THE KNITTING OLYMPICS

It was a little over two years ago that Stephanie Pearl-McPhee proposed a Knitting Olympics to parallel the Winter Olympics in Turin ... and over 4000 knitters around the world signed on!

Apparently Stephanie doesn't 'do' summer Olympics, so the concept was up for grabs, and lots of knitters have taken up the challenge once again. Locally, Beth Humphries of Beacon Yarn Studio and Knit3Tog Designs put out the challenge, and Bev, Laurie and I from Victoria responded.

We drove out to the store in Sidney for the 'Opening Ceremony' potluck breakfast yesterday morning...


Didja see those clever Olympic rings in the window? Here's an inside look, and that's our hostess, Beth...

There were about 20 of us ... and no coffee, but that's another story (it eventually materialized!)

There was certainly breakfast:


I read the Olympian's 'pledge,' but it didn't sound right at the time, so I scooped this one from the Yarn Harlot's blog this morning... it's much more in the spirit!
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The Knitting Olympics Athletes Pledge

I, a knitter of able hands and quick wits, do hereby swear that over the course of these Olympics I will uphold the highest standard of knitterly excellence.

I will be deft of hand and sure of pattern, I will overcome troubles of yarn overs and misplaced decreases. I will use the gifts of intelligence and persistence (as well as caffeine and chocolate) and I will execute my art to the highest form, carrying with me the hope for excellence known to every knitter.

I strive to win. To do my best, and to approach the needles with my own best effort in mind, without comparing myself to my fellow knitters, for they have challenges unique to them.

While I engage in this pursuit of excellence and my own personal, individual best, I also swear that I will continue to engage with my family in conversation, care for my pets, speak kindly with those who would ask me to do something other than knit, and above all, above every stitch thrown or picked, above every cable, every heel stitch, every change of colour, I swear this:

That I will remember that this is not the real Olympics, that I'm supposed to be having fun and that my happiness and self-worth ride not on my success.... but on my trying.

Let the games begin!

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The idea, of course, is that each knitter will challenge themselves personally to knit something that's ... well... a challenge. In 2006 I knit my first sweater, and yesterday morning, I cast on a Michael-sized pair of socks (which will also, of necessity, be two-colored because I don't have quite enough of the yarn I'm starting with, to finish.)

And in the true Olympic spirit, my friend Bev turned her first heel before we left the breakfast!

After nearly 3 hours of knitting in Sidney, we then came back in to town just in time for our regular Friday Knit'n'Cafe, and knit for another 3 hours. You'd think I would have finished that (last) weekend knitting project, wouldn't you? You'd be wrong if you did....

Today is my 29th wedding anniversary, and no one's more surprised about that than me. We've been together almost 31 years, and we're still having fun! The weather's looking a little 'iffy' but if it improves later, we'll head out to our favorite anchorage at Albert Head, at least for overnight!