Gold Medal Photoshoot

My Ravelypics Cobblestone as modeled by Mr. C.  
Team Austin Project 
Specs:  
Pattern: Cobblestone by Jared Flood  
Yarn: Jamieson & Smith Shetland Aran  
Needles: Addi turbo circs, sizes 7 and 8 
Approximate age of stash used: 2 or 3 years in my stash, a lot longer in its prior owner's stash 
Finish Date & Time: Thursday, February 25th around 10:00 pm  (Started February 12th- 14 days!!)



 



And one of me:



Raveled here.

Finito!

I finished knitting, finishing, and blocking cobblestone last night.
I'm a winner!

Hopefully we can do a photo shoot on Saturday.

Sent from my iPhone

Going really well....

I finished my second sleeve this morning and am about to join for the yoke. I don't want to jinx anything, but this is going a little too smoothly.... (Knitting [Cobblestone](/patterns/library/cobblestone-pullover))


And in my other challenge, I'm down 2 pounds (I did start before Wednesday), which means I am 8 pounds away from leaving obesity and being merely overweight.

Ravelympics, and another challenge

Well, I didn't make it to my 17 inches yesterday.  I did make it to 15.25, which is still pretty good.  We're going to a concert tonight so I don't know how much knitting time I'll get in before we go.  Hopefully about an hour? 

I've decided to add a challenge to my February and into March- revamping the old diet.  I gained around 40 pounds after our wedding, hovered there for a year and a half, and have lost about 10 pounds.  I am still technically obese.  My recent blood work indicates that while my blood sugar levels are technically normal, they're higher than they should be.  I do not want to end up with diabetes.  I do not want to suffer the adverse health effects associated with obesity.  I do not want to have foot and back pain any more. It is time to shape up, literally and figuratively!

Today is Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras, and tomorrow begins the season of Lent.  While I am not as religious as I once was, I love the discipline of Lent. 

So, in observance of Lent, I am giving up refined carbs and sugar for the next 40 days (until Easter).  I plan to follow a sort of Atkins/South Beach/low-glycemic index- type plan by almost eliminating refined carbs for the first two weeks, and possibly adding in fruit or whole grains a couple times a week after that.  I'm also going to attempt to limit dairy, though not eliminate it completely.  This leaves me free to enjoy lean protein and a vast array of fresh veggies. I've found that this type of eating is good for my weight, allows me to feel satisfied, helps get my blood sugar/cholesterol in better shape, and gives me lots of energy.  The first couple days are rough as I get over the sugar withdrawals, but I hope to be back on track by Monday.

I don't foresee any interference with the Ravelympics- knitting is not like a marathon that requires major carb-loading, much to my chagrin. :-)

Ravelympics: Weekend Report

I managed to knit through 10" of the body of a men's sweater this weekend, which is pretty fantastic!  On Friday night, I felt like there was no way I would make it to the finish line, but last night I saw a glimmer of hope.

Here's the latest:  (Knitting Jared Flood's Cobblestone).

Ravelympics 2010 , and Knitting Olympics 2010

Yes, my joiner instincts have gotten the best of me.  I have signed up for this year's Ravelympics (ravelry lnk) and the Yarn Harlot's Knitting Olympics.
I'm a member of Team Austin (go ATX!) and will be attempting Jared Flood's Cobblestone out of some long-stashed Jamieson & Smith Shetland Aran (still debating on colors- olive or grayish).  I'll be competing with this project in both the Sweaterboard Cross and the Stash Compulsory Dance.








(Thanks to texturedknitter for the TeamAustin graphic, and to zzwhitejd for the Ravelympics graphic!)


Bobicus Maximus, and Citius, Alitius Fortius!

Knitting 2009, the finale- all about me

And I knit a few things just for me.

Marian

Ah, the Marian that started it all.  I love this. I'm about to make myself another.

Pattern: Marian by Jane Richmond, on 41 stitches instead of 45

Yarn: Twinkle by Soft Chunky

(Raveled here).

Textured Shawl

I was at a rock concert one night, and the yarn/pattern combo hit me like lightning.  I hadn't been too interested in knitting this, but then the thought of this buttery soft merino silk just wouldn't let go.  A match made in heaven!
Pattern:  Textured Shawl pattern by Orlane
Yarn:  Plymouth Mulberry Silk, purchased in Colorado a year ago.
(Raveled here).

Featherweight Cardigan

I know, no final picture.  I may or may not get on that.  I like this sweater.  I chose the wrong yarn (it was summer in Texas- cotton or nothing), and ignored the voice in my head that was screaming that the armholes were going to be too deep.  I may knit this again in Malabrigo laceweight, making the body and sleeves longer.  In the mmmmalabrigo, and longer version, this might just be sweater perfection.
Pattern:  Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig
Yarn: Arucania Ranco
(Raveled here)

February blahs

I'm not quite done with my 2009 knitting updates, but I'm too
preoccupied with 2010 Ravelympics project selection to focus on much
of anything.
I love winter, even in Austin where it doesn't get cold enough and it
never snows. We've had plenty of dark, rainy days with highs in the
upper 40s so far this year. It is very hard to get motivated for
anything in this weather- all I want Is to curl up in the couch with a
cat and some tea, and to pretend to watch a movie while napping.