Knitting Olympics Number One

Several years ago Stephanie Pearl McPhee started the knitting Olympics. The idea was to choose a knitting project which was a challenge, but one that could be completed from the Olympic Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony. When Ravelry came along, the Olympics became a big thing, having the Ravelympics with teams and events. This year the American Olympic Committee told Ravelry that we were infringing on the copyrighted name and downplaying the training and work the athletes had to go through to get to and compete in the Olympics. They eventually did apologize, but Ravelry changed the name to Ravelenics. To me they will always be the Ravelmpics, but I will break down and call it the Knitting Olympics.

One of the women in my Culver's KnitWits suggested we have an Olympic team and knit mittens for charity. I had so many things on my plate already but since I am the leader of the group and I have been slack with my charity knitting I set a goal to knit as many mittens as I can during the Olympics. After watching the opening ceremony with knitting needles flying I decided this was a good project as I can just about make mittens blindfolded so I can really watch the events.

First pair completed-the ends are even sewn in.

Two Sweaters

A while ago my grandson requested a rainbow sweater, so this is his Christmas sweater. The picture doesn't do the colors justice.
Pattern: Cottage Creations Wonderful Wallaby
Yarn: Mochi Plus
Needles: Sizes 6 and 8

Lands End donated lots of yarn for knitters to use to make sweaters for the Pine Ridge Reservation in North Dakota. Two of my friends both requested yarn expecting one to get it, if they were lucky. Well, they both got about 10 pounds, so I volunteered to make a sweater for them.
Pattern: The Incredible Custom Fit Raglan-a free download-can be found on Ravelry.
Yarn: Land End
Needles: Size 10 1/2
I would have done another one, but knitting this one hurt my hands as the yarn was doubled and is basically a cotton.

Iowa Flood Relief

Thursday I delivered more knitted and crocheted items from Double Ewe and my Culver's KnitWits to Carol Anderson of Cottage Creations for distribution to victims of the Iowa floods. We spent the afternoon opening several stacks of boxes still unopened. She has received items from all over the United States and even from England. The response has been overwhelming! We completed the process of sorting everything into bags, hats in one, mittens in another, etc. When we were done this is what her house looked like. Her husband just shook his head and said, "Be careful what you wish for."

Her upstairs hall. You can't see the bags in the adjoining bedroom.

The dining room. The kitchen. Her husband's workshop. She had already given 700 items to the Salvation Army. Saturday she had arranged for several people to help her deliver the rest to the Salvation Army and Red Cross who will be in charge of distributing everything where needed.