O is for Olympics

In case you didn't figure that out. I believe I am way behind the ABC-along at this point, but I'll get around to it. Ravelympics Sweater = the letter O.

Today I'd like to talk about something besides crafts. Although to appease you, I really did finish the quilt top. I am impressed that despite the late hours and crazy emotions of this thing, most of the points line up. The ones that don't, bother me not at all. This isn't how I envisioned it, exactly, but it's still cute and I am definitely going to buy some flannel soon, so I can make it into a baby quilt.


I lied. This post is mostly about crafts after all. Here's a picture of the cashmere stole, too, for good measure. Too bad it hasn't grown much- my hands still hurt from Ravelympics.


I also would like to comment that for years I have evaded the whole shoe fascination. Yes, I owned plenty of pairs of shoes. But most were cheap, or inherited. And there were a lot of them because of the variety of purposes. Sneakers, summer sandals, SAS comfort sandals (pretty and mundane), plus heels for dress-up, shoes to wear with suits, shoes to wear with jeans and slacks, lots of loafers, and of course a few awesome cool colored shoes (pink and purple, red, red, red, RED). OK, so maybe I've always enjoyed shoes. What I am meaning, more, is that shoes were a means to an end, and I simply didn't buy them for much money. My adorable little red German shoes with embroidered flowers on them, great with jeans and never to be worn for long jaunts (too little padding in the sole). Silver or black strappy heels to wear to weddings and holiday parties. They were shoes with purpose. And almost all of them were given away or trashed when I started having serious foot pain and eventually went into orthotics. So sue me, I chose comfort. I threw away all of my heels but for the absolutely most comfortable, and I only ever wear them at work where I sit the vast majority of the day. I kept the loafers, but most of them are old and decrepit. Hush Puppies, my shoe of choice in grad school, apparently aren't very sturdy. But I realized the other day that in my wild fit of pique I threw out every black heel I owned. And a girl needs black heels. So I wandered through Georgetown the other day, when the Foggy Bottom metro was having one of its "let's just not have escalators" days. And I tried on a few pairs of shoes at a boutique-y store which I had read about on Yelp. And I might have bought a pair of quilted patent leather kitten heels(marked down to a completely reasonable price... and something like 1/5th of retail):


I also tried on these incredibly hot shoes. And they weren't nearly as expensive in Georgetown as that Saks price. But still hundreds and hundreds away from my budget. Someday I'll have events to go to that could possibly justify those shoes. In the meantime, I think I'll keep playing around with my kitten heels, and maybe once in a while scope out the clearance racks at the fancy shmancy stores. I'm still not ready to pay for Jimmy Choos or Manolos, and I still don't think my feet could take insane stilettos. But those 4 and 3/4 inch hot red heels were a breeze- in a shoe that well made and that well fitting, it was like walking on air. And as much as I love my super expensive comfort shoes, if I'm going to be spending that much money, I deserve to look fine, too.

I'm a Gold Medal Ravthlete

And I finally took a few photos, as proof. They're not good photos. Did I mention the not sleeping thing?



Better view of the v-neck:


I see more picots in my future:


I did go to Knit Happens this afternoon. Their sale was epic. I bought yarn for two sweaters, a Fiddlesticks shawl pattern, some needles (I never have enough size 7s, EVER), some more stitch holders... and saved 45 bucks for my trouble. I did buy an acrylic blend for my personal Perfect Sweater. It's the new Ella Rae yarn, and it frankly feels very nice. And even full price, this will be a very cheap sweater. I decided not to do alternate color hems; the whole thing will be a lovely dark mottled green. I LOVE green v-neck sweaters- I made my mom make them for me all the time when I was a kid. How did I not make one for myself yet, as a knitter?

I also found Cashcotton 4ply on half off. I've been looking for this stuff everywhere- at a decent price, I mean. Now I can finally make this really nifty lace wrap sweater I've had the pattern for since ages and ages ago. So seriously, a win.

I wonder if making this commissioned sweater counts as destashing, when I immediately go out and buy 11 more skeins of yarn? Details. I think I'm done yarn shopping for a while though... the WIP and want-to-make queue is too big, and I have too many project-ready yarns. Next up in the list is finishing the Cotton Bam Boo sweater. And reading- something I haven't been doing all through these Olympics. Nearly over!

On a sidenote, I've had shin splints for ages now. I keep running, hoping it'll be fine again (after waiting a few days or a week in between). Still hurts. So today I did the elliptical instead of running- and I also lifted weights with a girl from Ravelry who is in my local Arlington knitting group. I then walked all the way to the library and back, with way more books than anticipated. I think I've more than had my workout for the day, and I completely deserve to spend the next 4 hours (after showering) completely glued to the closing ceremonies. Yessiree. Too bad about that whole buying groceries thing- there's always tomorrow. I managed to clean my kitchen in between knitting sweater sleeves, but the apartment is completely trashed otherwise- this will be a very exciting chore-filled week, I can tell!

Ravelympics are killing me

Well, at least they are killing my sleep cycle.

I've watched so many crazy Olympic sports. I have knitted so much my hands are completely cramped. Did almost an entire sleeve today (well, redid the bottom few inches because this morning I was decreasing, not increasing, on the metro).

It's 4am. I have to go to bed. But the challenge ends at NOON! So I guess I will get up earlyish... sigh.

Two days in a row I'll have to nap because Ravelympics has taken over my nights.

On the plus side, I do have some serious status news. It's almost done. I knit the sleeve, did the 3 needle bind offs on both shoulders, completely finished the collar, and sewed in one set-in sleeve. All that's left is sewing in the other sleeve, doing the sleeve and side seams, and weaving in ends. Sadly, that is at least a few hours of work.

I tried it on, in its unfinished state. I can't believe I'm giving it away. It is going to fit like a gorgeous, sexy, burgundy glove. Apparently I need to buy myself some more Cascade 220 Superwash. Or if I finish the darn thing on time, I could head down to Knit Happens and see if any of their sale yarns would work. Yes, I could shop stash- but the only superwash I have is VERY explicitly set aside for a different sweater. I may decide to make this instead, though. The perfect sweater? Totally perfect.

Floating down the river

I went tubing for the first time today. I've determined that although I enjoyed it, and due to the water being ridiculously low it was the easiest way to traverse the river... give me a darn canoe anytime. Floating on a very very slow moving current, four or more hours in the sun, just isn't my ideal river activity. You can go slow and quiet in a canoe, and enjoy nature. And get to where you're going in half the time. So now I know, for future reference. Someday I'll even try kayaking- but I really like canoeing best.

At any rate. I'm still coated in sunscreen, and I have very strange tan lines but so far at least, no sunburn. And it was a delightful day- I can't think of the last time I was out on the water. Nice people, nice time. I slept most of the way home- there's just something about that much sun that completely does me in.

Once I got home, it's been all Olympics and knitting all the time. I suppose that isn't strictly true- I watched For your Consideration, a film I frankly cannot recommend. As to the Olympics, I got to watch the women's marathon, and was reminded how uninterested I am in running much longer than a 5k. And I got the front up to the v-neck, and started working the decreases on the left side. That's some serious progress.

Between the spitfire knitting and having to paddle so much (did I mention the current was practically nonexistent, especially towards the end?), I am having some serious shoulder wonkiness. And it feels like I spent the entire day doing crunches and shrugs. There's only one solution- bed!

Tomorrow, thank goodness, is a lazier Sunday. A few groceries to pick up, brunch with a friend, and a definite trip to the public library. And Oh-Lim-picks and knitting- par for the course in Mikaiya-land.

Ravelympics, let's do a one-two!

So many great one-twos in this Olympics. Americans kicking butt and taking names. I could get into that for a bit- either on the patriotic side or on the side of what do you expect, we're a big nation with lots of money. That's neither here nor there. I'm talking about a one-two punch of sweater fantastic-ness. A finished sweater back, and a significantly progressed sweater front. Who needs an Olympic gold, when I'm still acing my Sweater Sprint?

Finally, I pulled out the camera. I haven't slept in weeks, why try now. Et voila, cheri- un peu d'or ravelympique!

This is what the back looked at after day 2 of the competition (ie, last Sunday morning). I swear it's not hot pink, but I have this thing about taking photos at 1am.


This is what my sweater looks like now. Note that it needs some serious blocking- it has some significant curling issues that I know will be resolved once it's all sewn together. Also? This is a blood red. Nearly burgundy. I can't get it to show up right in photos to save my life.


And did I mention I bought some Kauni for a colorwork cardigan? It arrived. And it's stunning. I saw it in the box and giggled with glee. And then I tossed it around for a little while. It's a bit scratchy for juggling, however, so it's back in the box until I finish Ravelympics.


I also bought yarn today for my 3rd annual High Holy Day shawl. I start a shawl on/near Rosh Hashana, and work on it through the Days of Awe. The last two years I've done this, and finished the shawls by the end of October. What a lovely tradition! This year I'm going to make the Honeybee Stole, in a deep gold color. At least I hope that's the color- I'll find out when the yarn arrives. This yarn purchase is justified because although I do have a fair bit of lace weight yarn... I have NOTHING appropriate for a bee-themed shawl. Not even black, for bumblebees. I have a few other projects in the works coming up, too, and am hoping to zoom through them as quickly as possible. This year I am definitely going to do NaNoWriMo, which means I need a November free from knitting deadlines!

Ravelympics, the men's gymnastics edition

So I couldn't stop watching the Olympics tonight. I meant to just DVR it, and get to bed at 10:30. Got up at 6am today, surely I could do it again tomorrow, and get to work real early and leave at a decent time for once.

So much for that. Since I couldn't tear myself away from the men's gymnastics (WOO BRONZE!) I decided I might as well finish the back of my sweater. I mean, I was really close to just doing short-row shaping by the time we were at the last rotation.

I would have been done a lot earlier than 1am if I hadn't had to redo the short rows THREE TIMES! What's with that! Apparently I have never ever bothered doing W&T before (wrap and turns, yo). So I didn't get it. I guess I get it now, after ripripriping the same 4-5 rows. It's way too late for posting pretty pictures, but believe me! The back, it's done!

I did the crochet chain for my provisional cast on for the front, because it's bad luck to go to bed without casting on for the next section. If you count wips, though, I probably could never ever have bad luck. Ever. Because I have a good couple dozen things already on the needles.

Go Team USA! Go Team 51! Go Team StashDown!

And especially, go Team Mikaiya! I can't believe I finished an entire sweater back between Friday night and Monday night. It's a new personal record!

Also? Phelps is growing on me. Like the rest of the world isn't infatuated already. I hate jumping on the bandwagon, but there's just something about a dude who can race twice within two hours and be entire (long) body length ahead of the rest of the field. It's insane. And looking at all these interesting body types? Cracking me up. The gymnasts with their itty bitty lower bodies and arm muscles of doom. The swimmers who are... well, we all know swimmers are practically perfect in every way. So annoying. The sabreurs with their short squat incredible athletic power, and the ladies of beach volleyball who are the essence of green envy.

Check out The New York Times photo essay Bodies of Work for more amazing Olympic bodies. It's quite reassuring, actually. And boy does it make me want to get back on the ab work bandwagon.

Ravelympics Beginnings

I cast on for my Ravelympics Sweater last night at Jazz in the Garden, at the National Sculpture Garden off the National Mall. It was one of those perfect nights- lovely tango music drifting over to where I set up my picnic blanket, nice food, nice friends... perfect weather. Altogether unlike DC.

I left work early yesterday feeling ill... felt ok in the evening while I was out in the garden... and then it went downhill around midnight. I knew it was a stomach bug coming on, but it's been a while since I had one! I forgot how annoying it is. At any rate, I'm back to eating solid foods this afternoon and I managed to take a stroll this morning, and I think the cool fresh air felt wonderful and really revived me. It feels more like September than August in DC, and I am eternally grateful for the respite. I am so excited to wear jeans without overheating.

Meanwhile, I have been reading like crazy and working on the sweater. I turned the hem this morning, and I think I may knit a LOT more turned-hem sweaters in future. I absolutely love how it looks, and I think I will also love how it hangs. This is my commission knit for a former coworker, so the yarn colors and pattern were her choice. And I'm thinking maybe I need to make myself one, too! I am using Cascade 220 Superwash, one of my all-time favorite wools. I just adore having washable clothes, and I adore Cascade 220 most of all. It's soft and wearable against the skin, but strong and comes in every color imaginable.

Here's the hem in the contrast color, a nice blue, before I turned it:


What it looks like, inside and out:


The final result, as I continue knitting the back of the sweater in red:


I would like very much to go to my new knitting group here in Arlington, but I'm still not feeling up to venturing outside for very long. I'll probably pop over to the library (by car... Ballston is not very far from me by foot, but far enough that I don't think I could carry home all the books waiting for me on hold). And then all I plan to do today is alternate between reading these addictive Stephanie Meyer books and working on the sweater while I watch Olympics. It really is the Perfect Sweater, at least so far! And I am very happy to be home and free to watch the Olympic Games for once. What a great excuse to hang out on my sofa all weekend! And I already got to see the US Women's team sweep the medals in sabre! Being a one-time, pretty awful, sabreur myself, that was pretty awesome. I guess it would be sabreuse? These girls move so fast I could barely see the touches!

What do we think of this little guy?

 

I am feeling not so sure about the arrangement of these squares. Just can't get it quite right.

On the other hand, I sewed all of them on Saturday and Sunday, from cutting the background fabric to piecing each little pinwheel bit. All that's left is to arrange them better and sew 'em up into a quilt top. I'm thinking it will be a better baby blanket than anything else, so I'll use some baby-safe batting and back it in flannel. The points are by no means perfect, but I'm not feeling particularly bad about that. This is an itty bitty quilt to sustain my heart, not to show off my (completely nonexistent) quilting prowess.

Any thoughts?

Ravelympics 2008

Well, I'm all signed up for the Ravelympics. I signed up for too much, though.

My main event is the Sweater Sprint. I aim to knit this ENTIRE SWEATER in 17 DAYS! I know that's normal for some people, but I'm the procrastinating queen. I have never finished a sweater that fast. In fact, I've only finished what, 3 sweaters ever? That's pretty sad, in the number of years I've been knitting.

Well, I may have knitted a ton of other stuff meanwhile. But still!

It's all in stockinette, on what will probably be size 9 needles. So not exactly a slow slog that way either. I've been knitting my rose cardigan on 5s, if that helps with perspective. And that should totally be done already, but whatevs! Who's counting.

I also have this ridiculous idea that I can finish some UFOs while making this ENTIRE sweater. Like this.


And this (1/3 done)


And a few more.

Crazy? Yes. But darn if I'm not ready to try. If nothing else, I have to knit the sweater. It's my last no kidding for frikkin real I promise commissioned knit. And I said I'd have it to her by September. Funny thing about September. That's next month!

You know what that means? I'm going to be 28. I sure ought to have finished at least 4 sweaters by then. If I can finish the rose cardigan, it will be five!

So what did I do meanwhile, while pondering finishing up UFOs and knitting this I swear it last commissioned knit? I might have bought the yarn for this. Or you can see the pattern here. Or you know, I might go crazy and chart my own. Yummy.

Two very minor things of note

Thing one: I completed my first month of the Wardrobe Refashion challenge successfully. I did buy a pair of running shorts at a thrift store (for something like 3 dollars), but I do believe that's within the scope, since it's thrifting. If it isn't... well, so be it. But darn if I'm not proud for avoiding buying any new clothes. In the spirit of the challenge I did try to sew myself a dress, too, but it's currently in time out since I realized I can't just add to the shoulders, without grading the armhole, too. And the back is too wide. Rats- my next project is going to involve only BOTTOMS. My waist and hips are way easier to deal with than my top. I'm also quilting and knitting sweaters, so that counts as a bit of wardrobe and sewing.

Thing two: I can run for 25 minutes straight. I've done it twice already (I've completed Week 7, Day 1 of the Couch-to-5k). Less than three weeks to go, and I should be capable of running a full 30 minutes at a time, and hopefully getting really close to a full 5k. I'm still off by about 1/3 of a mile, even if I count my warm-up and cool-down in my distance. Getting closer by the day, though.

Time on my hands

I've been doing a great deal of crafting while watching truly awful TV on the DVR. First, I worked on some sleeves.


And then I cut the background fabric for my pinwheel quilt. And went to town on it, having nothing better to do. The storms this evening didn't help- I was planning on going for a long walk, but not in a torrential downpour. So I finished seven squares


And all the rest are ready to be sewn.


I think that these two may be my favorite prints.


In other news, I have been given a beautiful old Australian spinning wheel. I don't know the genus, in fact I still don't know how to spin. But it was a kind and considerate gift, all the same. It came with a bunch of knitting needles and what seems to be a shuttle, too- all items no longer wanted where they were. I hope I can put them to good use.