Spring is Here

How do I know Spring is here? There are signs. Sign number one - leeks that smell like leeks, unlike leeks that smell like dirt and something approximating a leek, are showing up in the grocery. What should a leek smell like, you ask? A leek should smell like sweet onion with a hint of grass after rain. Sign number two - the Dairy Queen two blocks from my house opened for the season. Sign number three - the Winter Olympics are over.

Now as many knitters and spinners, I had my personal challenges for the Winter Olympics. For those of you unfamiliar with the craft aspect of the Olympics here are the basics. You chose a project that you will start during the opening ceremonies and finish by the closing ceremonies of the the Olympics. Alternatively, you can choose to craft for x number of minutes a day, learn a new technique, or create a number of different challenges.

My challenge for the Winter Olympics was to finish several projects. On my list was Multnomah I and II, Aibhlinn sans bobbles, a Rivolo scarf, a Brooklyn Tweed Noro Scarf knit in Rowan Tapestry and a pair of plain socks knit in Patons self patterning yarn.

Things began with promise and vigor. Multnomah II progressed nicely. I finished Aibhlinn by the end of the Winter Olympic Opening Ceremonies.

I thought I would make it, especially when I finished Multnomah II the next day.

Then there was Multnomah I. Multnomah I had already been put in time out. The yarn had just enough mohair to make it a pain in the patootie to knit. I hate mohair. I really, reeaally do. Once you knit the yarn, the little mohair fibers just grab onto each other like two teenagers in the back seat of a car. It is supremely difficult to pry them apart. I had already pried the fibers apart once before. It was less than pleasant. I subsequently made the same mistake, thus requiring me to repeat the painful process of unknitting mohair. Good times! Stupid Knitting Olympics.

To keep my sanity, I left Multnomah I in time out, again, and worked on the socks. I got them finished watching some of the curling competitions. In between I worked on the Brooklyn Tweed scarf. I just couldn't face the pain of Multnomah 1.

Then I embraced the pain and challenge, and unknit about 20 rows of mohair and lace. Yippee! I decided at that point to burn all the mohair in my stash, not there is much mohair in there. I could give it to another knitter, but I don't think I can handle that kind of bad karma.

I did manage to finish Multnomah I the week after the Winter Olympics. Although I didn't finished everything I had put on my list, I did get a lot done. I had some set backs. I did have to unknit a good deal on both of the Multnomah shawls. All of it due to knitter error. My projects turned out great. I still need to block them.

I am also glad that the Winter Olympics only come once every four years. I have decided that the Olympics are a lot like presidential campaigns. It takes you four years to get over it, but the training/campaigning always begins the week after the last one is over.

I had planned to at least finish the Brooklyn Tweed scarf, but another project became my obsession. Details to follow.

P.S. The pictures don't do my projects justice.

P.P.S. Perhaps a photography class would do me good.