Friday, February 10, 2006

Let the Games Begin

So, I am not a good athlete. I enjoy speed walking. I enjoy swimming and hiking.. but organized sports just aren't my thing.

I tried in my childhood, I really did. I played soccer for one year. I was one of two girls in the whole league, back when it was a male dominated sport. The boys hated the fact that they had to let us play. One day, I caught a ball right in the nose. On purpose. That was the only year I ever played. I played basketball for a few years, until my knees started bothering me, and it was downhill from there.

Steph created the Knitting Olympics a while back ago. 4000 plus knitters all over the globe knitting at the same time. Unified under a shared hobby. The thought of it is just immense. I loved the idea, so of course I signed up. Seems I'm not a good team player no matter what the sport.
I didn't do any Olympic training. I didn't swatch. I assumed I had the pattern in my binder, and when I went to start, didn't find it. So I had to re-download it. I went to get my size 7 needles, and they were nowhere to be found. I unearthed them in my knitting basket, stuck in an unfinished Anouk. (don't go there, I know) And now, after getting this far in my knitting, I am not getting gauge. I have 4 stitches per inch instead of 5. So I must rip out and start over.

You'll remember I'm knitting Daisy, for a girlfriend at work who is due on St. Patty's day. The yarn is more of a kiwi green than the shade shown in the photo. I think it will work up much faster than I thought. But I do have that blasted prayer shawl (that I work hours on and move up 3 inches) to finish also, so that is my goal. Get them both done. And after that, I have a few unfinished items to resume knitting on. I made a promise to myself not to start anything new until I've got those finished. I might not make it. I have some lovely New Yarn in my stash.

But in the meantime, the games have begun. The needles are clicking away, and around the globe 4,000 knitters are trying for their personal best. Steph typed up a lovely pledge today:
"The Knitting Olympics Athletes Pledge
I, a knitter of able hands and quick wits, to 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."

Get Your Knit On!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just love TLC Cotton Plus -- it's one of my all time favs... Go figure. I almost used it for Tubey, but decided against it, and went with another cheap yarn instead (Simply Soft). Can't wait to see your finished project.

@wesome@bby said...

PS...I think it's OK to say blasted and prayer shawl all in one sentence! :)