Jul 15 2009
Qualifying Rounds
I hesitated to blog about my progress on Kris’s Olympics pullover simply because it looks like a cream-colored blob… knitting stockinette in the 
round is not condusive to eye-catching photography. However, I received a few messages about the sweater, so I thought that a progress report was due! The past few weeks have been a steady stream of stockinette. To keep with the Winter Olympics theme: an “avalanche” of stockinette. Snowy slopes of stockinette. You get the picture.
Juggling this project along with a few others has not been too hard - this is my easy-peasy knit, my knitting-while-watching-TV knit. And I actually have several inches to show for it now. I just started my third ball of Reynolds Whiskey – a lovely yarn, by the way – and am rounding about 12.5 inches. A few more to go before I start the stranded colorwork band across the chest. Then, I need to make the sleeves and yoke everything together before finishing up the top. I am pleasantly surprised to have so much progress on size US 1.5 needles, and I know that once I get to the colorwork, it will fly by… Can’t wait to get to that point! It is just two-colored, but this yarn has all sorts of little heathery bits in it. I think it will look great.
Dale of Norway finally released their Vancouver designs (full PDF here). For each Winter Olympics, the Norwegian design/yarn company comes out with a set of ski sweater patterns (and matching accessories) to commemorate the Olympics. In previous years, this design has incorporated regional and cultural influences of the Olympic location. There has been a little bit of 
criticism on this point this year; several people have noted that this design has nothing that evokes “Vancouver” about it. It seems like the designers had a lot of things to pull from for this design, but they are right that it doesn’t necessarily look like the traditional designs – there is very little about it that says “Vancouver” or even “Canada” about this sweater. Not even a maple leaf or some sort of nod to the theme of the First Nations. No incorporations of Canadian natural features, etc…
That being said, I do like the design. I like the simplicity of the colorwork. It makes it more wearable and versatile to me. Plus, I think the colorwork on the shoulders is a nice feature. It’s unique, as I don’t recall seeing many other stranded designs like this one. The women’s pullover has a deep v-neck which is also a new look. I appreciate the innovation and the updated look and I don’t think it looks as dated – it is more flattering to many figures (the ribbed sides) and has a nice silhouette.
The owner of my LYS has knit the last four Olympic pullovers, and she tells me that they are planning a class on knitting this one. Although the pattern is not what I expected, I do still like it, so I think I might sign up. The class is not until next winter though, so it will probably be done well after my trip to Vancouver…
So, my plan worked. Kris’s Dale pullover, the Liberec 2009 design, and the one I am planning for myself (Dale #150 booklet) will be perfect for our official Vancouver sweaters.
…of course, I need to get plugging on my gift knits (mom’s! Mimi’s!) before I can start my own pullover! Must get knitting!
The blue V-Neck is lovely, and so is the one you have destined for yourself.
I felt some Reynolds Whiskey for the first time last week, and I’m not sure what I thought about it. Does it soften up after blocking?
Hmm. The Vancouver designs ARE a little … blander … than usual, aren’t they? They look lovely, and like a pleasure to knit, easy to wear. Good sweaters, to be sure, but not up to the standards I think of when I think Dale of Norway Olympics Sweater.
Yours is looking great, though!
I love that blue V Neck. I may have to make it for myself. I went to queue it in Ravelry but it doesn’t look like it’s been added yet.
It’s true, they could have easily borrowed elements from Cowichan sweaters and given it a definate Canadian look. That aside, it is a totally cute sweater.
I like the ones you chose MUCH better! I really like the color work around the yoke rather than on the shoulders and around the arms – I’m not a big fan of that at all. The ladies blue is ok – I do like the neckline and the ribbed sides. I’ve never done colorwork so I am in complete AWE of you!
You definitely made a good choice with YOUR Vancouver sweaters. Love the yoke on yours. The new Vancouver ones are SO reminiscent of the MARIUS sweater – ravlink- http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/marius-sweater-in-smart
strange. but i do like the deep V and side shaping.
Oh! I love the women’s design too. Much more modern and wearable beyond the Olympic games.
Hmmm, I must say I’m disappointed in the Vancouver sweaters. The husband is Canadian, and I had thought that if the design was nice I could try my hand at colorwork and knit one up for him. But the designs seem so generic. Guess this means I have to finish that Seamless Hybrid I started for him last year on size 3 needles.
Good work on the stockinette. It’s a lot like life for the athletes…lots of training and then the excitement of the competition, right?
I agree with everything you said about the new design: pretty, innovative, flattering. But not tied to the locality.
I hadn’t heard of the Olympic sweaters before this year, so I feel a little out of it. I was very excited about the concept, but hearing the criticism, I’m not sure if I want to knit one. We all ski at my house, so it would be neat to make a family of sweaters. I’m torn.
I have a lot of Dale pattern booklets and I’ve knit up a few sweaters. I love the “look” of them, if not the boxy drop shoulder design common to the majority of them. However, I like how they’ve added some ribbed panels to the sides of the sweaters; maybe that will make them a little shaplier.
That said, yes – the Vancouver designs do seem very muted and non-Canadian.
I totally agree with your assessment of the Olympics sweaters. The woman’s sweater is clearly very thoughtfully designed, but the colorwork does seem to be lacking a theme. Who knows, maybe it’s supposed to reflect the modernity of the city? Or perhaps the easy-going, not so fussy west coast vibe? Just speculating here.
You have tons of knitting on your plate! Time to put down the books and the veggies, it’s time to get knitting
You are so brave to take on this big project, and so far it looks great. The sweater will look amazing on Kris.
I LOVE that blue sweater and I also really like the ones you’ve choosen for yourself
Are they all knitted on such small needles though? I don’t think I could hack it so before I search for a company to send over here I’d love to find that out – do you have a link at all to the requirements for the patterns? 
TIA
I really envy your colorwork skills. Such beautiful projects! I can’t wait to see photos when you start the stranded sections.
I’m glad you showed us your progress! I am a huge fan of traditional Scandinavian sweaters, and Dale has some really cool designs.