Well, it’s finished. In just over two weeks, this…
…became this:
I love how the yarn looks in reverse stockinette. I love the rainbow of colors, and how they look like painted shadows. I love that this sweater looks like it is moving, even when it is still. I love the buttons. I love that I managed to do it, to meet the Olympic challenge, and ended up with a sweater I can be proud of.
I’ve learned so much in these sixteen days:
- I thought that my biggest problem was finishing something — after all, I do have many unfinished projects scattered around me — but I discovered that really, I’m just not a monogamous knitter. I need variety, and I think that’s what keeps my creativity alive. I’m glad that I stuck with this sweater, though, and that I gave it all my attention, because it had suffered for too long as the Yarn I Was Not Ready To Tackle. I’ve missed my socks, though. I’ve longed for the simple stockinette, round and round, mindless yet meditative.
- I am not a natural Knitting Technician. I’ve designed and manipulated and tweaked and fiddled just about everything I’ve ever made, but I had to approach it differently this time, and I learned a few good lessons about technique. Your routine can be filled with razzle-dazzle, but if you fall on your rear end when you do a simple double jump, all the razzle-dazzle in the world won’t keep you upright and get you the score you need to advance in the standings. That, and it’s no fun to watch, either.
- I don’t think I will ever be really satisfied with anything I make for myself, since I am never really satisfied with the body it is meant for. I am a work in progress, though. This time, with this sweater, I think I’ll let all that slide.
- I do not have as much spare time as I thought I did. I’m a single woman living with one cat in a small apartment. I have one job, a short commute, and very few extra work demands at this time of year. My social life could be called, charitably, quiet. What gives, then? I have a new appreciation for how much time my job actually takes, and for how much time regular life takes, for that matter. It turns out that I really don’t have “nothing to do but knit.”
(The day is too bright to get a good picture!)
I have loved being a part of the Knitting Olympics, and I can’t thank Stephanie enough for her crazy notion. The knitting energy, the drama, the fun, the support from all of my fans in the stands — it has been a wonderful bobsled ride!
Now, how do I get to the medal ceremonies?
Not Plain Jane 