I'm Ready!!!

Everyone in the knitting world knows Stephanie Pearl-McPhee of Yarnharlot.com fame. She is the Queen of knitting bloggers with a following of thousands and thousands of people. Four years ago the Yarn Harlot introduced the knitting world to the Knitting Olympics. The idea was to pick a challenging project, cast on during the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics and try to finish before or during the closing ceremonies. Four years ago I did not participate but this year I am going to give it a try.
I have decided to knit this beautiful, yummy chocolate yarn into a sweater in the same pattern as my lovely Noro coat. I have been looking and looking for a nice bulky weight cardigan pattern and I just haven't been able to find one I like. This is a wool blend out of Silver Moon Farm in Petersburgh NY. I bought this on my wonderful trip to Rhinebeck with my sister Claudia this year. I am really excited to cast on this evening as I watch as much of the Olympics as I can. This sweater/coat should not be all that challenging but I do have two major three day swim meets with my sons the next two weekends so that will be the challenging part, just finding time to knit. I have also made a promise to myself that I can not knit another project during the Olympics.



So that means I will be unable to finish this beautiful silk ruffle scarf, that I am almost done with. This scarf is made of short rows, which I usually avoid like the plague, but these are very simple. I casted on 22 stitches on size 9 needles. I knit across one row. Then the fun begins. Your knit the first 8 stitches of the next row, turn your work and knit back to the beginning of the row. Knit the first 6 stitches of the row, turn and knit those stitches again, now you are at the begining of the row. Then Knit the first 4 stitches, turn and knit them again. After you have completed this cycle you knit across all 22 stitches and repeat for the other side. I have about 300 yards of this beautiful, hand dyed silk yarn. This was my project at the swim meet last weekend. It is very portable and very, very fun to knit. This was a free pattern so I feel I can share it.



The ruffles don't occur right away, but when they do you will be amazed. A friend of mine made it in a wool blend on size 10 needles casting on 20 stitches. It was a much denser fabric and ruffled more. It turned out really lovely. This is a perfect project for new and old (not age) knitters alike.

Max are you ready for some serious knitting time?