for a prize (or a badge to put on my profile – wooo!). You know what my prize will be? A sweater. A cozy, warm, wool & alpaca sweater that will keep me warm in this winter that never ends. And that’s prize enough for me.
Donita Westman 