Am I joining all these things because I’m bitter and want someone else to know the pain of running a KAL that has more than one participant? Of course not! I just want to have fun!
JOKING PEOPLE. IT’S A JOKE. Hahaha? Get it?
All jokes aside, I’ve done A LOT of joining lately. Groucho would be very, very disappointed.
Let’s see. I’m in RED HOT SIZZLING SOCKS.
I’ve got some Ruby Slippers STR that’s begging to be jaywalkers with a picot edge. I’m planning on making the Valentine’s Day deadline. These will probably be started on my romantic weekend in sunny Florida.
I also joined Sockapaloooza.
Even though I was shafted twice and did some shafting of my own, I’m back for another round. I can guarantee my pal that I won’t be making jaywalkers. All jaywalkers are for me and me alone. Unless of course my pal ASKS for jaywalkers, but honestly, I’m going to try to avoid it.
Um. Oh yeah. Just yesterday I joined Project Spectrum over at Lolly’s.
This is an inspired idea! Each month, beginning in March, I’m going to take on a spinning project with the designated colors for that month. For me, a lot of spinning is about color! I love COLOR! And I like the idea of having a spinning project. Something separate from the knitting.
And, yes, finally, I joined the Knitting Olympics.
Actually – I signed up the first day! And no I’m not linking over there because if you don’t know what the hell I’m talking about I don’t know how you can call yourself a knit blogger. Hell – I don’t know how you could call yourself a knitter OR a blogger. It’s that big people.
There’s been lots of interesting discussion about these here olympics. Lots of pro – some con – some wtf? I’m not sure if you’ve noticed or not but I really like to challenge myself. I love to master new things – I love to learn new skills. I even like to get frustrated and curse and throw things around – and maybe – not often – stomp. Because when you finally do master that new skill, whatever it is, it feels so freaking satisfying! Really. You should try it sometimes.
That’s one of the reasons I truly love knitting. It’s a great way to challenge myself and honestly, usually, no one gets hurt. There are no great disasters if it doesn’t work out – like say – trying to get pregnant and having a kid. Now there’s a challenge I’d rather not be challenged by. But knitting? BRING IT ON! So when I saw Stephanie’s post about the Knitting Olympics I knew right away what my project would be: FAIR ISLE!
I’ve never done color knitting. Sure I took that class last year, but got sick on the second day when they taught fair isle. But it’s something that I REALLY want to learn. So here’s the perfect opportunity! And while I appreciate Stephanie’s call to lose our sanity during the fortnight, I’m not knitting a Dale of Norway Olympic sweater. I’m crazy but I’m not NUTS! My first fair isle project will be the Pirate Mittens over at Hello Yarn. I’m planning on knitting them in Dalegarn Falk in black and neon pink. Or navy and neon pink. Something and neon pink. Neon green and neon pink? Something bright and flashy and CRAZY! I think I can get the mittens done in 16 days. It’s the perfect challenge. I’m ready for it.
I think you’re brave to take on something daunting like fair isle — me, I’m taking on Actually Finishing Something Besides a Sock (I hope it will look like a sweater). I have made some jaywalker “progress” this week, though. I hope you have a loverly weekend!
I knit ONE color mitten and it’s not finished because I’m supposed to now go back and pull off the cast on edge and pick up the stitches and knit a picot edge or something . . . I told Sandy and Teresa on Sunday that I’m afraid of the damn things. But the fair isle part was great! Good luck and go for the gold!
I’m trying fair isle soon, too! I don’t think I’ll be able to watch much of the Olympics because of the time difference, but some multi-colored mitts coming up soon on the to-knit list. Good luck!!
Me too, me too! Isn’t it fun to join so many diverse and fun Along thingies?
Fair Isle isn’t hard but turning the corners with DPN is with two colors of yarn. That’s your challenge. I know you can do it;-)
I decided not to join the Olympic KAL. Not because I don’t approve or anything! Any KAL that insists that you sit down and knit for 16 days straight is fine by me 🙂 but I have a secret (ish ) project that has to be knitted by the end of March – yes it is quite big – and I have to write up the pattern too, so I have decided that that is quite enough pressure without adding to it by either trying to knit it is 16 days or by knitting something else in the middle of my deadline. I will be cheering on on the sidelines though!
So now that I’m totally addicted to Jaywalkers, I’d like to try a pair with the picot edge. Do you still cast on the same number of stitches to begin, do you use the same size needles, (I’ve seen some instructions for picot edging that says to switch needles sizes), and do you do the knitting/YO rounds back and forth on two needles before joining? I know, I’m a lemming…
HEY!!! I just got that STR colour on order too!!!!!
Though I dont know what it will become yet 🙂
Personally have not signed up for Olympic guts and glory, but if I did, I’d be begging Wendy to let me be an Honorary Bostonian. Have you seen their button? Love the mittens, you joiner you. xoxo Kay
I was reading this post and the thing that kept going through my mind was “Cara’s awesome”. That is all.
I just signed up for the Sizzing Socks-along, which means that …. Groucho would be disappointed in me, too. I make no apologies … I really enjoy knit-alongs (even though I haven’t finished ONE PAIR of socks for the Knitting on the Road one yet. I’m working on that.)
Fair Isle should come with a warning that it can be addictive.
Nice Pirate Pattern, and way to be a joiner. In the end it’s all about the knitting, whether you do it alone or with a group.
I am a red socketeer too – I couldn’t pass that one up 😉 and thanks for being a part of my little Project! I am so gosh-darned excited about it! I think it is great that you are thinking ahead and thinking outside of the knitting – the real beauty of the Project is that it really can work well with any other knitalongs, etc… *okay, sorry for the plug*
Have a good day, C!
Yes, that is a lot of KALs. Sounds good, though…
Fair isle is pretty addictive, although I find lace moreso.
Black and neon pink. Then you can proceed to the pirate hat and mittens!
Wow, that’s a heck of a lot of knitalongs. Enjoy!
Oh, I have some burn-your-retinas red K(multi-P)M in the stash and have been sorely tempted by the Red Hot Sizzling Socks-along, but I’m going to have to do a knit-behind on that one. Dang. Too many fun things going on! I love Lolly’s Spectrum idea, too, though haven’t officially joined up — she’s so darn cute, it’s hard to resist.
The really good thing about the Olympics — or any KAL — is that you can choose to do it, or not. The reasons for joining are about as varied as the number of participants. The most important thing is sportsmanship/knitsmanship, as competitor, spectator or disinterested party. It takes all kinds of people to make the world go round, and it works best if they’re just plain old nice to each other.
Oh, good grief, blahblahblah blah.
I love those mittens. I think I may be inspired. Mmmm, I guess that goes against the whole challenge/pace thing, huh?
Good luck on the Fair Isle mittens! Can’t wait to see what you come up with…maybe the likeness of Bruce Fair Isled (see it can be a verb!?!) into mittens?
You go gurl!!!
You have joined many things. You are a brave woman. 🙂 Have fun and happy knitting!
I love the Dale SNP (screaming neon pink)! I have been going a bit nuts with it myself lately. Love the mittens, and everyone else is right: fair isle is totally addictive. Now I need to go hunting for that Boston button that Kay mentioned…
I’m actually getting excited about the Olympics–and it looks like I’m going to have my Jaywalkers done, easily, in time, too! What a relief! I did the heel flap last night, will turn and start the gussett tonight, and then it SHOULD be smooth sailing. . . right?
I’ve had to resist the joining temptation a bit lately because there are so many fun things to join! I too will be tackling a bit of fair isle for the Olympics, still deciding what I’ll knit.
Enjoy your vacation!!
Knitalongs make blogging and knitting more fun! This way, there are others knitting the same (or similar) thing as you, so if you run into a problem, chances are someone will have the answer. I think you should use the neon green and neon pink for your mittens. The brighter, the better! Have a great holiday in Florida. Soak up some sun for me!
I like the idea of applying the “Project spectrum” along to spinning. I love to play with color in spinning.
Dude, I just did Hello Yarn’s We Call Them Pirates hat in pink & green. PInk and Green ROCK.
Way to participate! I’m thinking about the KO and was looking for a pattern. Do you remember about how long it took you to do the diamond shawl by Sivia? It’s gorgeous!
I keep joining KALs too – can’t resist the pull. Great minds must think alike! I’m do the Pirate Hat for the Olympics – my first Fair Isle too, and I’m thinking black and pink! 🙂 Enjoy your vacation!