It’s Here! It’s Here!

So, the long awaited start of the 2012 Summer Olympics has come and the knitters are ready. This year in the Ravellenic Games, I’ll be knitting with two teams, my local group, Team Knitorious, and with a team of my knitters from the Chicago area, the DARN Yarn Lovers.

It’s been great fun to watch the forums and see people picking out their projects. There is some beautiful stuff that’s being dreamed up.

My local group, Team Knitorious, is kicking off the event with a casting on party where we will watch the opening ceremonies, start our projects, and eat British themed foods. Except for me, you see, because the goal of the Ravellenic Games is to pick things that challenge you and I’ve decided not to cast on something new, but rather to finish what I’ve already started. I’m entering myself with two projects into the WIP Wrestling event. (WIP = Works in Progress). For this event, the project must already be started prior to the start of the Ravellenic Games, and you must finish it by the end.

I’ve picked the personal equivalent of pole vaulting for this event, two projects that are stalled in mid-flight and need some help to get over the bar.

I’ll be finishing this:

An Elizabeth-Zimmerman inspired vest made with my own handspun yarn. This project has been glaring at me for a year saying “Okay, so steek me already and get over it!” Perhaps now I actually will.

And this:

The dreaded Icarus shawl. Seriously, the lace chart can’t be that hard but I was clearly not ready for this level of project when I started. Hopefully I am now.

So, here we go. The Games are here, the food is being prepared, the yarn and needles (or hooks) are poised and ready to go.

Pass me a cucumber sandwich. Let’s get started!

Happy Olympic Games, everyone. May your favorite athletes achieve their personal best, your national teams win at your favorite sports, and your personal challenge knitting projects go flawlessly. And wish me luck too. I suspect I may need it. 😉

The Knitted Army of Olympics Supporters

Well, while the US Olympic Committee may lack a sense of humor and respect towards knitters, clearly the Brits do not have the same issue.  In fact, knitters from all over Britain (and other places) have been making their own little cheering section of ‘knitteds’ which are showing up at the games. Some have taken it even farther to make knitted replicas of their favorite athletes, and present them to the athlete with best wishes for success at the games.

This is Paralympic gold medallist Graham Edmunds with his Knitted. Original photo is on The Independent Blog. (Link below)

I love that they’ve included the Paralympic athletes in their project too. Knitteds are arriving by bus, by train, and by motorcar. They’re causing lots of smiles at security as they go through the scanners ready to head into the stadiums to cheer for their favorites. Some are even being auctioned for charity.

This is populism at its best – people banding together to have fun, make something interesting, and participate in a positive world event. You can read more about it here:

http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/07/25/the-knitted-army-of-olympic-supporters/

To see more photos and be able to participate vicariously, join their open Facebook group here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/496746917019125/

If you’re a knitter, are you participating in the Olympic-themed events this year? I’ll be participating in the Ravellenic Games, where I’ve got two projects entered in the WIP Wrestling event. One of my friends is hosting a casting-on party on Friday night, where we’ll all be gathering together to eat British food and watch the opening events. A couple of people in our group will even be bringing British spouses. It should be a really fun time.

Happy week, everyone. Stretch, warm up, and get ready to get your knit on.

P.S. In case you’re wondering what my comment about the USOC means, this CaiteyRosy did a great job of explaining it over on her blog post, Righteous Indignation, Thy Name is Knitter, here: http://all-she-wants-to-do-is-knit.com/2012/06/20/righteous-indignation-thy-name-is-knitter/. Also, looks like a very interesting blog if you’re into knitting like I do check her out.