I’m packing it in

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This is how your suitcase would look too…right?

Suityarncase

It turns out that I may have been lying when I said that regular blogging would continue today. To avoid having to knit underpants when I run out, I’m busy packing some other stuff to go in that suitcase. The flight to Madrona fiber Arts Retreat leaves soon and (other than having all of my yarn ready) I’ve got a lot to do. The list of knitting Athletes is over 3300, and Emma, S.Kate and I are still working on it. If you don’t see your name by tomorrows post, or there is a glaring error you want us to try to correct, let us know tomorrow and we’ll do our best to get it up there before the flame is lit.

Until then, stop looking at me like that. Everybody packs yarn first.

162 thoughts on “I’m packing it in”

  1. Isn’t the first priority of any trip to decide on what knitting project you are going to take? You mean other people don’t do that?

  4. I’m leaving in a week for a trip, and I’ve got 2 projects picked out, long before I know what I’m going to wear!
    But the big question is: What yarn are you taking?

  6. Love it. I want that green stuff, right there in the middle.
    And, um, at the risk of providing too much information, who says you need to wear underwear at all? You’ve already ditched the bra… Free yourself from the tyranny, and use that space for more yarn!

  8. Hold on just a second. Aren’t you GOING where there’s a whole BUNCHA YARN TO BUY???? I know you have to bring your Olympics knitting, but…..?

  9. I see nothing wrong with this picture. (If I did, I would have to adjust the way I pack for myself).
    Enjoy Madrona – I am going to enjoy the opening weekend – I’m sneaking out of work early on Friday (shhhh!), and I’m sending the men of htehouse away. I have from Friday night to Sunday noon to myself.
    By the way, if I haven’t said it yet, props to you, Emma and S.Kate – talk about above and beyond…

  10. All I can say is I hope that’s your carryon so none of your yarn goes on a trip around the world while you’re twitching to cast on for the Olympics!

  11. Stephanie, if you get a chance to meet and talk to a wonderful spinner it is Judith McKenzie. She is my all time favorite and a wonderful speaker too. I am planning on visiting her ranch this summer,in Montana. She is a great lady. Enjoy your time there, I wish I could go..I’d love to meet Cat and Sally and you too!!

  13. Ok, delurking here, count me in on the Olympics too. I plan on making the Blue Sky Alpaca Eyelet Baby Blanket.

  14. You’re going to waste space on underwear??? Just wash out the pair you’re wearing every night and dry it over the shower curtain rod or with the free in room hair drier! You could get a nice size ball of laceweight in that space. Priorities!

  15. Nice to see you have your priorities straight.
    I continue to be blown away (and I am sure you are too) over the way the Knitting Olympics have taken off. It just goes to show that people like to have occasions to come together and share.
    Many, many, many thanks to you, Emma and S.Kate for hanging in there with this once it spun so way out of control.

  16. What, that’s all the yarn your taking? 😀 I’m sure you can get more in there and still have room for an outfit or two.
    Have a great trip!

  17. Oh, if only there were that much room in my suitcase… (But I’ll happily steal yours… I have no scruples regarding yarn…)

  18. I can’t figure out how to post a comment for the knitting olympics, but here’s what I’m gonna try to finish! It’s the ribbed tank w/the keyhole-ish back from knit.1 spring/summer/05 page 49. Wish everyone luck!

  19. Isn’t that how everyone packs? I know it’s how I go. Usually knitting gets a whole big bag for itself (but then I usually travel by car, not plane).
    There is a good chance that I am going to have to change my KO project as I have had a severe reoccurance of my cronic tendonitis. Not conducive to knitting an entire sweater in 16 days. I afraid I am down-grading to a cabled hat of my own design for my husband. Sorry for the extra work.

  22. Of course packing yarn comes first. You don’t necessarily know what you’ll find at your destination, even if it is a fiber festival. You must always be prepared.
    Besides, that looks like what I usually pack for a weekend trip. 🙂

  23. I see batteries in there, which means you are being exceedingly practical. Oh, how I wish I were smart enough to join you! You’re all going to be in my neck of the woods. I should do this next year.
    Just call/send out an SOS and I’ll just zoom right down there. I promise to stop at the mall on my way and to not get lost. Okay, okay, I can’t promise not to get lost but it won’t take more than a couple of hours to travel 40-ish miles with a stop at Nordstrom, I’m SURE.

  25. I don’t pack yarn first.
    But only because I’m usually dithering about what projects to take until the very last minute.

  27. Okay, I totally get the packing of the yarn. (And by the way, the green is Knit Picks, but is it wool of the Andes or Elegance? I love them both, although the latter is splitty.) What blows me away is that what you have packed represents a year’s worth of knitting to me. My mind is boggled at your knitting prowess.

  28. yes, yes i do, pack my yarn first and last and sometime in the middle cuz i cannot make up my mind what to take and of course i might have to buy something while i’m “there” whereever it is i’m going.

  29. I’m bummed you’re going to be in my neck of the woods again but can’t attend the Retreat. I hope you enjoy your latest trip to the PNW! The troll misses you. ;D

  31. While I was at work last night waiting for the customers to finish eating, I was making a list of yarn and knitted items to take on a weekend getaway. It’s just something we knitters do, I guess. Plot and plan our tragic yarny downfall.
    At least you picked a decent sized bag. In the ongoing battle of Nadia vs. 17L Pikapak, I always seem to lose.

  32. Oh, I totally pack yarn first. You should have heard me last night talking to the friend I’m visiting next week. “Will that be enough? What if I run out? Well, we’re going yarn shopping, right? RIGHT?”

  34. ok, so the yarn for your unpronounceable Olypmic sweater needs to be there. Some of it anyway. But Steph, I’ve browsed some of the vendors who will be on site. And since we all know that restraint isn’t perhaps your strongest attribute when surrounded by fibrey goodness, I do hope that suitcase is bigger than it looks. Or shall we assume you’ve got the ‘mailing it home to myself’ scheme worked out already?

  36. Have a great trip and at least you know that if you absolutely had to, you COULD knit yourself underwear. There’s gotta be some comfort in that.

  38. You realize, of course, that you should bring an empty duffle bag to bring home all your new purchases, I hope!
    2 days to Opening Ceremonies!!!!

  39. What do you mean, Heather, “what knitting project you’re going to take”? I refuse to be limited to just one.
    Steph, at the risk of heresy here, you sound like Brooke Shields shilling for Calvin Klein: “Whenever I get some space I pack yarn. And if there’s any left over… I have room for underwear.”

  40. I can’t see any problems with the idea of packing yarn first, my question is how many suitcases do you have to bring stuff back or will you be shipping from vendors? Have fun!

  41. That’s how I pack too. Took waaay too much yarn with me on my last trip to India. Need a project for the plane and then a project I can knit in the dark and then a project I can knit while talking to people…oh and if I finish this project, I’ll need another one to start…I mean, wouldn’t it be awful if I ran out of things to knit while I was travelling?

  42. you are SO great! and i would have yarn first on my priority to pack and money second(the money is so that i can buy yarn at a store once i have reached my destination!;)
    your making me stressed! when i was reading your blog it suddenly dawned on me that i have to finish my sock in 1 day before the olympics!

  44. That’s what one of the giant suitcases I brought to college looked like…. Now it’s contents are strewn alll around my room!

  45. Not sure how far behind you are on updating the KO list but I emailed you about 10 days ago and I’m not appearing yet! Sorry if this duplicates my entry but I’m knitting a top down sweater from Knitting Pure & Simple.
    xC

  46. The first thing I pack is a large empty bag in the bottom of the case, and quickly cover it with all my knitting and sewing needs. That way, when I pull it out while unpaking I can make the excuse that it would be crazy to take an empty bag home with me. I’d better fill it up for the return trip. Works every time!

  47. I think I need to amend my intended project for the Olympics. Instead of Fair Isle sweater for my large husband, I think it’s more reasonable to make a Fair Isle sweater for my 8-year-old niece. It is only two weeks, after all.

  48. The first thing I did to prepare for our month-long vacation last summer was buy a new plastic bin. To carry all the yarn. And yes, I bought yarn on the road … but I figure I was knitting to make room for the yarn I purchased.
    I am happy to know I am not alone.

  49. Looks good to me.
    When I flew home from PEI/Nova Scotia, the airline “misplaced” the suitcase that had all the Fleece Artist yarn I’d picked up in Nova Scotia. All my good wear-to-work clothes were in that bag, but the only thing on my mind was the yarn. (It was returned to me safe and sound, thank goodness.)

  50. Uh… no. My suitcase would never look like that, and as I walked through the airport, I would have a very smug attitude, knowing that my suitcase didn’t look like that… BECAUSE… I would have packed up a box and mailed it to myself beforehand… lol! So much for smug! HA.

  51. The only thing wrong with that photo is that I can’t read any of the yarn labels! Other than that, it looks like a perfectly well-packed suitcase.

  52. I think you’ve shown great restraint. There IS a second (empty) suitcase for the return home, right?!

  55. You don’t need to pack underwear! It IS a retreat, after all. Get one of those tops with a built in shelf bra, top and bra in one. Gotta love ’em.
    Traveling is a great time to finish things like the other sock or mitten, the last bit of that shawl you were really dreading finishing, or the sweater you never seemed to finish. Bring all the things that need finishing and depending on how many things you have to finish and the size of them and how long your trip is, you may bring one to three projects to start. It’s the rules…

  60. Stephanie- In case you didn’t know you’re mentioned in the spring issue of “Knit 1” by the publishers of Vouge Knitting. You are mentioned as a Canadian knitter’s favorite blog. Congrats!
    PS. The new issue just came out.

  61. Last time I traveled with my Mom she only gave me that “You’re a bit crackerdog” look now and then. One was when I was digging through the backpack to get to my water (which was under the yarn/partially knitted sweater and 2 pair of socks. The other was when I came back from a tour with a big bag of yarn (souvenir and what if I run out!).
    Next trip with her involves Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick & PEI…I’ll probably have to be shipping boxes back home!

  62. Oh, definitely pack yarn first. Who cares about clothes if you can’t knit?! Except I try to take all my knitting as carry on. Heaven forbid the suitcase gets lost!!!

  63. Get some of those bags that let you roll the air out of the things you put in it. I got them for my retreat to Salt Spring Island last summer, and they are fabulous!! Here’s a link to a California source, but you can probably find Eagle Creek travel items there in metro Toronto.
    http://www.magellans.com/store/Eagle_Creek___Pack_It_SystemLP323?Args=
    These work best on skeins, not yarn wound with a ball winder. Skeins squish much better.

  65. You mean your yarn doesn’t have it’s own suitcase? Remind me not to tell my husband that…

  68. I spot Bernat Handicrafter Cotton! No travel knitting packing is complete without the universal dishcloth cotton. Have a great trip.

  69. Gee, are you sure you’ve got enough to keep you going for the whole trip? At your knitting speed, that might become an issue… or is that just for the flight out there?
    Doesn’t everyone pack the knit projects first? Note that’s projectS, plural – of course you need more than one, in case you get bored with the first one.

  70. Actually, that does look a lot like my suitcase when I pack. I try to make sure to leave room for the yarn that wants to come home with me, too.
    I mentioned the Knitting Olympics on the PointySticks.org podcast that went out today – I’m actually glad to know signups are over since I would hate to send you even more knitters! 3300! That is just CRAZY.

  71. Amusingly, I found nothing odd about that picture!
    Liza, I like your priorities! 🙂
    Sheila in Boston

  73. Hope you have a wonderful time at the retreat. I wish so much that I could be there, too, but alas, we’re heading off in a different direction. We’re doing our best to arrange for some sunny days for your visit (as well as our little trip).
    Doesn’t everybody pack like that?

  74. I assume you have another suitcase for your books, right? Those have to come along too. Oh, and clothes if there is room left over.

  75. I have a small knitting project (sleeve of a non-olympic sweater project) in my jacket pocket so I can rip off a row or two to take the edge off instead of smoking when the stress at work gets too big. A coupla projects in a suitcase seems pretty darn normal…

  77. Well, it IS a knitting retreat. Of course you’ll pack yarn first. Looks like you’ll be in good company. Have a blast!

  78. My Yarn Darling always remembers to ask how much yarn I’m planning to bring, even if it’s just to the store. For longer trips, cargo pants and field jackets have nice big pockets for optional items like undies and such. As noted above, a spare suitcase is the fiber addict’s best friend. Knit up what you bring, refill, and put the clothes in another bag.

  79. All you need is the clothes on your back, a few pair of undies and knitting supplies … I see nothing wrong with how you’ve packed. Have a good trip. 🙂

  80. I pack 2 suitcases for a short trip. Large for yarn and small for me. A big carry on for air travel lets me keep with me the most important yarn. Happy travels. I can hardly wait for the Olympic cast on. Think of it 3300 all picking up needles and casting on at the same time.!!!!!
    Joan

  81. I am listed twice on the Olympics list: first as Meredith-undecided and then Meredith-it should say UMBRELLA sweater, not umbella…
    sorry I am a bit of a type A knitter…

  82. Count me in for the “olympics Challenge”!!!
    Doing a felted purse/Italian flag colors..green/white/red
    with I-cord for “olympic rings”..blue,red,yellow,green,white

  83. you mean there’s another way to pack besides yarn first???
    Meanwhile..
    Knitting olympics corrections…
    new blog address http://shadowdancer.typepad.com/blog (was at tripod) and
    new project plan…. presents of Mittens and a matching headband for my secret pal. I’m going for speed instead of complexity — despite wrists that are threatening to curtail knitting altogether…

  84. Stephanie? There’s something wrong with the picture – you’re supposed to have a smaller suitcase (with yarn and a modicum of clothes) nestled inside a large one (available to pack all the lovely things one buys on these trips).
    Yarn is the second thing I pack (after the worry beads for flights). And there’s nothing wrong with compulsive yarnitis. This afternoon, I spotted a yarn shop across the street in the opposite direction from work, pulled a u-turn through three lanes of traffic and ended up with lovely Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool and a new pattern book. . .

  85. Count me in on the knitting Olympics. I will be knitting the Wrap Dress from Barefoot Knits by Christine Schwender & Paula Heist. I am using Rowan DK Handknit Cotton and it will be for my youngest Granddaughter’s fourth birthday.
    Patty in AZ

  86. Count me in on the knitting Olympics. I will be knitting the Wrap Dress from Barefoot Knits by Christine Schwender & Paula Heist. I am using Rowan DK Handknit Cotton and it will be for my youngest Granddaughter’s fourth birthday.
    Patty in AZ

  87. Hey, is that Knitpicks “Wool of the Andes” there in the middle of your suitcase? I’m making my Eris sweater out of that but in grass green. Hopefully I have enough. (Wouldn’t that be a bummer to run out before the flame goes out?)
    Grace

  88. Well well, I did miss the olympics this time, trying to sign in just today 🙁
    But the packing looks nice 🙂 I have carried my huge poncho stuff around the Europe, and it did also include my winding up machine.
    And can you imagine it, my huspand never complains about that rarely even mentioning about it.

  89. Always one to leave things to the last minute, go ahead, count me in. My project will be the Squirrel Pullover from Small Knits.

  90. Stephanie, I’d just like to say that I am astounded and amazed at the skyrocketing fame and popularity of the Knitting Olympics, and I think you should be very proud to be the catalyst of such a thing. Woohoo!

  91. Choosing the yarn to bring and the books to read are my most important decisions when I travel, too. I entirely understand!

  93. Exactly where would one find a pattern for underwear? Would that be a cotton-blend? In the round, with steeks? What a concept in this throw-away world! I love it.
    And, are you taking like, all the yarn necessary for your Olympic challenge? You are a very optimistic gal!
    Finally, I have to say if I know the yarn project, be it a 2-week vacation, or a drive across town, then the rest of the planning goes smoothly. When I can’t decide on the project, it is all downhill.

  94. Hmmm, is that a circular needle I see?
    Steph I know you will already have had it with athletes, but when you’ve had a little breather would you be sweet and retype my name so it’s spelled correctly (I’m the one knitting the hot water bottle cover). I know it’s petty but it’s something I’ve been fighting with always and it still bugs. Thanks!

  95. Well, I finally decided on my Olympic project. A Dale of Norway sweater that starts out being a pullover, then, with steeking, becomes a cardigan. Called Romantikk–just perfect for the little one for Valentine’s Day.
    AM I NUTS??? Stephanie Pearl McPhee–this is all your fault! You and your Hardangervidda challenging me to take the plunge over the Knitting Olympics when I’m supposed to be in Disneyworld enjoying myself on VACATION for God’s Sake.

  96. Steph,
    I hope you have a good weekend at the retreat and get some knitting done and laugh alot…Cant wait to read all about it.

  97. Well, I finally decided on my Olympic project. A Dale of Norway sweater that starts out being a pullover, then, with steeking, becomes a cardigan. Called Romantikk–just perfect for the little one for Valentine’s Day.
    AM I NUTS??? Stephanie Pearl McPhee–this is all your fault! You and your Hardangervidda challenging me to take the plunge over the Knitting Olympics when I’m supposed to be in Disneyworld enjoying myself on VACATION for God’s Sake.

  98. I noticed someone else commented about it – but you are a star in the Oregonian today – front page of the Living section – the Knitting Olympics as started by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Anticipate lots more hits on your blog!!!
    Go Olympians!

  99. Holey Jebus in a jumped up sidecar! I just went to have a stroll through that there Olympic knitters list and I am gobsmacked. A whole page of Allisons, Allis and Alyssas, another of Amys, and Emilys, and Lauras … Oh. My. You and your O.Girlz have done a fantabulous tabulation task that defies description. Uh. Just one thing. Has anyone figured out how big the stage for the medal presentation is gonna have to be???
    (And dude? You’re taking coals to Newcastle … just sayin’.)

  100. I understand. I just spent the weekend visiting my brother and his family. The neice is expecting her first child and I took a garter stitch afghan for all the guests at her shower to knit on (also have picture of her 6’4″ 250lb plus father knitting :D). Besides sitting at the shower and knitting, I took socks for DH to knit in the car and finished the Aran afghan for same baby. Sadly the only yarn store in StroudsburgPA is a Wal-Mart.

  101. I have gone off the deep end! You already have me down for River. Please add Team TitBit. I will do the front of a Beaded Tittie in midnight blue alpaca silk, in addition to Kid Seta River. Wish me luck and brew some coffee!

  102. Yeah, nothing wrong with that shot! I skimped on yarn projects last week on a trip to vegas and vowed to never do it again! YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH YARN PACKED!
    Have a great trip!

  103. There are two priorities for packing for a trip.
    1) what are you going to take to knit…..
    2) what are you going to read…..
    All else is incidental.
    I have finally solved my knitting Olympics problem. I will be knitting the “Boogie” cabled vest from knitty.com, instead of the cabled shrug from Interweave Knits. I discovered that the yarn I was planning to use would have fuzzed annoyingly and diminished my cables. So I, ah, “harvested” some Rowan Chunky Tweed from a sweater that I started for my 15 year old when he was 13, and am recycling it into a vest for me!! Not really a huge knitting challenge, honestly, but getting it done in 16 days, actually knitting something besides socks for the first time in 6 months, and creatively using yarn in my yarn stash is accomplishment enough!

  104. Looks like a well packed bag to me. I hope you have the second bag for the return trip in the bottom.
    Happy knitting

  106. Hi – Sorry for the late notice. I would like to be an olympiad too. I am planning to knit the “victorian ruby” lace scarf (in turquoise)from Knitter’s winter 2004 magazine. Thank you so much for hosting this!

  107. Have a great trip!
    Teenie tiny error but it’s no big deal if it doesn’t get fixed. I’m down as a Kelly R (doing the booga bag) but really I’m a Kelly F.

  109. Of course yarn first! Then the entire needle collection, a couple of books, my favourite spindles, a generous amount of fluff. . . Doesn’t make for traveling light, unfortunately.

  112. I would even have my yarn split between all bags I am taking- just in case something happened to one. Enjoy!

  113. Late entry into the knit Olympics! I was battling the electric companies’ web site payment page and gave up and went to bed last night, so I didn’t see the blog entry with the dealine!
    I’m Sue in MD and I’m attempting Jaywalker socks!
    Thanks!

  114. Hey, writing from sunny Auburn, California. They just discussed the knitting Olympics on KGO Newstalk 81 AM Radio – San Francisco – I believe its the number one station on the west coast ! Interviewed Kat (sp?)
    CONGRATULATIONS !!! The talked about 3000 knitters signed up, and how people are taking up knitting – made the big leagues !

  115. Today I sold a AbFab kit to an Olympian, and was proud of her for joining! My co-worker thought we were nuts for knowing about this, acting like we knew you personally etc. I didn’t join b/c I felt sorry for you entering so many, and I jus tneed to keep finishing up my 35+ UFOs. i do so-o like to cast on!
    knit on!!

  116. I’d like to throw my name in for the Olympics, please 😀 I’ll be challenging myself to knit the “Here there be Pirates” hat AND mittens (with the small change of adding ‘Yar!” to them *g*). One or the other would be easy, the pair should be a suitable challenge, as well as give me something toasty to wear 😀

  117. hey harlot…i hate to ask…how many of the participants are knitbloggers? seriously, i ‘knew’ there were a lot of us…but i didn’t have any idea there could be this many…plus the ones that haven’t signed up for this thing, and they are many too…mind boggling!
    melanie

  118. I would LOVE to compete in the Knitters Olympics! I will be challenging myself to knit a dog sweater of handspun yarn. LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!

  119. I would LOVE to compete in the Knitters Olympics! I will be challenging myself to knit a dog sweater of handspun yarn. LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!

  120. Yes, always yarn first! Silly silly people. Never too much yarn. If you are flying this would be your carry on bag. You never know when a huge blizzard will hit, and you are snowed in for days, … everyone going stark raving mad – and there you are happily knitting away waiting for your flight to be called.
    And when you easily finish up most of the yarn, and wear your new creation – there is ample room left for your newly purchased yarn.
    Yarn first, like there would seriously be any other choice.

  121. I would LOVE to compete in the Knitters Olympics! I will be challenging myself to knit a dog sweater of handspun yarn. LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!

  122. I would LOVE to compete in the Knitters Olympics! I will be challenging myself to knit a dog sweater of handspun yarn. LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!

  123. I would LOVE to compete in the Knitters Olympics! I will be challenging myself to knit a dog sweater of handspun yarn. LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!

  126. I know I’m too late to sign up for the Olympics, but I found wool on sale(!) and will be knitting the child’s sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts and cheering everyone else on!
    Go team!

  127. I know I’m too late to sign up for the Olympics, but I found wool on sale(!) and will be knitting the child’s sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts and cheering everyone else on!
    Go team!
    PS–Everyone should pack yarn first!

  128. Just reading the last few entries before bed and the dyslexia of the tired rendered “the mind boggels” as “the mind bloggels”. Will this be as funny in the morning? 😀

  130. Carry on the yarn! Now that you can take you needles with you in the cabin, definitely CARRY ON! If you need a reason, read the saga of the Wayward Suitcase on my blog, in which a major part of my knitting stayed in Munich while I went on to Tbilisi, Georgia. It finally showed up, five days later.
    Oh, and have fun!

  131. Oh! Count me in too, please. I’ll be doing my first pair of socks, toe up, two at once following the pattern on KnitPicks.com. Thanks! Have a great trip!

  132. I love the suitcase and wish I could pack like that. 🙂
    I need to change my KO project from Kiri to Stahman’s Faroese-shaped Alka shawl.

  133. that looks like a well packed suitcase to me. have a great trip.
    if anyone wants to see the actual page in the oregonian with the knitting olympics story that has been mentioned here already i posted it at http://yarngirls.blogspot.com/
    i’m a features designer at the paper and i knit the rings as well as designed the page. i had so much fun that i couldn’t believe that it was actually “work” and someone was willing to pay me to have this good of a time. and steve, the reporter who wrote the story, did an absolutely amazing job. peggy taught him to cast on and to knit and purl during lunch at work last week. he’ll be knitting a scarf for the olympics. and he was an absolute darling to put up with all my suggestions about what he needed to include in the sidebars that accompanied the story.

  134. Am I too late? I want to be in, I want to be in – pleeeeeze. I will knit anyway, alien illusion scarf from stitch n bitch – the challenge is the chart. and by the way, us ozzies are at a disadvantage – the opening ceremony occurs at 5:30am saturday morning! and i am NOT a morning person. the sacrifices. happy knitting and good luck!

  135. I’d need a couple of books to feel totally secure. You’ve got yarn-security just about covered. Yay you!
    I keep meaning to knit myself some underpants. From that pattern in knitty….
    ~x~

  136. Knitting Olymics!
    What fun, can I be included also?
    I will knit my first pair of socks as have been procrastinating too long about knitting socks
    Hope its not too late to join..
    Thanks
    Sara

  137. Hope that you have a wonderful time at the retreat it looks nice! And yes, I would pack my yarn first, those that say no are lying! Knitters think yarn first and foremost,,, or should anyways! 🙂

  139. I continue to be amazed by your ability to not be hiding from your inbox. By this point, I would blithely be pretending that no one would’ve emailed me while avoiding computers like the plague . . .
    Have fun at your retreat! I’m jealous!

  141. Umm – you mean it’s not a fundamental rule of nature?
    Our movers are coming early, so not only do we have to pack in 3 days, but we also have to figure out how to live for 2 1/2 weeks on what we can take with us on WestJet.
    So far, I haven’t found the suitcases. But I do have the yarn and patterns set aside…

  142. Delurking – that suitcase looks like mine… take 1 pair of undies, you can always wash them out in the sink. More room for yarn is the rule. And http://www.whiteliesdesigns.com has patterns for very special lingerie. Put me down for the Knitting Olympics, I’m working on the Celtic Fantasy shawl from A Gathering of Lace and it must be finished by April 30!

  144. My husband and I are heading for Arizona soon and I packed an extra bag just for yarn and supplies. He looked at me like I was nuts and said “I’m not paying $80 for an extra bag so you can take yarn to a state where it will be uncomfortable to knit with wool.” He has a point…. So I repacked a smaller bag with silk, bamboo and cotton :o)

  145. I think I’m too late, but I thought that I would enter myself (just to put it in writing). I’m going to enter the Olympics with Rebecca Pattern # 32 from Issue #30 (Sweater with Cables). I’m going to knit it with Classic Elite Bazic Wool in Black. Good Luck to everyone!!!

  146. Of course yarn goes in first! And second, and third, and….
    Olympics 2006 – afghan and cowl

  147. Hi—delurking here b/c I almost fell off my chair when I saw your suitcase. I just got home from a week’s visit with family, and my suitcase looked just like yours—an assortment of yarn and projects of all shapes and sizes, along with the scant amount of clothing and other ‘boring’ but necessary items, like underwear 🙂
    I know I’m too late to be posted to your site, but I’ll jump in anyway and declare myself in for the olympics (no blog to speak of, so no need for an ‘official’ medal to post it to). I’ll be doing a man’s (shorter) version of the Einstein coat. I must be crazy; while it’s not a technical challenge (I’ve already done two of these), it’s definitely going to test my endurance. But I’m up for it (and it’s an even bigger challenge in that I have to be done BEFORE the closing ceremonies—my goal is to be able to wear it to a party on the 26th, which starts at 5pm. which means I will probably be sewing the seams and buttons as my family pulls me out the door 🙂 Oh well, let the games begin!

  148. Hi. A little, tiny mistake on my entry in the list: you wrote “tar.gzip-Toe”. That’s it, just the toe. I am a slow sock knitter, I have other things to do (namely, the %&/()&/( thesis) and they are my first toe-up socks, but I do intend to knit more than just the toe 😉
    Have fun!

  149. I love to travel light. I can fit a weekend’s worth of clothes and supplies in my messenger bag. (I hate carrying luggage, wheeling luggage around, or checking luggage. On my next long trip, I intend to bring 2 changes of clothes and a laundry kit to wash it all in the hotel sink).
    This worked great until I started knitting. Now the knitting gets its own separate tote bag. I am such a bad person. (One of these days I’ll manage to make a short trip with just a pair of socks-in-progress tucked in the messenger bag)

  150. Hi, I know I’m past the date, but I want to play too!!! My dear friend moved away to Arizona last July and we want to compete in the Olympics together..I’ll email and hopefully, get her on board too, but I’ve chosen an angora mix pink aran that I plan to wear at the Weekend to End Breast Cancer Walk that I’m participating in in September…Whatever we do; walking, working or watching t.v. — it’s all about the sweater!! Have fun and I hope we can still make the list…please!!! BFN Lynn

  151. But, of course we do, and above all that packing, we pack too much yarn. I never do knit even a fourth of what I pack. I just like having choices.

  152. so… i don’t see my name on the list. i signed up on your original post and i’m assuming there was a bit of confusion. see, i’m doing a peace shawl, and there’s this entry on your list of athletes: “Kristin (another one) – peace shawl” so i’m assuming that there are two kristen/ins who are doing peace shawls, but there’s only one on the list. or maybe i’m just being dumb. *shrug* either way, as long as i’m accounted for as a competitor, i’m happy! thanks!

  153. hihi, I’ve decided what I’m knitting. Can you change my project from Undecided to Socks? Thanks to all the people who’ve worked to organize this behemoth of a KAL!
    -Bethieee

  154. Hi! Sounds like a wonderful weekend! Makes me anxious for your book tour! I send my entry in a few weeks ago (with over 3000 names, I can’t understand how you missed it! But I want to be in the Olympics. I’m knitting a lace moebius (inhale deeply to calm myself) Add my name whenever (or not at all, I know I am participating). You have a lot on your plate right now- including the Dale!
    Charlotte L.

  155. I did send a note on Tuesday to Kat switching my olympic challenge from “leaf fingerless gloves with beads” to “hat with cables, braids, and bobbles” out of Classic Elite Lush but haven’t seen that change in the official list.
    thanks!
    I’m excited! Unfortunately, I’ll be working when the flame is lt, but I’ll be casting on in spirit at that moment!

  159. I don’t want to add to anyone’s work, but you have come so far with this and your official librarian and all. I think it would be great to have an official statistician of the Knitting Olympics. You could get even more publicity with the stats – number of objects completed, number of countries represented, pounds of chocolate consumed. Hey, there should even be an official wine of the knitting Olympians. I’m from California, so I definitely want a California wine. Come to think of it, this one might be hard to agree on. Anyway, let the games begin ! Betsy in Sacramento

  161. Sorry to bug you at this late date. I commented on your blog that I would like to join sometime around the beginning of February before the deadline and I haven’t seen my name added to the list yet. Actually I went back through your comments and can’t find my comment either so I’m thinking it probably got lost in never-never land somewhere. I just thought I would check to see if you just hadn’t added me yet. If it did get lost I will just participate for my own fun. I am making the baby sweater from the front of Knitting for the First Time, which uses intarsia. Thanks for organizing this – it must be an administrative nightmare!
    Meghan

  162. i’m late to the olympics..much like the michelle kwan theme here…and since i lost the scarf i started on the plane yesterday, i’m going to go ‘walk’ from the hotel in a moment to re-buy my addi-turbo needle, stitch marker and yarn for my first of two olympic knitting events. i have had a pattern in my head for 1 1/2 years to knit a cabled scarf for my daughter. on the first flight yesterday, i finally got the cable pattern worked out, and had a good 5″ completed before i got to my connection, and realized the scarf wasn’t with me. so if anyone in atlanta sees my chocolate brown cable scarf? please send it home to me! i’m heading to see my daughter in boston next week and wanted to have it finished for her. my stand in/2nd project is the aspa shawl for me. yes. i will make something for myself…scarf for baby girl and shawl for me. i can do this. if michelle can pull out and have emily hughes join in late, then i’ll join up late, too! count me in! needles shall be ready by dinner time tonight..right after i gimp over to the lys down the street from the hotel with my cane and 4 injuries..see? true olympic knitting…injured althletes will compete until the doc says no. right?
    maybe i should be on the special olympics team…gimpy and forgetful…is there a button for that?

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