Gold Medal

I signed on for both the Knitting Olympics and Ravelympics this year. I work better to a deadline - always have - so knowing I had 17 days to complete my project(s) was perfect.

I didn't achieve all my goals, just like in the real Olympics; the crocheted sweater I thought would be a cinch is languishing with one back panel completed. In fact, I didn't medal with any crochet projects. My Olympic glory centers around knit and Tunisian FO's.

For the Knitting Olympics and Ravelry's Lace Luge - I finished the Estonian shawl sampler from Nancy Bush's class. First knitted lace, first knitting chart, first Kirchener stitch, all in one little project.For the Scarf Super G and Stash Dance - I double-medaled with the Tunisian shell sampler scarf using yarn I've had in the stash for well over a year.My favorite event was Designer Pattern Skeletonand the Tunisian Treasure Shawl, with the free pattern available here.WIPs Dancing turned out to be my strongest event, with completion of the Cat Bordhi moebius
and the One Row scarf that I started knitting from my handspun yarn in 2007. Especially gratifying to have this one finished.Now that the Games have concluded, it's back to baby blankets (2 in the works) and the remaining 8 shawls for my 10 Shawls in 2010 challenge. Onward!

Got the Knitting Bug

I've been on a knitting kick this week. It started with the Nancy Bush workshop on Tuesday. I was determined to finish the shawl sampler, hopefully in time for today's guild meeting. Made it! I finished knitting this - nupps and all - last night about 6 pm. This is definitely the most complicated knitting project I've tackled. I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

One of my goals for the Ravelympics was to finish this handspun scarf I started knitting in 2007. Earlier in the week I decided this should be done in time for guild too. Nothing like a deadline to get me motivated. Wove in the ends and put this on the blocking board last night about 7 pm.

And as long as I was fishing for WIPS*, I grabbed this on my way out the door this morning and finished it up during the guild meeting. It had languished since the Cat Bordhi workshop in January while I finished up baby blankets. It's a little short - I'll cast on more stitches next time. But it's soft and it's DONE.

*Works In Progress. Details for all these projects are on my Ravelry page.

Ravelympics FO

My first project for Ravelympics 2010 is done and blocking, just in time for tomorrow night's class.

The most interesting pattern.

My goals were to try out different Tunisian shell stitches to see which I liked best

My favorite pattern.

and to use up some stash yarn. Success on both counts.

This and the next photo are different patterns but look a lot alike.

These are from a variety of sources - 101 Easy Tunisian Stitches; Encyclopedia of Tunisian Crochet; and Teach Yourself Tunisian Crochet. I also like Sharon Silverman's book on Tunisian Crochet.

The first pattern I tried and my least favorite; skews too much to the side.

Now to finish up a baby blanket before I get back to Ravelympics projects.