theraineysisters knitting and so much more

February 23, 2010

From Sally — Will I Make It to the Podium?

Filed under: Val — surly @ 7:02 pm

Cue the Olympic theme.

Yes, I’m doing the Ravelympics this year — somehow I’ve always missed it before. For those who don’t know, the Ravelympics is a speed event.  You cast on a project during the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics and try to complete it by the time the games end.   My current medal chances?  Cautiously optimistic.

I decided to knit a jacket/cardigan that caught my eye a number of years ago.  It’s called Val, and it’s an Elsebeth Lavold design.  It’s not a particularly popular pattern from what I can tell — on Ravelry, mine is the sole project.  I’m not sure why.  I like it.

It’s a short jacket, one button, with cabled front bands that turn into a collar.  The sleeves are also cabled.  I’m making mine by holding two yarns together:  Rowan’s Kidsilk Haze in Hurricane and Miss Babs Yummy Monochrome Sport & Sock Yarn in Denim.  I’ve made a few slight changes to the pattern.  I’ve lengthened it a little bit and omitted the one by one ribbing at the bottom in favor of a hem.  I’ve finished both fronts and the back and will cast on the first sleeve tonight.

Here’s what it looks like after crudely basting the side seams and basting down the collar. I used extra blurring on the pictures because they are definitely not medal worthy. The second photo is probably most true to color.

Close up of the button I plan on using:

Wish me luck!

PS from Susan — Good luck, Surly!  It is beautiful.

I for one decided against the Ravelympics this year.  Four years ago I did “medal” by finishing Rogue in 12 days.  I WORE my sweater proudly before the end of the Olympics at the Birkebeiner Ski Race in Hayward, WI.  It felt like a mini-Olympics being at the largest cross country ski race in North America.  But this time around, I just could not suffer through something with a deadline.  Too many knitting deadlines of late — knitting ain’t much fun if you are always trying to beat the clock.

Powered by WordPress