Day 5

I have to admit that last night we watched Westminster more than the Olympics. I’d blame it on Lisa (or Vixen, our sheltie/whippet mix), but both of them fell asleep early on, so I could have changed the channel. Still, I got a bit of knitting done, and more this morning while I watched the men’s biathlon and more curling (also men’s), but on measuring, I only have 11 1/4 inches finished. Of the back. Which has a finished measurement of 33 inches. And then there’s the front, two sleeves, and a cowl neck to go.

I’m beginning to worry. This weekend is Boskone, which means that I will be spending all day Saturday at the convention. I have a reading, autographing, 2 panels, and a kaffeeklatsch.... Should I bring the sweater, and therefore a bigger bag, or just the sock that I started before the Olympics? Will I have time to do anything, particularly a something involving two balls of yarn, between panels, or should I just give up the day? After all, Sunday is not only the Olympics, but the Daytona 500, and there’s nothing like a stock car race for getting a lot of knitting done. (Last year’s first batch of gift socks was worked primarily during Lisa’s radiation treatments and the last few races. I can complete the leg, turn the heel, and pick up for the foot during a 500 mile race — but how does that translate to a sweater?) I think I need to fall back on my college athletic days, such as they were, and try to put the whole thing out of my mind. I’ll do what I can, and that’s enough.

Mind you, I’m learning a lot. I have never liked colorwork much. I like the results of both intarsia and stranded colorwork, but I hated doing them. I didn’t like mosaic stitch at all, though that may have been the project I tried. Shadow knitting, however.... It’s only two balls of yarn, only one color at a time, and seems to work really well when you use 3 related shades, like the 3 greys I’m using. All of that really suits both my work habits, and my taste in clothes. So, if nothing else, I will have learned a new technique that I’m likely to use....

But I’ll be really bummed if I don’t finish!˘