Ravelympics: What to Do?
Just for fun, and to see exactly how stressed out I can make myself before my eyeballs explode, I’ve been toying with the notion of joining the Ravelympics (link is accessible to Ravelry members only, and pretty much all of them already know about it, so it’s kind of pointless that I linked to it, but that’s never stopped me before). For non-Ravelers, the basic idea is that you try to finish a project during the Olympics: casting on no sooner than the opening ceremonies, and finishing before the closing ceremonies. Seventeen days to complete something — preferably something that’s a bit of a stretch, because it’s no big deal to complete a washcloth in seventeen days. (Seventeen washcloths in seventeen days, while still working full-time and sleeping, eating, and generally carrying on with life would be a bit more challenging, especially if they’re lace washcloths done with fingering-weight or lighter yarn. But, then, I’m not the fastest knitter in the world.)
My dithering, however, comes from having to pick a single project. I seriously doubt that I could complete several items of any size, and certainly not a sweater — I’m still plugging away at my Giselle sweater, which I started in, oh, late April (I’m well past the waist, though). Something akin to this Lace Ribbon scarf would be doable, or possibly an Ice Queen cowl, but maybe they aren’t enough of a challenge. If I really concentrate on just one project, and knit evenings and lunch breaks, knitting goes reasonably quickly; it’s mainly when I get distracted by books or have five other projects calling for my attention that I wind up taking for-bloody-ever to finish something. (Or when I screw up and have to frog repeatedly, but we won’t mention that.) Maybe I should try to do both? I have some lovely light-fingering hand-dyed bamboo yarn that would be good for either, or both . . . which reminds me that I really need to update my stash photographs, because there’s probably 10 different yarns that I haven’t yet listed. Oops.
The reason I’ve been dithering for a couple of weeks, though, is that I really, really kind of want to make a lacy shawl thing, probably something akin to this Woodland Shawl. One of the hand-dyed bamboo yarns is a dark purplish black that would look great in that pattern. Hmm.
Okay, given that I’m stymied by my inability to decide, I’m going to ask for a vote. I’m pretty equally torn between the projects, so if the poll is decisive, I will abide by the results. If you think I should attempt two or more projects, please vote “other” and specify your choices in the comments. If pictures of the relevant yarns I’m considering would be helpful, let me know. And, finally, if you really could not care less about the knitting thing, please bear with me: I’m sure there’ll be another ranty post along soon. (I’ve added “updating my blog” to my Chore Wars adventure page, to encourage more frequent posting. Hey, if it works for mopping the floor, maybe it’ll work to get me posting more often again.)
Voting will close at 6:30 PM EST on next Monday, which is, um (checks iCal), August 4. I think. That will still give me plenty of time to join the relevant Ravelympics event (Cowl Jump, Scarf Stroke, or Shawl Relay), pick a team (possibly Team TARDIS?), and get in some training (i.e., swatching). :-)
