Knitting Olympics GOLD!

 

Dale of Norway Fox Sweater Kit - $$$

Days of 2010 Vancouver Olympics - 17

Virtual Gold Medal - PRICELESS!

 

Dale of Norway Fox Sweater

Dale of Norway Falk - Black, Copper, Natural, Tartan Green & Flame Red

2.75, 3 & 3.5mm needles

So, you remember Stephanie put out the challenge. She got her crew neck Whistler finished. It made me happy to see her wearing it. :) It was a mad dash for me to get done too. By Sunday night, I had the body finished and was sweating getting 2 sleeves + finishing done. Wednesday night I asked myself if this was fun? (NO!) and if I wanted to quit? (no.) Friday night I had the sleeves done. Saturday I sewed & cut the arm holes, sewed sleeves in & knit the neckband. Sunday I tacked everything down & steamed. 

 

I made the sweater shorter by leaving off the ribbing on the sleeves & bottom. I folded up, like I did on Whistler. I also made it narrow, only have 5 foxes per side. I had to ignore my 'critical eye.' I don't understand why the wrist pattern doesn't match the pattern on the bottom edge of the sweater.

 

So here are Kamati & I watching the Gold medal hockey game. I know nothing about hockey. How many periods in the game? (3) You broke your stick?! Are you kidding me? (It happens often.) Why are they fighting? (It happens often, you heard the joke... I went to a fight & a hockey game broke out...) How come they're always by our goal? Where's our goalie? Where'd he go? How come no one is helping? (ZZzzzzzz...) I think I wore Wooly out. Did you hear me screaming when we tied it up 2-2?!

Remind me NOT to knit a sweater for the next Olympics. It was a struggle. I want to watch the Olympics, not knit. But, it's done. I got my gold medal (see sidebar). And I think my Fox rocks! LOL! ;)

I'm officially NOT knitting for a week, or two. I got burnt out. I ran Spindrift over my finger & said, "Ewww." Now that's a shame. I do have a shawl I want to make. And want to make Wooly a Dale (I'm forcing it on him.) and was measuring his tummy. He'll have you know his chest is still bigger (by 1/2") ! lol!

Happy Knitting! I'll be joining you soon! :)

Whistler Gold

My first visit to Canada, I was around 2 yrs old, we were at Stanley Park (Vancouver BC) and I ran around collecting all these maples leafs that were everywhere on the ground. I showed Mom who said, "Wow Michele, those are some big maple leafs! They're bigger than your head! Look at the flag... it has a maple leaf on it. We're in Canada..." My eyes got big... I love Canada! Maple Leafs - YAY!

 

When the Knit a Norwegian KAL started, Whistler was an obvious choice. Some of the events will be held at Whistler for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics...

Dale of Norway Whistler 2005

Dale of Norway Heilo - Black, Cherry Red, Natural & Goldenrod

2.75mm, 3mm & 3.5mm needles

size small

 

It is my first Norwegian sweater. It wasn't easy. I called it 'My Project from Hell.' 

I had problems with tension. I figure I knitted it twice. It killed my sewing machine, so I had to borrow my Mom's. I ended up with at black collar instead of red because the pattern was wrong - the symbols for red & black are switched. I noticed after I sewed in the zipper & tacked all the facings down. Now I like the black better (do you really want the black plackets pointing at your chin/nose?!)

I need to thank the members of the KAL who were so supportive, encouraging & sympathetic. And my Mom for the use of her sewing machine. Without you, I would have gave up.... instead...

Look at the maple leaf! It's bigger than my head! The hat is a bonus. I love my sweater & hat. :)

My goal was to be finished in time for The Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics! YAY me in pajama pants! Why is Kamati guarding the yarn? Why is Smoothie staring me down?

 

Whoa, now it's getting interesting. What are those things made of? Are they totems?

I joined the 2010 Knitting Olympics. I will be making my Dale of Norway Fox sweater. I get to start when the Olympic Flame is lit and have to be done before it's extinguished - 17 days. Why am I doing this? I'm Going For Gold! The YarnHarlot - Stephanie is putting out the challenge. She will be knitting Whistler! I'm sure she will finish in time. She's super speedy, skilled & Canadian. :)

 

Yay! The flame is lit! (Wooly went to sleep, so I had to take the picture.) It's past midnight. Why? Because they aired it on a delay. Jerks! So I casted on & went to bed.

This morning I woke up early & got this done. 

Going for Gold baby!

Leaf Me Alone

I got a Maple Leaf!

Whistler front

Whistler back

I can't remember how many times I ripped and re-knitted. Wooly asked what was wrong with me and finally exclaimed, "This is The Project From Hell!" This may be the one and only Norwegian sweater I make, so I'm determined to do it right.

My 'placket buddy' Jewel wrote an excellent blog post on how to do the neck decreased in the round. After reading it, I ripped back to the neck opening and did it like she did. Thanks Jewel! I'm very happy now. :)

So now I started a sleeve...and am in 'sleeve hell.' So far so good, I haven't ripped back, but it's early yet. ;)

Speaking of hell...

I don't know if it's because I'm having problems with this sweater... this month has been hell. Lots of anxiety for me. Work is total chaos. I met with my supervisor & asked if I had anything to worry about. He said, "No, you are 3rd highest in the group and part time... sign here." I was shocked I was doing that well, so I signed. Then everyone was questioning why I signed it... which caused doubt. So I talked to him again & he showed me the stats. I'm just going to continue on. I guess I'm worried about job security... like it exists! lol!

So, I cut my hair.

Then there's another part of life that's been out of my control. It finally got 'settled' yesterday. So I'm back to my old self again. I decided to celebrate and bought myself some tulips.

My parents just came back from Hawaii.
My brother, SIL, Mr K & Corey are heading to Hawaii in a few days.
When are we leaving?!

I told Wooly we should go to the Coast and take our sweaters. We've had a mild winter, so never wore them. I would take Fulmar & Whistler. I want to get away!

I guess I should be happy I got the 'monkey' off my back.

Back to sleeve hell for me. I've been watching skiing & snowboarding on tv. It's getting me excited for the Olympic Games next month. I'm hoping to have Whistler done by then. I'm not holding my breath though.

Happy Knitting! :)

Norway Out

"Thanks Auntie Michele for my very own hat! 

I can take it off all by myself! I'm a big boy!"

 

"Thanks Auntie Michele for my hat! Will you buy me a car? 

No, a real one."

I sent Mr K his hat for his birthday. They sent me a picture of Corey wearing it & it's too big & he looks pissed. So, I made Corey a hat for his birthday. Yes, the guilt worked. ;)

 

"What is it? I'm scared!"

"Smoothie, don't get too close, it might eat you!"

"Yeah, Mom calls it a 'black hole!' "

"She said, 'Shish Coom Bah, who knew Stockinette could be so blah...'"

"Yeah, then Dad laughed."

The Norwegian KAL started New Year's Day (midnight Oslo time). It's been lots of fun seeing everyone's progress. I'm glad lots of other people were in stockinette hell with me. Wow, I forgot how much I dislike doing it. Now that I'm in the color work, I'm enjoying it. I ripped out the color work twice. Still not thrilled, but hoping blocking evens everything out.

2009 Wrap Up

I was reflecting on 2009 and have to say it was a good year.

 

I finished The Princess!

Finishing The Princess was definitely a highlight!

Dyeing yarn and having 'beginner's luck' was also a highlight.

Not to mention Corey being born.

I got full range motion back in my right arm & shoulder. Realized my headaches were a result of my neck being out. 

The biggest highlight.

I was sitting on my couch, holding the tv remote, half watching tv & half wishing the KAL would hurry & start, when Wooly walks up to me. I held up the remote to give it to him, he motioned me to scoot over. I got scared thinking this either means tickle attack or bad news.

He says, "I want to tell you something... You know, I've been waiting my whole life for this... I'm very happy with where we 'are' right now and have YOU to thank for it."

I say, "What?! WOW! I can't believe it! Say it again!"

Miracle. 

You know, we want to know we're loved & appreciated. Men, you need to say it out loud. Eating all your food off your plate isn't enough. Tell your better half that you love & appreciate her. Just do it. Now.

Onward to 2010

New Years Day my amaryllis just started to open up. Today it looks like this.

I'm hoping this year will be a great year too.

I'm looking forward to finishing Whistler (the black hole).

The Wedding Ring Shawl is being reissued. (I'm very curious about the cashmere.)

And I hope to make great progress on The Queen. (I'm still knitting the edge points. Don't know why that's so hard for me! But, I'm over half done.)

So, cheers to 2010!

I've been saying, "Here's to a new decade!"

Wooly corrected me, I guess the new decade starts next year. I still don't get it, but guess it really doesn't matter.

Happy Knitting! :)

Holiday Cheer

Ready? OK!

I love my comfy sweater.

I love my comfy sweater!

How cute are these boots?

How cute are my boots?!

Forget the jewels and cashmere.

Forget the... wait... no!

Hand knit sweaters.

And cowboy boots!

Sending you holiday cheer!

Best wishes for 2010!

Wooly & Michele :)

This is our holiday card for this year. Inspired by my favorite commercial. Every time it comes on, I drop everything, jump up and down and scream with the girls. Wooly frantically tries to find the remote & hit 'mute' while demanding that I stop. It's hilarious!

I told him, "Okay, one funny photo! Here, hold my leg!"

"What do you mean by funny? Do I have to?"

*click*

YAY! Needless to say, the funny one made it as our card!

It Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas...

"I think these pipes are going to work out!"

*click*

"What was that for? Oh, yeah, I guess it is looking like Christmas..."

Wooly is very happy with his new bagpipes. He already showed all his friends and they agree that he stole them. Now he's busy fussing around with reeds & bags trying to get the perfect tone. He even had me sew on a patch on his bag. He wanted me to show him how to use my sewing machine, but I don't want him messing around with it. It might get broken & I need it for my Norwegian sweater. Priorities man!

 

I wasn't about to 'forget the jewels...' and not get anything for Christmas. I got myself freshwater pearls this year, 3 different kinds - white is freshwater, middle is Tahitian ringed, right is Autumn keshi. Yes, I wear them all together at once. Kamati likes them too.

"...quiet! Here she comes!"

*click*

"What was that for?"

"What's going on here?"

"Nothing! Honest!"

Yeah, right! I thought the lamb went home... and turtle is still here? Sigh. No good, I tell you.

Wishing you lots of good cheer this holiday season!

Celebrate wholeheartedly... with gusto!

We'll see you next year!

Got your queue ready?

... and to all... a cheery night!

Delphine Amore

I finished Delphine just in time for the cold weather.
Never mind that face I'm making.

I shortened it by 2 charts because I'm short. Notice the odd pattern? Just before the V. It's a Twisted Tradition's trademark. I love this sweater.

When I showed Wooly, he said, "That's SPECTACULAR!"

I said, "Yep! It's Lorraine, she's spectacular!"

I'm her biggest fan. :)

 

Delphine by Lorraine Condotta

Jamieson's Spindrift

3mm & 3.25mm needles

size small

 

St Moritz

I'm going to try something new for the New Year. I've always loved those Dale of Norway sweaters, so when a KAL formed, I jumped in. 

Norwegian yarn isn't sticky like Shetland yarn (Jamieson's) and is thicker weight.

I decided it would be a good ideal to knit something small to see if I could get gauge & make the colorwork show up. Mr K's birthday is this month, so what better than a child's hat?!

St Mortiz Child's Hat

Dale of Norway Falk - wool

2.75mm & 3.25mm needles

For Mr K

We won't talk about how many times I started over... or who's evil plan it was to include a row with 3 colors (black + blue + white)... yes, that row in the center of the diamond with the white dot. Falk is heavy duty yarn, surviving all my ripping! I left off the tassel. Mostly because I didn't want to make one. :)

Mr K is going to be three! He's in Pre-preschool and has 3 blonde girlfriends. I wonder if they're Norwegian?! LOL!

 

I'm showing the inside because I want to share how I attached the edge to the inside.

 

You know how you cast on, knit so many rows for the edge, purl one row for the fold line and after you're all done making the hat, they tell you to sew the edge inside the hat loosely...

When I made Ruth Sorensen's hat, she has you pick up stitches on your cast on, then knit them together with the stitches you have on your needle. (Like a 3 needle bind off, without the bind off.) You end up with a really nice finished inside. Then you just continue knitting your hat as patterned.

It's Amore

 

Wooly & I were watching television...

Wooly says, "What's this commercial for? Oh pizza! Yum"

I sang, "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie... it's AMORE!"

Wooly starts belly laughing, red in the face & says, "What?"

Me, "It's AMORE. It's LOVE! It's a real song!"

Wooly, "I know. Eye in your pie... in the sky... it's Maury?"

Me, "No! lol! It's Italian, sing it with me..."

I was so thrilled! I got him to sing! He refuses to sing because he thinks he sounds like an asthmatic bullfrog. I've been hearing him sing it every now & then & it just tickles me! 

So, this morning we're eating brunch & Wooly says, "I bought a set of bagpipes... they were on sale... I saved a thousand dollars!... what's wrong with you? You're so mad you can't even look at me! Oh, there we go, the eye roll! What is it? (and he sings) IT'S AMORE!!!"

That did it! I busted out laughing! 

So guess what I ordered?

Unconditional Love!

LOL! :)

Okay, so hope you have a wonderful holiday full of laughter & love!

Happy Knitting! :)

Green Dragon

 "DUDE! You're awesome!"

"I know. Hold up, I've gotta do something..."

"C'mon Penguin Boy..."

"I'm coming... I thought I was a cat..."

"Okay you two... for the BLOG!"

"GRRR... Mighty Green Dragon!!"

"Geez... who invited Godzilla?! What's a blog?"

"You know... Auntie Michele... sends stickers..."

"Oh! I got stickers! Anyone want a sticker?

For your shirt, camera, phone, remote, floor, foot..."

I've got the cutest nephews ever...

In Knitting News

Anne's Hibiscus Cardigan is OUT!
I shamelessly begged Village Yarn & Tea to order the pattern.


I showed Mom and she wants one too... :)

Anne use to be my Spindrift yarn supplier. She spoiled me. She's focusing on designing & closed her online shop. She's fairislefanatic in Ravelry

I can't wait to start, but first I'm going to finish Delphine...

One more chart & I'll be at the shoulders!

I realized I wanted it shorter, so I cut out 2 charts.
I'm knitting checkerboard steeks for the armhole & vertical stripes for the neck steek.

This is designed by my buddy Lorraine. She's Knittingham in Ravelry.
I love this sweater & can't wait to wear it.

If you're not in Ravelry, you're missing out. Just saying. I'm glad I joined.

And I started The Queen...

"I want the tiara!"

After much thought, I decided to knit it inward. Work & turn so I garter stitch.
I've got 68/208 edge points done.

This is the Phoenix yarn I dyed this summer & it just happens to match my Japanese Iris. I love knitting with this yarn. Sorry I didn't pin block it, but I'm kinda scared, it's so thin!

I'm being very quiet about this because it's going to take forever & I'm enjoying sweater knitting right now.

So, got Thanksgiving plans?

We got invited to one of Wooly's friend's house last month.
Just now, Wooly's friend informed us that they WON'T be doing Thanksgiving.
Meanwhile, we told everyone else who invited us that we already had plans.

The 'cheese' stands alone...

I'm kinda pissed.

Wooly thinks we can just call one of our other friends & tell them we're available... basically invite ourselves over. I hate it when people do that.

I told Wooly we're just going to make our own dinner & have a quiet day by ourselves.... which is really fine with me... no stress... no expectations...

What makes it worse, is this is the second year in a row that this 'friend' did this!

Okay, I'm done venting.

What's on your list for Christmas? I'm thinking better 'friends'. LOL!

Happy Knitting! Peace out! :)