Ravellenic Games

Time Machine time.

Venture back with to 2006.  The Yarn Harlot had a vision. A vision of a Knitting Olympics to coincide with the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Tracy was still alive. 

I knit her Shedir.

I miss Tracy.  I miss her so very, very much.

Fast forward to 2008 I knitted a pair of Monkey Socks. Ravely started the Ravelympics . Yarn Harlot did not host a Knitting Olympics since it was the Summer Olympics.  Decent pair of socks. I'm not much of a sock knitter but I completed the challenge. I knitted for Team Mine, Team, Ohio, Team Obama, and Team Tardis.

Onward to 2010.  I knit a pair of Twilight Mitts.  I even won a skein of yarn from The Yarn Harlot's stash in that Knitting Olympics.  I still have the yarn. It has a place of honor in my stash. Someday I'll knit with that yarn but not now. I also participated in the Ravelympics. At this point the Ravelympics had grown in size and complexity.  I knit for teamgk2.

Has it only been two years since 2012 when I knit Three Ravellenic Hedgies? Summer again.  Participated on Ravelry.  I knitted for TeamG2K2012.

Each year I challenged but did not seek to overextend myself.  I've enjoyed the games.

Time Machine back to Present Day!

WTeverlastingF is going on over on Ravelry?  Casey continues to have to deal with non code monkey related drama.  The man is a saint.  

I'm not going to even pretend I have any idea of what went down behind the scenes for this year's Ravellenic Games group to become the Formerly Ravellenic Games group, as of 1/10/2014.  I've been following along in the Sherlock group.   Even before this latest event I knew I'd be participating in the Sherlock group created RAINBOWLLENICS CHALLENGE.   I don't know what I'm knitting exactly yet but I know I'm knitting something Rainbow.  It's going to be stash Palette or I might go wild and buy some Bernat Mosaic in the Rainbow colorway.  We shall see.

No matter what happens with the mechanics of the Ravelry group I'm knitting for the Rainbowllenics Challenge.  Personally I'd like to see the rules relaxed for the Ravellenic Games and go back to something more akin to Yarn Harlot's first games. Fewer rules for events and basically following Wheaton's Law, Don't be a dick.  Again, we shall see.

In the meantime I have my next knitting project to arrange. I'm between projects.  (gasp) I have a blog to ignore. Oy!  Most importantly I have a family to love.

Stuff I want to Knit

Look at me blogging!

Spent some quality time with my Ravelry Queue a few days ago. Trimmed it up a bit and reorganized the order. I'm down to 46 possible projects that I'd like to knit at some point.

I took a few notes while I was working on my queue. This is a little early for a New Year knitting resolution list, it's more of a "What I'd like to work on next" open ended type list.

Mosaic Knitting. It looks so cool and complex but you use only one color at a time. Barbra Walker is calling.

I'm following the Walker Treasury Project blog. Now to get the books for my knitting library.

Illusion Knitting. I hear it's simple but I have not tried it yet. It looks fun. The Dalek Dishcloth and the Harry Potter banner are calling to me.

I'd like to keep knitting more socks. Really enjoying the socks. I have a (gasp) decent amount of sock yarn at the moment.

I'd like to try out some new to me yarn. The Cedar Leaf Shawlette is an excellent excuse to buy some Koiju.

Kidsilk Haze is calling. I actually like mohair and would like to work with it at some point.

More lace, I have a decent stash of lace yarn. More shawls please.

Shawl pin. Now to find a cool shawl pin.

Have not knitted a Hedgie in some time. I'm thinking it's Hedgie time soon. Time to try felting in the new front loader.

Allison and I are going to see Lady Gaga in March. I'm thinking I need to knit Louisa to wear for the concert. Or maybe Jordan.

Did I mention Malabrigo? There will be some more Malabrigo in there somewhere.

Otherwise I have a decent little stash. I'm going to keep knitting from stash as much as possible. In the meantime I'm plugging away at Dave's Petrol vest. It's not exciting, but I'm enjoying the knit. I've split for the armholes and am currently working on the back section. I'm thinking lace next. Something a bit more focused. Maybe it's time to go to two projects at a time. One focused and one simple. Hmmm.

I mentioned Malabrigo right? Elysium looks so darn yummy. Wait I did not mention Noro, more Noro.... :-)

Housekeeping

Time to put down the Malabrigo and blog. This is my birthday weekend. We tend to celebrate birthdays all week at our house. I have several things to blog about but lets just start with the two skeins of Malabrigo worsted in Azalea that H and I bought at the Merc on my Birthday morning. I kept H in the stroller and let him hold the stuffed black sheep that lives near the front counter at the Merc. There was a sale going on but I only had eyes for the hanks of Malabrigo on the twirly, spinny thing at the front of the store.

The Malabrigo is going to be a Sweet Little Nothing (rav link). I'm doing seed stitch instead of 1x1 rib. I love this yarn. The only thing that would improve this knit is if I were knitting with addi turbos.

The Knitting Olympics!

I finished my mitts in plenty of time. This was a total team GK2 effort. Kim helped me learn weaving, Kristie flipped the chart, Jackie knitted up a pair of mitts as well, Ann designed our spiff GK2 Ravatars, and the GK2 team provided lots of support and motivation.

Winter Twilight Mitts (Rav project link)

Size 4 addie turbos

Knit Pick's Pallet in Asphalt and Iris heather

The mitts are a bit snug on my medium to large sized hands, but honestly I don't care. I loved the yarn, the pattern, and learning a new skill

I finished the mitts a few days before the Olympics ended. I just barely missed finishing a second project, that was never intended to be a Ravelympics project anyway. I knitted up a Modern Garden Cardigan (Rav link) in Wool Ease Thick N Quick in Cilantro on size 15 addi turbos. The needles are from the Grandma Janette stash and I love them.

The sweater came together quickly and was a fun knit. It fits me but not well. My sister was over for my birthday and I'd already decided that if it fitted her better it was hers.

Modern Garden Cardigan (Rav project link)

Size 15 addi turbos

Wool Ease Thick N Quick Cilantro 4.5 skeins

Let's just say that once she tried it on it did not come back off. Allie loved the sweater. I have already purchased more thick n quick and a pair of 13's with plans to mod a second go at this cardigan for me. It's an ingenious design, the shaping is in the leaf motif.

More birthday excitement. Check out the three pairs of mitts above. From left to right we have Jackie's Winter Twilight Mitt's, my mitts and Kristin's Endpaper Mitts. All three are in Palette. Nine members of GK2 met up on what just happened to be my birthday for a yarn filled adventure.

Apparently my backward loop cast on technique is well, different. Conversation stopped and I got quite a few stares at Knit Knite the night before. So different that I was asked to demonstrate my cast on.

We had a fun afternoon then I went back home to continue to celebrate my birthday with my family. But the picture above is a taste of how Knit Knite Ladies roll.

I had a great birthday. Great company, squishy yarn and my family, what more can a knitter ask for?

Olympic Knitting and Whatnot.

My Noro Shoulder Holder that I started two days before the Olympics started. I was hoping to finish it right before the Olympics but did not quite make it, but had so much fun with this. I had 6 skeins to work with to get the stripes working. The stripes were a mix of luck, knots and yarn wrangling.

Knitting Olympics Cast On Party!!!!!!! Kim was a lovely and gracious hostess for our fab cast on party.

The Baby Yoda Hat for Baby E. I knit this the first weekend of the Knitting Olympics. The shower was the following Saturday and I had to take time out to knit this. The Dad to Be is a HUGE Star Wars fan, he has the Tauntaun sleeping bag. So fun. I hear the hat was a huge hit at the shower. I have one more to knit up for another Star Wars happy Dad to Be. Love the baby wave.

Olympic knitting the first of two Winter Twilight Mitts. I'm learning two color weaving mostly from help from Kim and from this video. It's a bit snug but I'm learning a new technique. I'm to the increases on the second mitt.

Check out my stash. This is it. Brooklyn Tweed's recent post on stash inspired me to post a current picture. I have a mix of LOVE yarn, nice yarn and I'll work through it yarn. I love my stash.

Winter Knitting Ravelympics

Citius, Altius Fortius - Faster, Higher, Stronger

Are you ready?

I have my yarn. I have a bag of needle choices. I've printed up the pattern, even the mirror image of the chart courtesy of Kristie.

Ravelympics Team GK2 is having a cast on party tonight at Kim's. I'm really excited. I usually watch the Opening Ceremonies by myself.

I'm going to wear my 2006 Summer Ravelympics Gold Medal Monkey Socks tonight.

Yes I'm excited.

Lola, She was a Showgirl

Lola the Showgirl is complete. Her snout is a bit misshapened, and I did not have as much variegated acrylic as I hoped. Regardless she is finished and she is cute and fun and most importantly the kids love her. I enjoyed knitting her and I stash busted a bit.

Yes Lola is good sized stuffed lovie. She turned out a bit bigger then I expected. It's all good.

Speaking of Good. Are you excited? Come on the Winter Olympics/Ravelympics are starting next Friday! I'm so excited. Knit Knite buddy Ann designed our team Logo. Check out this fab logo.

In other knitting news I have one wip that's been languishing a bit for the past few months. MyAmazing Technicolor Lizard Ridge Lap Blanket is going on 5+ months in WIP status. I tried to start one more project before the Ravelympics tonight and just could not do it, it was not happening so I frogged the few rows I started and brought out the stash busting rainbow lap blanket of doom.

While I love the concept and my progress so far I loath to work on this project. I do not enjoy the yarn. I don't mind a little bit of acrylic now and then, especially for little knitted toys, but this much in one project is driving me crazy.

I have a plan. I measured the width and plan on knitting it to the same length thus creating a square. It will not be adult lap blanket sized per se but it will be bright and fun and somewhat symmetrical and will have used up some stash acrylic and will be fun for on the back of my desk chair on to cover E's Bitty Baby or for H to play trains on, etc.

Most importantly I want to just get it finished and in the FO column preferably before the Ravelypics start next week. I only need a few more inches. I can do this then cast this puppy off. Then I will be WIP free.

Edit Much?

First off I realize that editing is hard. I do not spell everything perfectly all of the time. I tend to fall into the passive voice way too much. My writing is far from exemplary.

That being said there is something to be said for checking your copy before you publish a book, any book.

Turns out I have a first edition copy of Melissa Morgan-Oakes 2 at a time Socks.

This is a time when you do NOT want a first edition. Why? Check out the errata for the book.

No really check out the errata. Four of the patterns required updated charts. The basic directions are wrong for all of the patterns.

I did a bit of digging on Ravelry and it sounds like most of the issues were worked out by the 4th Edition.

By the 4th edition?

My copy is from the library, I do not own this feat of bad editing. I'm debating either alterting the library staff to the errors so it can be taken out of circulation or at least putting a post it note in the book with the errata url to warn the next borrower.

I started a pair of the 2 at a time Sample socks last night. The cast on went fine, as did the cuff and leg. I know basic sock construction and was a bit perplexed earlier today during H's nap time why my heel turn and gusset stitch pick ups were not matching up with the directions. I forged on and turned the heels and picked up the stitches ok, but I already knew how, I was not completely new to sock construction. I checked out Ravelry after the kids were in bed to find several threads on the book's errata.

I'm going to finish the socks and plan on making a second pair.

The thing is this method of 2 at a time seems decent. I'm considering buying the book from Knit Picks, when it's back in stock. Might play it safe and call to make sure they are selling 4th edition copies.

That many errors just blow my mind. How the book went to press in that state is beyond me.

A bit fixated

Jackpot! Behold a screen capture of the Dr. Horrible lab coat from the Ariel episode of Firefly. I'd read somewhere, who knows exactly where, that it was a reused costume piece from Firefly.

Since I just can't get enough NPH at the moment I signed out the 2004 Broadway production of Assassins from the library today. NPH sings the roles of The Balladeer and Lee Harvey Oswald. I'd forgotten just how dark and angry, yet fascinating I find this musical. Again NPH delivers the goods.

In knitting news I'm stagnating a bit waiting for the Knitting/Ravelympics. I started another square on Rambling Rows but I'm feeling a bit burnt out. I did finish unknotting that skein of hand dye. Did have to cut it once. Had to be done. E and I wound my Olympic sock yarn into a cake today. I have my needs, and yarn. Still need to print up the pattern.

In the interim I've printed up directions for a Tardis. I have a girlfriend in NY who might just like a little knitted Tardis.

Baskets, Dr, Horrible and the Ravelympics

I have two awesome knitting baskets. Did a little digging online today turns out they are Bolga baskets from Ghana. Dad found them a few years ago. They were a bit out of shape so I wet them down and reblocked them. They've been hardworking knitting baskets ever since. I love these baskets.

Dr Horrible is back on Hulu for free and on Whedontube. E is going out of her skull asking to watch Dr Horrible so she can sing along. Here's an interview with NF at Comicon.








I'm so excited about the upcoming Ravelympics. Yes I decided to participate. Casey has been doing some sweet code fu for the Ravelympics. I"m entered in the Sock Put event with four teams, Team Ohio, Team Obama, Team Mine and the so far largest team, Team Tardis. I'm knitting a pair of Monkeys with my Crazy4Dying sock yarn. Woot!

R2-KT is HERE!!!

What excitement! The R2-KT action figures arrived in the mail today from StarWars.com! The Star Wars Fan Girl in me is so excited.

I've had the honor of chatting with Katie's Dad via email and her Mom (trooperchick) via Ravelry. Both are lovely, this is a kind and loving family who have experienced a great loss, but have journeyed forward while remembering their sweet daughter.

OMG. Go check out the Fun and Games section on r2kt.com Albin included two pictures and a blub about my R2-KT hat. He said he would post them and this is the first time I went back to check and they are there. My hats are listed on the same page as the MIT R2-D2 Hack among other very cool Droid inspired art.

Our loved ones live on, in our hearts and minds, and sometimes in little Pink droids!

Knitted Companion Cube

Have you experienced Portal? It's part of The Orange Box and it is amazing and different and funny and it has a Weighted Companion Cube as part of the game that sports little pink hearts.

I MUST knit a Companion Cube. Now to figure out how to get the pattern into Ravelry so I can put it at the top of my Queue.

Ravelry Addiction

Is there a support group for intense Raverly lust? Oh it is wondrous! Oh it is a TIME SINK! I love being able to check out other projects to see how the different types of yarn look. It's just all so amazing and fabulous and I don't want to blog.

I am knitting and felting for Christmas like crazy. It's me, Dr Who, my needles, some wool and the couch once the kids are in bed. Bliss!