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.
