It has been a very busy week with all the packing for Stitches that Amerique and Jeanne have mentioned but also because the Ravelympics have started. What are the Ravelympics? you ask. Well it's something that has evolved as knitters have sat watching the Olympic games. The Yarnharlot, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, initiated the Knitting Olympics a few years ago so it is an natural extension with the popularity of Ravelry that members would want to get together and participate in the games. So as the brainchild of a few ravelers with way too much to do already the Ravelympics were born. This is the second year for the games on Ravelry and this year Jimmy Beans has a team. Team Jimmy Beans and I volunteered to be the team captain.

Despite being hopelessly overcommitted already and trying to help keep the retail area running normally while near chaos has reigned behind the black curtain with all the packing I've managed to get two projects started for the games.

For Team Jimmy Beans and the eventplatter event (an event for items made for the home) I've started a rag bath mat for my new apartment. It's made from strips of white sheets and knit on #15 addi turbo following the directions for log cabin rugs found in Mason-Dixon Knitting The Curious Knitter's Guide. This is a real physical workout to knit so progress is slow. I'm not sure I'm happy with my results so far and have contemplated starting over and changing to #17 or #19 needles. Although I do like the texture and think it will be cool to stand on just out of the shower. We shall see how it goes.


For Team Hopelessly Overcommitted, of which I'm a team member, I've entered the laceluge event for which I've started a modified Garden Shawl from Evelyn Clark's Knitting Lace Triangles using Noro Aya in color 12 on #8 Crystal Palace bamboo needles. I'm very pleased with how this is coming out. Aya is really soft. It's 50% cotton 35% silk and 15% wool so will be a great spring shawl. I love the color changes of the yarn so far.

So, what are you working on for the games? We want to see! Make sure you get photos up on Ravelry or bring your projects into the shop or to Stitches for show and tell. We love seeing how creative you all are!

Have fun and play fair.

Terry