Ravellenic Games

Did you know that knitters are competitive people?  I bet you thought that knitters were laid back since they spend so much time just sitting around and knitting.  Well, some knitters may be laid back, but I think we all have a very competitive nature.  We set goals for ourselves, crazy goals like knitting an adult sweater in 16 days.

Last month, you may all remember, I was in a competition called the Tour de Fleece, where competitors spin every day that the Tour de France rides.  I actually did really well.  I was happy with my results especially since I bought the spinning wheel just days before the competition began.  I even won a batt from The Fiber Universe for my spinning.

Pretty isn't it? The camera doesn't pick up all the colors.  There are some sparkles and sari silk in there.  It is my first batt.  I can't wait to spin it.

Now during the Olympics, yarn crafters again take up the competitive nature of the craft and are joining in the Ravellenic Games (formally Ravelympics but had to change name due to copyright).  On Ravelry yarn crafters sign-up to compete in different events.  The goal is to finish your projects during the Olympics.  Cast on during the opening ceremonies and have it done before the end of the closing ceremonies.

I am signed up for the Sweater Triathlon.  I think this may also count for Lace Long Jump.  Basically, I am attempting to make a lacy cardigan during the Olympics.  It will take about 1000 yards of worsted weight yarn to do this so I need to a lot knit every day.

I am this far:

not too shabby for three days (at the time of photo).  Now that I have stitch markers in, the lace pattern is going so much easier. I think I can definitely finish on time or maybe even a bit early if I am really dedicated (aka not cleaning the house).

I can win fabulous prizes from my local yarn shop for participating.  But I'm not doing this for the prize.  I am doing it for the glory of making a sweater.

Am I crazy?

Hills Are Hard

Saturday morning I woke up early to run the Bix7.

I am surprised at how many people have never heard of the Bix.  It is a big deal in Davenport and a lot of elite runners run it (well, maybe not this year because they the really elite are at the Olympics, but the next best were there).  I saw Ryan Hall (American Olympic marathon runner) win it in 2010.  I guess growing up in the Quad Cities and being a runner has skewed my perception of the importance of this race. Or maybe more people need to follow running.

Last year I ran the Bix for the frist time and it was even my first time running 7 miles.  Since then, I have run 7 miles many times and run two half-marathon races.  So I thought that this time had to go better than that last...

It did and it didn't.  I did have a better time that last year by about a minute, but I also stopped to go to the bathroom last year.  Without that break, I am sure I would have had a better time last year than this year.  I just was not prepared to run this race.  For last year's Bix, I had a better established running base and I was running outside more.  Due to the excessive heat this year (near or over 100* most days this month), I have been training indoors so, no heat and no hills.  The Bix is all about heat and hills. 

I need to ramp up my training if I am going to run the Quad Cities Half Marathon at the end of September.  I have been following the same training schedule as I did for my last half-marathon, but maybe I need to cross train a bit more and get my stamina up.  Maybe I just need to get some runs in outside.

What did you do this weekend?

Beanie Town

I made a fabulous hat from the newest edition of KnitSimple. 

 I want to make the cowl on the cover too.  So amazing!!!!

I may or may not have a magazine subscription problem, but I do make things from the magazines, so it is fine, right?

So, this hat was supposed to be a knit-along with Vickie Howell starting July 31st.  Well, I couldn't wait, so I cast on and made it all in one day, while watching Doctor Who (2005) from the beginning on Netflix.

I had to take self-portraits while wearing it so they are not the best.  I had to do a lot of cropping.

And my hair is extra flippy.

The pattern is Beanie Town by Vickie Howell and I used her yarn too Sheep(ish) in Magenta(ish).  It only took about half a skein so it is a really economical project.  I also recommend it as a first cabling project since there are only two rows of cables.

Again, I am knitting something that is not yet in the Ravelry database.  But you can see the project here on the KnitSimple website.

Do you like it?  I am going to put it in my shop once I get some better photos. Any tips for self-portraits?

Knitstorm

I have been knitting up a storm, a "knitstorm" if you will. Last Friday, I cast on a cowl and haven't stopped knitting (well I did read a book and do normal life stuff, but you know what I mean.).  I've made a cowl, two adult hats, a bib and started on another cowl.  I feel like I am getting over some "knitter's block"  If writers can have writer's block, then knitter's can have knitting block.  It is all about the creativity and producing something.

All year I have been very focused on what I need to knit.  I need to get this done or that.  Need makes knitting less enjoyable.  Really, if you need to get it done, where is the joy in that?  So on Friday, I purchased some yarn on a whim and cast on a cowl from the latest Love of Knitting magazine.

I am really enjoying this magazine, by the way.  This is my second issue as a subscriber. I highly recommend it.  I don't think it is a well know publication.

Anyway, in less than 24 hours from casting on, I had this cowl done.

The pattern is Raspberry Tart and it is so new I can't find a link to it anywhere. It is a broken rib pattern and so easy to make, if you can count to 2...which I may or may not have had issue with.  I mean knit 2 purl 2, what confounding instructions........

I knit on it all Saturday morning while I was at the farmer's market selling my wares.  It was wonderful.  I made something for no reason.  Just something I wanted to do and so, I did it.  It was so quick and fast that I wanted more.  Knitting can be like a drug.  I needed more projects to cast on and finish so I did, but more on those later.

Do you get blocks in what you do?  How do you overcome them?

Made it Through

That's right I made it.  The Super Mom week is nearly over.  Vacation Bible school is over.  My husband should be returning from his travels tonight. I managed to run according to schedule, have two half sick days to fight this sinus infection, feed my daughter, maintain personal hygiene and get over 6 hours of sleep each night.   All this in the 30 minutes before leaving for work/day car in the morning, the 20 minutes between getting home from work and leaving to go to VBS and the few minutes after VBS before bed. I am not sure how I made it this far.  I do have a huge list of things to do today including running 6 miles. 


I just need to keep on swimming.

 image

Tomorrow you can catch me selling my knitted goodness at the Peoria Riverfront Farmer's Market. You can always see my wares on my etsy site: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KnitKnotOtt. (Shameless plug, I know).

Have a great weekend.  I am so looking forward to mine. Are you?

Hometown Run

Summer is the time for festivals.  This part weekend my hometown held theirs.  Well, it is not technically my town, I went to junior high and high school there and my mailing address was Eldridge, but we lived a few miles away in a unincorporated town of Park View.  So it is my hometown and not.

Anyway, part of the Eldridge day celebration is the Moonlight Chase .  It is unusual because it is at 9 pm.     It was still hot, hot, hot, but not like the morning or afternoon.  I started running this race when I was 14 or so and I like to participate when I can.  This year, like last, I signed myself up for the 4 mile race and my daughter for the 1/4 mile. 

She did pretty good.  Her Merma bought her special running clothes.

I still had to run with her, but I bet next year she will run all by herself.

As for my race, I suffered through it.  It was worth it to get Mike's Hard Lemonade and popsicles at the end. My mom even bought me a Lion's Club pork chop sandwich (delish!).

My cold made me slow.  I ran 38:38 according to my watch.  According to my chip, I ran 35:00 which is a big fat lie.  I can run that fast, but I did not.  They announced that they were having chip timing "issues," so I guess my "issue" is that it made me faster.  I have a lot of running improvement to make before me next race on July 28th , The Bix7.

Does your hometown do a festival?  What is their big draw?

Super Mom Week

This week I need to be Super Mom. On top of my normal working and parenting duties, tonight begins Vacation Bible School at my church and I signed up to help.

Months ago when I signed up to be a crafts volunteer, I was so happy to be helping out.  I want to help out at my church, I really do, but I never seem to be able to get my schedule and the volunteering schedule to coincide.  I thought VBS would be a way for be to be active at church while meeting other parents.

Well the VBS week has come and I have two unforeseen problems.

1. My husband is out of town all week for work.  He was gone last week too.  He has been gone a lot.  Without him home this week, I am not sure how to feed D.  After work I need to run.  Yes, I do need to run.  I can't skip.  I have a 7 mile race to train for in under two weeks and a half-marathon in September.  I can't skip.  So that means D and I will get home about 5:15 and we need to be at church before 6:00.  In the few minutes home I need to shower and feed D and myself, oh and the dogs.  I am planning on Lunchables for dinner every night.  When we get home from VBS approximately 8:45 pm, D will have to go to bed immediately.  Then in the morning it will all start over again.  Not sure when the dishes and laundry will get done.  But I have managed before and I will manage again, this dishes can pile up.

2.  I have a cold. The dreaded summer cold.  It is 95 degrees outside and I have a cold.  I have been taking cold medicine, but it makes me tired and unfocused.  So maybe what I am writing doesn't make sense.  If it doesn't make sense, I have a cold. Sorry.  I feel pretty crappy.  I have a cough and am sneezing a lot.  And my nose, so runny.  I had a less-than-desired race on Saturday.  But if I can run 4 miles feeling like this, I can run more and be the best VBS volunteer.

3. (Did I say two?) I also have a lot of stress this week because I am teaching a summer class and this is the last week before finals.  This is extra on top of my regular job. Work is getting pretty stressful in general because we need to get everything in the library ready for the start of school.  Whoever thinks being a librarian is all about reading books at desk and shelving, are so wrong. But somehow I manage go get my work done and work even better under pressure.

So this is the week to be Super Mom.  The cold medicine tells me I am all ready to go, but I have a feeling the cold medicine lies. I appreciate the lie.  This is the life of a mother, it doesn't matter if you are ready or not, you do it.  That is what makes all moms super.