Olympic Knitting

Have you noticed the number of female USA Olympians who are sporting a patriotic manicure?

I did my own:

 

This was the first time I tried the Nail Artist paint, but I think it turned out cute.  The blue is Essie "Aruba Blue," the red is Sally Hansen "Cherry Red."


And the yarn?  Cascade 220 Superwash, ready for my next Hats for Sailors hat!

Here is hat #6:

My own design.  OK, I was inspired by a hat I saw while standing in line at JoAnn's.  The yarn is Classic Elite Bazic, color 2989 Pink.

I'm no Gabby Douglas, but I have won 8 medals in the Ravellenic Games!


 




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Ravellenic Games -- on the podium!

Wow!  I'm a Ravthlete!
Three times on the podium today, for both the "Hat Dash" and "Charity Rowing."


EVENT: Hat Dash
Onto their colorfully clad heads, crowned with warmth and beauty, we place the sacred wreath of the Ravellenic Games.

EVENT: Charity Rowing

They have given so much to so many. Now it is our turn to bestow our gifts on them. Rise and salute these generous Ravthletes, selfless donors all!

 

I've completed two more hats, for a total so far of five.  Amy cast on and knit a few rows on a hat this afternoon while we were enjoying a libation at the new Wyndam Hotel in downtown Colorado Springs.  Such a beautiful lobby and excellent service by Jennifer at the bar.


(photo shameless stolen from http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/COSME/main.wnt)

Here is hat #4, knit using the Strib Hat pattern from Ravelry:

The yarn is Classic Elite Yarns "Liberty Wool," color 7891.



And here is hat #5, knit from the Accessorize Me Hat pattern, again from Ravelry:

 

This yarn is Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash, color 837, "Berry Pink."

I've learned that I can knit stockinette in the round while watching a very good movie, "Moonrise Kingdom."  Five hats completed, 11 to go!

Thanks, Amy!






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Ravellenic Games -- She Knits, Too!

Quilting takes a back seat this month to knitting.  The Ravellenic Games are knitters' nod to the Olympics.  The knitters' own social networking site, Ravelry, celebrates sport by forming teams and setting goals for items knit (or crocheted) during the 16 days of the Olympic Games.

My team this year is Hats for Sailors, a group that knits hats for selected ships each year.

And my goal?  One hat per day!

So far, I'm keeping up -- but it's only the fourth day of the Games!

Hats for Sailors requires hats knit of 100% washable wool.  I rarely use washable wool, so I had to add to my collection (such a hardship).

Hat #1 is knit in Boise State University Broncos colors, because that's the only washable wool I had on Sunday.  This hat is really true Broncos colors, royal blue and bright orange, even though it doesn't look like those colors in this photo.

Hat #2 is knit in light blue and yellow. to celebrate the cyclist from Kazakhstan who  won the mens Road Race.  This one is a little more true to color:

Hat #3 celebrates the men's archery team, whose jackets are this pretty brown color.  I love that the US teams' uniforms are not just red, white, and blue!

All my hats so far are knit from Cascade 220 Superwash, using the 7 8 9 Hat pattern from Ravelry on size 7 needles. Hat #3 is modified with a twisted rib and peerie stitch pattern from Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts, issue Holiday 2010.

Hat #4 is underway -- come back later in the week to see how it turns out, and cheer me on!



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Friday Finish -- July Schnibbles

Wow, once the blocks were made, this quilt went together fast!

"Spot" is 47" X 58" but I think I'm going to add a 4 1/2" border of one of the wonderful fabrics from Kate Spain's "Terrain" collection.  It's going to have to wait while I gather climbing gear for My Little Sailor -- he is going to climb Mt Fuji while his ship is in port for a brief time this summer.  So I have to drop everything and dig through his boxes in the basement and (I hope) find the right stuff to mail him.

Here is a photo of the finished top:

My quilt holder offered to go get his blue suede shoes, but I was in a hurry, so no!

Linked to "Link a Finish Friday."

From the desk of your

WIP Wednesday - July Schnibbles

This month for Another Year of Schnibbles, we were invited to choose our own pattern.  I chose one for which I have two charm packs from one of my favorite designers, Kate Spain.

Yep, that's "Spot."  And the fabric is "Terrain," by Kate Spain. (I know, bad photo, but I'm too worn out from spending all day yesterday at IKEA to set up lights and get a better photo.)

This is my favorite kind of quilt.  It hangs on the design wall and everyone who walks by rearranges one or two blocks to get a better arrangement of colors.  Only this week, I am home alone -- so I have to pay more attention to the layout myself!

It will have white sashing with the same turquoise cornerstones as in the center of each block.  I may add a print border to enlarge the quilt.  As is, it finishes at only 46" X 57" and I like my quilts to be at least twin-size.



Linking up to WIP Wednesday, guest hosted this week by Colleen at The Busy Bean.   Thanks, Colleen!

From the desk of your

Monday, Monday

Monday Monday, can't trust that day,
Monday Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way . . .

Which is to say -- it's HOT today!  Our normal average is 85F this time of year.  This week, the forecast has us in the 90s all week.  One of my friends posted on Facebook:  "I'm so over summer."

I hear ya, Deb!

Maybe a little Liberty of London Lifestyle eye candy will perk us up.

Twelve straight quarter yard cuts in Aqua, Turquoise and Marine.

A nice hand -- and what shall I make?

I'm disappointed that the cuts are not all straight, and the short edge of some of them doesn't measure a full quarter-yard.  I think I may have to complain, because for $18.40/yard, I want the full measure!

Saturday I finished the flimsy of quilt #38 for 2012.  The pattern is from a 2007 issue of "Big Block Quilts."  The designer, Debby Kratovil, calls it "Cotton Candy."  I'm calling it Batik Diamonds.


I'm giving it to a friend who recently retired as a foreign language teacher.  Everyone who knows her agrees, "It looks just like Rosie!"

Stay cool!


From the desk of your

Finish it up Friday

Isn't really happening today, because I spent ALL MORNING looking for this pattern:

I know I bought it, because I can remember showing it to DH while we were having lunch at Yolanda's Taco Bar in Castle Rock. (Last summer.  Maybe the summer before.)



Sigh.



I really want to find it, because Anna Maria Horner is going to be the guest-teacher at Front Range Modern Quilt Guild in August.  And I wanted to take the pattern to show everyone tomorrow at the guild meeting.  It's AMH's Multi-Tasker Tote, and I bought my copy at Stash.  Sadly, Stash no longer carries fabric or sewing patterns.  However, Crafty Laine in Monument will stock the pattern.  And if you don't live in Colorado, they do phone orders!

On a happier note, I did finish my "Favorite Things" top.  The pattern is called "Summer Time," and I had to pretty much re-draft the pattern to make it fit.  Angie warned us that the pattern "ran big," but really -- the neck opening went below my bra in front!

Here is is on Esmerelda:

Yep, it's really that orange.  Tangerine Tango, you know?  It matches my new Keen sandals perfectly.

Oh, and the quilt on the design wall behind Esmerelda?  That's what I was supposed to finish today so it can go to Florida to be a "beach quilt" for my favorite OT!

Even though I didn't finish a quilt, I did finish my blouse, so I'm linking up to:

Thank Goodness it's Finally Finished, this week at Plum and June.


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