Turns out, changing my Olympic Knitting project after that first day was a damned fine idea. The Child’s First Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush was demanding and challenging for me. It was also, however, project I could complete in the alloted time without injuring myself.

I finished the socks with a few days to spare. Time enough for the socks to visit the Olympic Village. While there they spent some time being worn by a few of the athletes competing in the games.

See?

On the luge track.

Doing a belly flop.

At the women’s figure skating short program.

Scoring at the hockey game.

Me with my Olympic Gold medal. This feels great!

This Olympic knitting is a whole new experience, isn’t it?

First, there’s the pressure to finish on time. The deadline looms before me. I hate deadlines. I guess this type of pressure isn’t all that new of an experience, now that I think of it.

But even worse than the pressure is the boredom of working on a single project. Monogamy. I’m all for it in a marriage, but in knitting? Not so much.

Don’t get me wrong – I love this sock and the pattern is just enough of a challenge to force me to pay attention – but I want to knit something else. The Cable Moss Vest or the Everyday Cardi or the Seraphim Shawl. But my inner voice, my type A personality, keeps saying:

Must finish Olympic Socks first.

Meanwhile, the other voices in my head (shut up! you know you have voices in your head, too) are cursing my parents and genetics and DNA for giving me such big honking feet.

When athletes train, they have to clear their minds. When knitters train, they have to clear their needles. It’s time for me to show you the things I finished before I started on my Olympic challenge.

Finished Jaywalkers (my third pair!) for my Bloomin’ Feet pal. Please note: these are not due to be shipped out until the end of March. I don’t like deadlines so I finished them early.
Yarn: Socks That Rock, Fire on the Mountain colorway

Yes, I finished the Diamond Fantasy Shawl. I’ve actually already worn it. Twice. I loved this pattern and would knit another in a heartbeat.
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock, 1.5 skeins

This is my second oddball scarf and this one is for a dear friend from college. It’s several different yarns but the dark blue is my own handspun. Yippee!

Last week the only thing I had on the needles was a Red Hot Sizzling Sock. It was really strange to have just one project to work on.

Most of you, I imagine, have never had this feeling.

So. Things didn’t go as well as they could have yesterday. I had swatched and thought I was all set. I was worried about following the pattern but not about my yarn choice. Turns out, the pattern is okay, the yarn choice, though? Not so okay. The stuff makes my hands hurt. Really hurt. I guess a swatch of 40 stitches per row doesn’t prepare you for 110 stitches per row in the real world.

I’m still knitting this vest (with different yarn) but not as my Olympic challenge. Challenges are good, injuries, not so good, so I’ll be working on this vest a little at a time.

I’m down, but I’m not out, though. I have a new plan. I’m knitting socks. Now before you jump all over me for selecting something too easy for me, let me tell you which socks I’m knitting. I’ve selected the Child’s First Sock in Shell Pattern from the Nancy Bush book Knitting Vintage Socks. I collect Nancy Bush books but I’ve never actually knit a pattern from one. See, socks are my mindless knitting. That’s why I gravitate to simple patterns – stockinette, feather & fan, Jaywalker – easily memorized and I don’t have to pay attention. This pattern, though, is going to require concentration. It’s also going to require some resizing as it’s too small for me the way it’s written.

So, that’s my new Olympic Knitting project. If this one bites me in the ass, too, then I’m done. For now, though, Team Martini carries on.

Thank you all for cheering me on! Your encouragement and support has been inspirational. I’ve even finally jumped on the Olympic Button bandwagon. I’m probably a little late to the party with these, but what the heck. You know the drill, take ‘em if you want ‘em, but on your own server, please.

This one is for everybody. Stick it over in your sidebar and leave it there until the Closing Ceremonies on February 26, 2006.

And, why I hadn’t thought of this before now I’ll never know. I’m such a slacker! But, for all you traditional martini lovers out there, won’t you join me on Team Martini?

Good luck, Olympic Knitters. And keep up the great work, Olympic Cheerleaders!

So, 2:00 PM tomorrow is the official starting time of the Knitting Olympics. I’ve been training. See?

I have my yarn and pattern all in a basket.

And I have a swatch.

Okay, it’s not much of a swatch but I think it’s enough.

But, can I tell you the truth about this whole thing? I’m feeling a bit ambivalent at this point. I’m a little intimidated by my project choice and I think I’ve had too much time to worry think about the whole thing. You know how I am about rules and pressure and, as an over-achiever, I really want to finish this vest so that Dale can wear it to the Team Boston closing ceremonies party.

I realize it’s a bit early in the process to be stressed out and yet, I am. I can’t decide whether to scrap the whole project now rather than risk the failure or move ahead as planned and hope to finish successfully.

Where are those cheerleaders? I sure could use ‘em.