The Ravelympics started at 8 am EST this morning. For the uninitiated, back in 2006 the wonderful, darling, ever Canadian Stephanie had this amazing idea which she promptly gave to the interwebds – the Knitting Olympics.
The incredible community that is Ravelry has spawned our very own copy-cat event, chock full of fiber events like the Shawl Relay, Color-Work CrossCountry, and Designer Discus. We’ve got teams, we’ve got icons, we’ve our very own code (because Casey rocks!) and we’ve got 17 days to knit like crazy.
Being as Olympic knitting is supposed to be a personal challenge, I picked a doozy of a project – the Lady’s Circular Cape from Jane Sowerby’s Victorian Lace Today. And since a large lace project wasn’t complicated enough, I’ve added seed pearls to the pattern. And just to up the importance of it all — this shawl is going to be a wedding present, for a lovely woman marrying into my family who has expressed a willingness – nay, a desire, to wear my knitting down the aisle.
17 days. Did I mention that part?
But I’m set!
I’ve got my hardware: 
I’ve got my yarn – KnitPicks Gloss Lace, in the Bare colorway: 
I’ve got the charts marked up: 
And I got up a 6am this morning and made coffee, and set up my knitting station, and at 8 am sharp, to the chiming of my clock, as the 2008 Summer Games opened in Beijing (remember Wei Li Guan, Mom? I do.) I cast on!
Note the Olympic Ring colored stitch markers!
I’m a happy knitter tonight. I’ll work more on this, and watch the video of the opening ceremonies now that it’s online. Life is good.
17 days.
Knit-Write 
Weili Guan – indeed I do!! Not a knitter but definitely Chinese – from Beijing even. I expect great things from this Olympic participation – knit away! The beginning is lovely.
love, Mom