May 28 2009
Olympic Dreaming
Well, a dream is in the process of coming true… for years, I have watched and loved the Olympics. I enjoyed both the Summer and the Winter games, but the it was the winter games that really held my full attention. As a young 
girl, I loved the figure skaters and ice dancers, and in the years since, I have really grown to love other winter sports.
…Growing up in a dry steppe (near desert) climate in southeastern New Mexico, there were not a lot of winter sports going on – perhaps that is why they interested me so much. Plus, I was about 11 years old when The Mighty Ducks movie came out, and I was turned on to hockey then… that interest in the sport (and truthfully, back then, it was probably more interest in the boys who played the sport…) lay dormant in me for about eight more years until I met my own hockey boyfriend, aka Kris 
Fast forward a few more years and you have a very devoted ice hockey fan and one who can actually plan ahead. 
After the Beijing Olympics last summer, I looked into the Winter 2010 games and signed up for a newsletter from the International Olympic Committee about the games in Vancouver. …and come October 2008, the buzz started. Ticket sales, lotteries, trip planning. I was ready! Kris and I discussed and planned to go – not really researching much, but putting our names in for an international lottery for event tickets. We signed up for 15 events in October, and it was not till January 2009 that we learned that we got 3 events: a men’s hockey game, freestyle skiing, and a curling competition. So, we waited to find out some more information about lodging and arrangements… and it wasn’t until mid-May that we were able to figure something out! On May 14th, a huge block of tickets went on sale to the international audience , and Kris and I scored 5 more hockey game tickets! So, now it is official – we are going to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics!
…and even more official now that we have a place to stay! I tell you, in case you didn’t already know: Ravelry is amazing. I posted on one of the Vancouver boards about recommendations for B&Bs or rental properties, and within a few days, I had a great deal worked out with a fellow Raveler. It all came together so incredibly perfect. In fact, I started a Ravelry group specifically for the Vancouver Olympics, and there are already threads going for some of the events, and general information about Vancouver, and the beginnings of some knit/crochet-alongs. Now, we just have to get the plane tickets and …wait… till February 2010!
But I have a plan for the interim. That plan is pretty elaborate and involves traditional stranded colorwork and small gauge needles. That plan involves Dale of Norway!
Many of you may know that Dale of Norway designs an “official” handknit sweater for each Winter Olympics. Often they include some sort of patterning that ties into the culture of the host country – one of the most memorable was the dragons in the Nagano 1998 – you can see several of the Olympic sweaters here as well as the ski team sweaters. The official Vancouver sweater will be released in June or July – according to the buzz on the Ravelry Dale of Norway group – and while I am greatly anticipating it, I am also realistic in the thought that finishing one of these elaborate small gauge designs in time for the Olympics will be quite a feat – but I really want to make TWO – one for Kris and one for me. Luckily, Dale offers a huge line of ski-style sweaters – some a little less challenging, and easier to complete… I am specifically looking at these two designs:
Now just to find some of those glasses for Kris! …The design at left is from the Dale of Norway #150 booklet, and the one at right is from the Liberec 2009 booklet. I thought both had a nice amount of patterning without being too busy. Both seemed wearable and “do-able”. For the women’s version, I love the hem line/collar detail of the diagonal rib, and the gradient yoke. The men’s is one that Kris approved of (surprisingly – he goes for the simplest of simple in most cases). …now to find the right yarns and colors! Ideas?
Seems like it could happen, right? Am I delusional to think that I can do this (especially with all of the other knits I have planned??)
Vancouver Olympics 2010: we are so excited!
What a great project! Delusional or not: good luck!
It’s so cool that you got tickets for all those events! I hope you’ll still have some time to explore Vancouver, it’s a great city.
I was thinking of you lately, remembering you had mentioned a while ago that you wanted to go to Vancouver for the Olympics. I traveled there last winter and took a few notes about the vegetarian and vegan restaurants I’ve tried, and I thought that might be of interest to you. I’ll type them and send them your way sometime soon(ish).
I’m guessing this is Vancouver BC since it’s close to Whistler. I think you can totally do two sweaters. Once you get started on color work it goes faster than you think. And by the time you’re done with the first sweater the color work on the second will feel even faster. Congrats on all the tickets and housing!
Oh, that’s so awesome. You’re going to love Vancouver. I experienced the Olympics when I was in junior high school (in Calgary) and will never forget it. I was actually thinking of trying to score some tickets for 2010 so I could take my daughter, but then decided that she’s too young. Have fun — we’ll be watching on TV!
You can really do those sweaters before the Games. They will be fun to knit. I suggest you use Dale yarn. Good luck.
Your sweater goal is totally do-able! And what a wonderful way to anticipate and commemorate such a fun adventure.
Fun! The Hockey, the knitting, Vancouver and the whole Olympics thing. You’ll whip through those sweaters, I can tell.
Oh, how nice! I hope you have a great time – I’d love to go myself. I’m sure you can finish the sweaters before February – and those two styles look truly great.
It’s sure a long way from a NM summer! I loved the summer I spent in NM and now I’m totally curious where you came from as I drove all over the state — stunning in its variety!
Ooh – I like the way you think – and plan ahead. These are both gorgeous sweaters and I can’t wait to see you both wearing them.
Go for it! No doubt!
Sounds so fun! I love both the sweaters you’ve shown, and YES I think you can do it!
Just de-lurking to say congrats on those tickets!! Good luck with the sweaters. I’ve been obsessed with Dale patterns for the past couple years but haven’t taken the plunge yet. The actual Dale yarn is excellent & durable but I’m sure you could substitute. Both designs will be gorgeous.
Six hockey games?!? I am green with jealousy, and very happy for you at the same time.
You say ‘delusional’ like it’s a bad thing…
Goodness those sweaters are inspiring! Yes! You can do them!
Do HIS sweater first – then yours will seem like a piece of cake!
I liked the idea of “reversed colors” that the women’s sweaters are shown in (white/black, black/white). As your husband prefers plainer styles, pick a neutral and a bright. Do yours bright with the neutral patterning and his the reverse!
(And have a wonderful time!)
What a great idea! And I love your choices. Still traditional looking in the way you want them to be without over doing it and still completely wearable. Good luck getting them done!
Yay! Congratulations on scoring the tickets! We are just an hour from Vancouver (on the US side) and are so excited about all of the travelers who will discover and fall in love with our area. (Although I have to say that January is not the best time to come to the PNW unless you love cold, wind, and rain.)
Dana
Planning ahead for the win! You can totally make both of those sweaters. Now I must remain envious of your journey to the Olympics! Have a great time!
You can totally get them done! Look at all that stockinette. It’ll whiz right by.
OH you are such an inspiration! I am so excited for your trip to the Games, and hope you send back tons of photos!
The winter games have always been my favorite as well, but then winter sports have always been more my cup of tea (you can take the girl out of New Hampshire, but you can’t take NH out of the girl). I think two sweaters could be really tight, but you have time. I believe you can do it!
You’re so inspiring, though. I have a booklet of the Dale Olympics sweaters from years ago, and have always wanted to make one for myself. I think I might try to knit-along with you a bit (though on only one sweater, thank you very much). There’s plenty going on in my world with the wedding coming up, but I could use a really serious knitting project to keep me distracted from worrying about it. And anyways, I can give photos as gifts to just about everyone this holiday season, so December is all about the knitting for me this year!
We should meet up for some yarny goodness if there is any time!
As a member of the CF Navy, I’ll be working security for the Vancouver Olympic Games, and therefore be living there for a good four months!
So exciting that you’ll finally be going!!!
How wonderful!!! I am so excited for you. And it’s almost a year away — you’ll definitely be able to make both sweaters!
Exciting! I think you can do it!
Totally doable! I really, realy love Dale patterns!
Just be forewarned…Dale has a really horrid reputation for mistakes in the patterns. I hope it’s better these days, and that if the patterns have been around for a while any errors have been fixed – but I know several of my guild friends (all expert knitters) have had very bad experiences with the patterns.
There’s Bea Ellis Knitwear and Kids Knits (run by Mary Ann Stephens). Mary Ann carries a wide variety of DON yarns and books; she also has some great colorwork designs. If you do order from her, tell her I sent ya!
Am excited for you–the Olympics are a huge spectacle!
Those sweaters look great – good luck with them. Congrats on your Olympic tickets – I may not share your enthusiasm for the games (although I do enjoy the sports themselves) but exciting that you will be (nearly) in my neck of the woods!
Those sweaters are gorgeous and I totally know you can do it! We are on vacation and just arrived in Vancouver yesterday, its awesome here, you will have a great time at the Olympics.
Funny that I live in Vancouver (and my hubby works in media, so he’s involved with the Olympics in varying capacities), but neither of us are all that excited about the games being in our backyard. I am excited for you however – sounds like you’ve got a great trip ahead of you.
My daughter works and lives in downtown Vancouver and is vegan. I can get you lists of the places that the locals hang out (good cheap vegan/vegetarian food). In fact, I was downtown having dinner with her last night in just such a place.
Anyway, if there’s anything you need that I can help with, let me know!
How exciting! You will love Vancouver. Such a fantastic city. If you can, try and set some time aside for hiking on the Pacific coast. The trails there are breathtaking. Vancouver Island is also a magnificent place to visit.
I have NO doubt that you can pull the sweaters off. I love the patterns you’ve chosen, especially the woman’s design. It will look pretty on you.
Do it! I’m sure you can pull it off and wearing your Dale sweaters at the Vancouver Olympics will be so rewarding. The next question: what will you bring to the Olympics for knitting?
Yay, I’m so glad this plan came together for you!!! Now, I’ll just have to see if I can make a plan that coincides with your plan…
I can understand your fascination with winter sports. So many of them, like ski jumping and speed skating, seem to require such skill and grace.
I like your sweater plan! You guys will look so cute in your sweaters. I think your idea is far from delusional, especially considering your speedy knitting skills. I mean, you have about 7 months or so, right? You can do it!
Wonderful plans and I’m sure you can manage the knits!
How exciting! Ever since the Olympics came to LA in 1984, (I only got to see the torch run through our little neighborhood), I’ve wanted to go to a games. Congrats on your planning! And I can’t wait to see your Dales! You can totally do two! I’ve watched a fellow San Diego knitting whip up two just last year!
Oh – you’re going to have so much fun! Congrats on snaring so many tickets! I live in downtown Vancouver and I can’t wait for the Olympics!!!! It’s going to be AMAZING to see the City transformed and energized with so many travelers from around the world here all at once!
You can do this…go for it!
DON yarns are the obvious choice, but I adore the yarns from http://www.sundayknits.com/ — so soft and lovely to work with for fine-gauge sweaters.
Fantastic! I think you’re quite crazy for attempting 2 of those sweaters but I’m pretty confident that you can do it!
Of course you can do it! I’ve made two DON sweaters: The Nagano and the 125th anniversary. I did the Nagano with Heilo yarn. Check the sleeve length for your pattern. Mine ended up too short. My girl friend knit the same sweater in a different size but had the same problem. And I can’t lengthen the sleeves because I don’t have any extra yarn. In fact I had to buy an extra skein to finish the second sleeve. So my suggestion would be to buy an extra skein or two of the main color and the most used contrasting color. You can always make a hat or mittens with it if it’s not needed here, but you would hate to put a lot of time in on the project and be short. I had no problems with the anniversary sweater (It was my Knitting Olympics project.) I knit that with Rauma 3ply which I had purchased on a trip to Norway. The gauge was a little bit larger, but I really liked the yarn and have worn the sweater for several years now and it’s in great shape. Good luck with them; I look forward to reading about your working on them. Go Penguins!