Oct 12 2009
Going for the Gold
I’m going to need some new phrases for my titles relating to my Olympic sweater knitting… I have lots more knitting 
to do, and presumably a few more posts up my sleeve!
As you know, I am wading through the deep water of the sleeves of Kris’s Olympic pullover, working towards that fateful day when I can join the body and the sleeves and yoke it all up together. A few rows here and there…
With any hope to have my Olympic sweater done for the Games in February, I had to cast on for my very own sweater… luckily, I had some support in the form of a class at my yarn shop.
I haven’t taken a formal knitting class since I learned to knit nearly six years ago, but I figured that a big project like this would be a nice camaraderie knit – and honestly, I wanted some “hand holding” during the steeking process!
Here I am at last week’s class choosing my third colorway – my first choice, the turquoise at the end of the third row, was discontinued unfortunately – but I decided to go with the close match, the robin’s egg blue at the beginning of the fourth row. Not quite the same “POP”, but pretty close! We have met twice now, and my classmates and I are all cast on and ready to knit a few miles of stockinette for the body before we reach the colorwork sections in the chest.
The part I am pretty “chuffed” about is the OFFICIAL Olympic patch and zipper:
The knitting is a bit slow on the small needles – size 3 and 3.25mm – but every little bit counts. With some roadtrips coming up in the next month, I trust I can make some significant progress. The first inch of the knitting – in the rib pattern – is actually a hem facing that gets tucked under later. There is an elastic cord that came with the zipper kit to run through the bottom of the sweater. It will make it look like a real ski fleece!
These Olympic sweaters are probably the biggest thing I have ever taken on – and I am excited about them! Kris’s is much closer to the finish line than mine is, but I feel good that at least mine is on the needles and ready.
And with all of this work still ahead of me, I am also thinking of how great the new official Canadian Olympic gear is – the designs were released last week, and my mind is already buzzing about how quickly I could knit up something similar to the lovely Cowichan-inspired design… it is a large gauge… so, it may be possible to knit *after* I finish these, right? (it appears that the designs have set off a controversy with the “Cowichan” word choice… but I figured that “Cowichan-inspired” was safe enough, right?)
A quick search of Cowichan-inspired sweaters turned up this number by Rebecca… I think I could cardiganize it pretty easily, and maybe add some colorwork motifs…
…Okay, I am getting ahead of myself… let me finish my Dale sweaters first 
my gosh I can’t wait to see your sweaters.
maybe you would have time to knit a toque > http://store.hbc.com/scarves/canadian-olympic-team-unisex-touring-toque/prodRFVAAF908.html …?
I really like the garter st collar of the fake Cowichan Jacket
Incredible stamina, Lolly. They should hand out medals for this!
I hear you about getting ahead of yourself. It’s so hard not to with so much inspiration out there. Love the dark blue yarn for your sweater.
The official patch is SO COOL–as a child were you a Girl Scout, by any chance?
Odd place to put those moose heads. Or are they bagpipes?. What were they thinking?
Oh, I can’t wait to see more of your sweaters!
Good luck with your sweaters! I also love “Cowichan-inspired” sweater pattern. Jared Flood has one in his new book and I can’t wait to make it.
Woah, you’re doing great! Go go go. How is the yarn working out so far?
Those new designs are fun too. Thanks for sharing them.
I can’t wait to see both Kris’ and your sweaters, AND what you come up with in the Cowichanesque” department. You are an Olympic sweater knitting machine! They should turn that into an Olympic event.
Steve Yzerman… be still my heart!
I knew I left too soon — there’s my empty seat! I have to admit I’m starting to feel how humungous a job this sweater is going to be, such tiny needles and soooo many miles of stockinette! I’m trying to hang in there, but other projects beckon…. I’ll just have to keep watching your website for progress and maybe it will motivate me!
you amaze me!! ahh! I cannot wait to see these sweaters… on tiny needles
I know you can do it! I already give you a 10.0!!
It is taking all my will power to not go buy the materials and start one of the Olympic sweaters. I absolutely love the Canadian gear. I was born in the wrong country, sigh…
I’ll be your Olympic knitting cheerleader! Can’t wait to see the finished product—which I know will happen in plenty of time.
And WHAT is that amazing swatch book you’ve got there?! (I have a think for swatch books…)
Thanks for posting that article about the Cowichan controversy. I can’t believe only 25 people were going to knit 700-800 sweaters. That is bananas!! What was their timeline??
Good luck on your olympic sweaters. Looking great!
Go Lolly!!
Knitting together with others makes this craft so much fun. Your Dale sweaters are going to look gorgeous, loving the blue!
Wow, I thought I had an original idea, to knit an olympic sweater. I hope you will share the pattern.