Item #2 in the Knitting Olympic is the Herringbone Stitch scarf, aka Linen Stitch and, I think, My So-Called Scarf.  Don't quote me; I may have remembered that all wrong.

This shows the stitch pattern very well. 

And this is much closer to the true colors.

The yarn is Malabrigo and it's just lush.  I want to roll in it, never mind knit with it.  The color is also wonderful - coral and rust with a little pinky-peach and some brass.  My colors.  Completely.

This project was started in October 2008, and finished in February 2010.  I used almost all of 2 skeins of yarn, and plan to use the rest in either a hat or mitts.  

Yes indeed, I did win a gold medal in the Knitting Olympics! 

 

 Thank you, Yarn Harlot , for the inspiration to do what had previously (apparently) been impossible: to finish many of the "complete" knitting projects in my personal basket o' shame.

I started with the 8 projects in the basket o' shame and determined that more than half - 5, in other words - had to be finished and wearable by the end of the Olympic closing ceremonies in order to qualify for a gold.  Here's the list of finished items:

• Wonderful Wallaby for my SIL Jena
• Herringbone pattern scarf (My So-Called Scarf?)
• Sensational Shirttail
• Green tweed sweater
• Green silk blend Shapely T
• Opal "Rosehip" socks (these were a bonus item, not in the original count!)

And here's a photo of the Wonderful Wallaby for my wonderful sister-in-law Jena:

  It's the Cottage Creations Wonderful Wallaby, which every knitter on earth has probably used - this is my first but it won't be the last!  I did make a few minor modifications: I'm not a fan of ribbing, so I used seed stitch, and repeated the seed stitch on the front pocket, placket and the collar trim.  The yarn was especially wonderful!  It's Rustic Wool, from Queensland Collection in color 18, which reminds me of crushed raspberries.  It seemed to be a light worsted weight, but got 4 stitches per inch on size 7 needles; it is a superwash wool, and it performed beautifully in the washer and dryer. 

Arithmetic must not be my strong point - if you know me, you know that's an understatement! - but  I calculated that I needed about 1800 yards, so I bought 21 balls of this lovely yarn, and have 10 left over!

This was a fun and easy knit.  I did mess up the raglan decreases and had to rip out a few rows, but that was due to the aforementioned arithmetic deficiency, not the pattern.  The instructions were clear (in some cases, almost too clear) and easy to follow.  The design is timeless and classic as only a sweatshirt can be.

More on the other completed items in coming days!

Quick update...Canada won the gold medal in hockey, and I finished another sweater!

Here's where I stand as of 5 pm Sunday (February 28):

Completed!

• The Wonderful Wallaby for my SIL Jena is done and ready to be shipped!
• Herringbone pattern scarf (My So-Called Scarf?) complete!
• Sensational Shirttail is finished and was worn to Stitches West on Friday
  
• Green tweed sweater is finished, and may be worn to work Monday
• Green silk blend Shapely T is done - what was so hard about those side seams?

Still in progress...

• Simple Shawl of wonderful Brooks Farm yarn, needs fringe- fringe is cut and ready!
  
• Cable Eights needs to be edged in crochet and seamed (no change)
  
• Stepped tank top needs crochet trim and seams on all edges (no change)

The partially complete pair of socks is well on the way to completion -I'm almost done with the toe decreases of the 2nd sock, then need to weave in the ends on that one.

I've watched hockey, pruned roses, gardened, worked on work stuff, shopped the Livermore Farmer's Market and eaten brunch out today.  It's time to settle in for some quality knitting time!

...or "how am I doing so far?"

Here's my status as of 10:30 pm Thursday (2-25):

• The Wonderful Wallaby for my SIL Jena is done and ready to be shipped!
• Herringbone pattern scarf (My So-Called Scarf?) complete!
• Sensational Shirttail is finished and will be worn to Stitches West tomorrow!

And here's what still needs to be done on the uncompleted projects (Am I ever glad we're expecting a rainy weekend...)

1. Green tweed sweater needs buttons sewn on, all seams sewn and a collar knitted - no change
   
2. Cable Eights needs to be edged in crochet and seamed (This is embarrassing!  The knitting was completed within a month of when the magazine - Interweave Knits - came out, what 5 or 6 years ago?) - no change
   
3. Stepped tank top needs to be blocked and needs crochet trim and seams on all edges
4. Green silk blend Shapely T needs seaming and edging side seams only
   
5. Simple Shawl of wonderful Brooks Farm yarn, needs blocking and fringe

In addition, I found a partially complete pair of socks (1 was complete, 1 was half-way down the leg) that should be another finished item.  Thank you, Southwest Airlines for not having on board wifi this week.  More knitting time can sometimes be better than more work time.

Photos to follow this weekend, but first:  Stitches West!

 

I can't resist a challenge, especially when it requires that I knit.  Of course I signed up for the Knitting Olympics on Stephanie's blog.

Four years ago I pledged to finish the Viking Turid I was knitting for my sister, and came close but not close enough to medal.  The pieces were finished, but the sewing wasn't and I was finally learning mattress stitch.  It was finished shortly after the Olympics ended.

This year, initially I planned to knit this:

from Vogue Knitting, Winter 2001 / 2002.  I love the pattern, without the fur collar, and have been planning to knit it for years.  The yarn was purchased last summer as the various colors became available from different sources on eBay.  So I signed up.  (Finally added the photo - why didn't someone tell me I forgot it originally?)

Reason and good sense prevailed.  Starting that sweater will be my reward for earning my gold medal in the Knitting Olympics 2010 for (drum roll please) finishing at least half of the almost finished items in my figurative basket of shame.  That would be knitted items that need to have the pieces sewn together, ends run in, buttons sewn on, and maybe even crochet trim of some sort.

The basket of shame currently houses the following items:

1. The Wonderful Wallaby for my SIL Jena.  Needs the ends run in, underarms grafted and blocking
2. Herringbone pattern scarf (My So-Called Scarf?) which needs the 2 ends run in
3. Sensational Shirttail - the sleeves are too long (and I did measure) so it needs to be taken apart, sleeves fixed, buttons sewn on and crochet around the hem
4. Green tweed sweater needs buttons sewn on, all seams sewn and a collar knitted
5. Cable Eights needs to be edged in crochet and seamed (This is embarrassing!  The knitting was completed within a month of when the magazine - Interweave Knits - came out, what 5 or 6 years ago?)
6. Stepped tank top needs to be blocked and needs crochet trim on all edges
7. Green silk blend Shapely T needs seaming and edging
8. Simple Shawl of wonderful Brooks Farm yarn, needs blocking and fringe or edging or something

I think that's all.  For me to win a gold medal in the 2010 Knitting Olympics, I must finish at least 4 of the above UFOs.  If I do, then not only do I medal, but I can start the project I intended to start.  I think my chances are good this year.  Not only am I motivated - I really want to wear Sensational Shirttail to the market at Stitches West on Friday, February 26 - but we have more rain in our 6-day weather forecast and I'm heading back to TX on the 22nd to help Mom with probate items.  That's just more knitting time on planes!

Let the games begin!

My Dad died last Saturday, and the world will never be the same. 

His death was sudden, unexpected and painless for him as he'd always said it would be.  He suffered a heart attack at 11 a.m. while talking on the phone with one of his granddaughters about her recent graduation from college and upcoming wedding.  Mother took him to the hospital herself and he had a second, fatal heart attach at 1 p.m.  The ER doctor told Mother that he'd "lived his last day on earth."

Daddy was the best man I've ever known.  He was affectionate, funny, smart, compassionate, curious, faithful, understanding, modest, passionate about many things.  He loved parties and dinners, shopping, computers, and music - and he had a tin ear.  He was generous with his time, money and possessions.  Daddy never met a stranger anywhere.  He could, and did, talk to everyone and remembered what they told him.  He never stopped learning, and was convinced that he could learn anything, and so could we.  He loved photography and took thousands of photos of everything from sandstorms and giant hailstones to tiny flowers and big black bears.  He gardened with great zeal; he was always willing to try a new technique or new plant.

He didn't always understand things we kids did, but he had raised us to make our own decisions and he supported us when we did.  After I converted to Judaism he learned about the religion and its customs.  When Ken and I married, Daddy explained the ceremony to Ken's parents; they are Jewish but were not familiar with the wedding customs and rituals.  He loved Ken like a son, and was glad I finally married a man he respected and liked.

Daddy was a great gift giver.  He really listened when people talked and often surprised us with the perfect gift, which we didn't expect from anyone.  One memorable year I received my first rifle and my first dress suit and heels from him.  He taught me to reupholster furniture and made the best buttonholes on my sewing machine that I've ever seen.  

I am devastated, and so very glad that Ken insisted I visit at Thanksgiving alone (while he stayed home with a sick cat).  It was a special time for us, and I was finally able to thank Daddy for many things he did for me while I was growing up.  We shopped and ate out and talked, and he admired my knitting and itz mathematical precision.  It was a very good visit.

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From the memorial service:

Delton loved Zo.  Their marriage and love and care for each other were a testimony of G-d's grace.  They stood by each other, devoting themselves to their family, their G-d and their friendships.  They shared a love many only dream of and their legacy of love is seen on each of your faces and in our hearts.

Delton would talk to anyone and listen deeply to their life story.  He was a great teacher: patient and kind with his family and friends...and his ability to teach came from an inspirational part of his heart that loved to learn and understand...as an electrical engineer he figured he could learn just about anything, and therefore do just about anything from hanging cabinets, to reupholstering furniture, to rebuilding car engines, to teaching his children how to use a sewing machine.  He was generous, enjoyed helping people, was witty with a great sense of humor, and a thoughtful gift giver.  He loved family vacations and made sure fishing was always part of the trip, helping and teaching his children and grandchildren how to fish.  He enjoyed deer hunting, and creating a famous deer heart dish with cream of mushroom soup.  Mostly, he enjoyed spending time with his family; he was passionate about time with his family and sharing in a family's love. He was affectionate. He and Zo celebrated holding hands and he gave great hugs.  He was an instigator of parties and a great shopper, especially around a garage sale, and was like a kid in a toy factory when he was introduced to eBay.  

Delton knew the joy and power and simplicity of being with others.  Delton enjoyed being with himself, being with Zo, being with his four wonderful children, being with his grandchildren and great grandchildren, being with his friends, being with the church in fellowship and worship and being with G-d.  He knew, intuitively, that being with others allowed space for G-d to touch souls to each other.

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The official obituary, from the Midland Reporter-Telegram:

The Good Lord called Delton Aubrey Wilson, 82, of Midland (Texas), home on Saturday, January 9, 2010.

Delton was born on October 17, 1927 in Crosby County, Texas, to Albert and Bonnie Wilson.  He graduated from McAdoo High School.  He enlisted in the United States Army and served in Korea, but returned to graduate with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University).  He was a member of honorary engineering fraternity Tau Beta Pi while at Texas Tech.

He married the love of his life, Rebecca Zoann, in 1952.  They moved to Kermit to work for Schlumberger Well Services; he also worked in Southeastern New Mexico, and was in business in Tucumcari, NM, for four years.  He then went back to work for Sun Oil Company and worked for 20 years as a log analyst.  He and his wife lived and raised their family in several small towns in West Texas, but settled and retired in Midland in 1991. He was an avid sportsman, enjoying hunting and fishing.  He cherished helping his grandson complete his hunter safety course.

Delton was a faithful man of G-d, a loving husband for 57 years, a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Bonnie.  Left behind to cherish his memory are his loving and devoted wife, Rebecca Zoann; his daughters Diann and husband Ken, Marcia; sons Del and wife Mylinda, Mark and wife Jena; grandchildren Rebecca and husband Justin, Hannah and husband Michael, Celina, Pierce and Debbie; great grandchildren Michael and Harmony; brother-in-law Derrell and wife Joyce; nieces Danita, Kimberly and Susan; and adored mother-in-law Arvetta.

Delton was also involved in many professional organizations and in his church as an elder.  He was a member of SPWLA, the SPE and Toastmasters.  He received the Schlumberger Wildcatter Award twice.  His most treasured accomplishments were his 57 years of marriage and his family.  Memorials may be made to the National Rifle Association and Boy Scouts of America.

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So, yeah, I've been making a stab at doing stuff.  Some of the stuff involves completing long-ignored projects like this one:

  A second pair of Jaywalkers, started May 1, 2006 - almost as soon as the first pair were finished back in the heady heyday of Jaywalkers.  Love the pattern - it's easy to memorize, confounds strangers watching you knit and nicely deals with multi-colored yarn.

This pair is knit from Lamb's Pride Wildfoote, in the Rock'n'Roll colorway.

The first sock was completed in July 2006 and the second cast on immediately.  The second sock was finished in July 2009!

(See?  Even if I do have 40 WIPs at any given time, they eventually get finished!)