Done Done Done

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(Typing "done" three times made it look like it was spelled wrong. So wrong I had to check.  I hate that.)

On Sunday morning, the last day of the Winter Olympics, I woke up with a tremendous sense of doom.  While I’d already come to grips with the idea that I might not make it, and that there’s no particular shame it biting off more than you can chew, I’d also come to understand that I wouldn’t like that at all. I like meeting my goals.  It feels good, and I was determined that if I wasn’t going to finish that sweater, that there was no chance… none at all, that I wasn’t going down fighting.  I got up and surveyed the sweater parts, and tried to figure out a plan of attack.  At 9:00 on Sunday morning, I had most sweater parts, but they were not a sweater.  I had to finish one sleeve, I had to steam them (no time for a proper watery bath),  measure, sew and cut the steeks, sew up the shoulders, set in the sleeves, sew down the facings, sew the hems on the sleeves, sew down the hem on the body, pick up and knit the neckband, and then sew down that same neckband.   Since this was barely possible, first I made a lot of coffee.

10:57am.  Finished the second sleeve.  Did smallish dance of victory, then remembered that I was still screwed.  Drank more coffee, and set about steeking.

10:58am. Looked at the stinking sweater parts and realized that I had neglected to sew in any ends anywhere on a fussy 4 colour sweater.  Turned the bits inside out to see how bad things were.  Decided it would only take 10 minutes. Drank more coffee. 

12:00: Finished weaving in ends. Felt wave of deep regret that after 36 years of knitting experience I am still so completely optimistic delusional about knitting that I thought that weaving in ends would only take 10 minutes when it took an hour. 

12:02: Decided to berate self for timing errors another day since there was no time for it now. 

12:03:  Began steeking process.  Measured sleeve to see how big to cut opening in sweater.

12:04: Measured again. Cutting a big gash in a sweater is a one-way move, and one should be very careful before fetching the scissors and doing something rash.

12:05: Measured other sleeve to see if they were the same for the same reason as at 12:04.

12:06: Marked opening after re-measuring.

12:07: Started again after deciding that maybe I measured wrong even though everything looked totally fine.

12:08: Re-measured.

12:09: Re-steamed the sleeve in case the first steaming wasn’t good enough and maybe I didn’t have the measurements right.

12:13: Re-measured. Got the same measurement as the other six times.  Wondered if maybe I was starting to get obsessive and weird.

12:14. Asked Joe to measure sleeves- just to be sure.

12:16: Endured marital spat with Joe when he refused (wisely) to get on the "crazy sweater train" and took his advice to maybe cut back on the coffee and get a grip.

12:24: Sat for a while.  Contemplated switch from coffee to beer.

12:26: Decided that both beer and coffee could influence accuracy.

12:27. Re-measured.

12:28: Sewed the steeks.

12:35 Wondered if the sleeve steeks were really the right size.

12:36: Re-measured before cutting. 

12:40: Took a deep breath and cut the sleeve openings. 

Here I always pause and marvel that you can actually do this, and it works.  Need an armhole?  JUST CUT ONE.   Crazyville.

12:45: Sewed up the shoulders.

1:00: Unpicked shoulders after realizing that I hadn’t done a very good job because I was rushing.  While I unpicked them I gave myself a really wicked talking to.  Title: This sweater was too much work to be a piece of crap.  There’s no point in finishing and still not getting a sweater you like.  Buck up buttercup. Focus.  Sewed shoulders up nicely.

1:10: Ripped up house like a lunatic because I have probably 193856 pins in this place and there is no way that I can’t find any of them.  Gave speech to Joe and cat about how people are always touching my stuff and that’s why I can’t find it and I don’t mess with their stuff so why are they always messing with mine and that’s what’s wrong with this family is that nobody cares about me or my pins I just do laundry and LOOK FOR MY PINS THAT YOU ALL TOUCH.

1:15. Located pins in sewing box where they were all the time.  Apologized to Joe and cat. Commenced sewing in sleeves.  Poured remainder of coffee down sink. 

2:11. Finished sewing in sleeves and started to sew facings over cut edges of steeks.  Made more coffee.

3:11,  Sucess is mine.  Began picking up stitches for the neckband and put on the hockey game. All seems well. I have until about 8:30 to finish.  I should be able to nail a neckband in that amount of time as long as I stay on my game.

3:15 until 6:00.  I’m not sure what I did in here.  I thought I was knitting, but all I can confirm in the end  is that I held my knitting the whole time, but when the hockey game was over and Canada had achieved total world hockey domination (both women’s and men’s gold, eh?) I had apparently only knit three rounds. 

6:02, Try to set priorities.  I have to leave for the pub at 7. Knit or bathe?

6:05. Bathe.  Poor hygiene never helped anyone.  While I’m in the tub I try to remind myself that I’m probably not going to finish anyway, and that while failing might be inevitable, I can at least control how I smell and look while I fail.

6:30.  Take precious knitting time to find "Canada" shirt to wear to pub.  (Still feel good about this choice.)

7:00 Joe drives me to the pub, and I knit like a demon the whole way, regretting deeply that I’ve let the whole thing come down to black ribbing in a darkened car.  Poor planning.  If it was white ribbing I might have stood a chance.

7:05.  Search knitting bag for white yarn in case I actually could make the ribbing white.  Fail.

7:25.  Arrive at pub and find some happy knitters celebrating their gold. Denny finished Dale of Norway’s "Vancouver" (And Amy is wearing the right gear)

Megan is finished (even though it’s a terrible picture, the shawl is beautiful)

Team Canada shirts are everywhere…

and just so that I don’t feel alone.. Natalie is still trying to sprint to the finish. 

You will note that Natalie (who did totally finish in time) has had the presence of mind to bring a headlamp to the pub so she can see what she’s doing. Brilliant.  When it comes down to the wire like that it’s all about the equipment.

I started knitting like a
fool at that point, as the Closing ceremonies started.  Natalie finished with the headlamp and Amy and Denny took turns shining it on my work so I could see to cast off, and with only moments to spare –

I finished.  It was really, really close.  Really.  A lot.  If a couple of the speeches had gone a little short, or if I’d chosen to eat dinner instead of apply that time to knitting, there’s no way I would have made it.  (I actually blame the overtime in the hockey game, but it’s hard to not love everything about that game so I’m letting it go.)  In the end though, I have a sweater.  I love it.  I got gold, and I’m thrilled. Joe and I took the sweater for a walk yesterday, out into the great Canadian outdoors, where it belongs.

Pattern: Whistler, from Dale of Norway.
Modifications: only two.  I took out the placket and zip on the front, because I like a straight up pullover, and I changed the yellow that was in the pattern to bronze. 

Yarn: Heilo.  Also Dale of Norway. 

Needles, sizes 2.5mm, 3mm and 3.5mm.

I love it.  I really do, and I’m also so glad it’s finished. Big project. Feels good.

Business:

1. If you were a participant listed on the Athletes page, you are eligible to be entered in the draw for a prize, even if you didn’t finish.  Trying is the only thing you need to have done.  

2. To enter, send an email to goldATyarnharlotDOTca (changing the AT and DOT to the appropriate symbols, of course.) 

3. You’ll get back an auto-respond that lets you know you’re entered, and has a link to a cool pdf for knitters who took gold.  (You can thank Franklin for the certificate.)

4. The auto-respond thingie only works when my mail is open here at home, so if you don’t get one right away – don’t panic and send another one.  Wait a day. Then check your spam filter (the email will come from the same address) before you try again, okay?

5.  I’ll keep that up and running until Monday, then draw for a prize.

6. No.  I’m not telling what the prize is.  It’s not a car or a million dollars though, so don’t get weird on me.

7. I keep forgetting to tell you that I’ll be in Detroit at the Public Library on Saturday March 13th at 1:00.  They’re having a little yarn marketplace first and everything.  See if you can come, it’s going to be fun.

8. I also wanted to answer Elyse from the comments. She asks:

Did any one watch the mens curling – final game Norway – Canada – and see
the lady with the double points and what looked like a childs sweater –
seated right in front of Steven Harper?

See it?  I got so excited that I took a picture of the TV. 

The ladies in red are the Womens Silver medal curling team, the man to the left is Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, and right there in front?  KNITTER! 
It’s something on double points, but maybe we’ll never know what, or who she is.. does anyone know this Knitter?   Whoever she is, way to represent lady.  Knitters.  We’re everywhere.

355 thoughts on “Done Done Done”

  1. Beautiful sweater! Congratulations on achieving Gold with such an ambitious project. I would have been happy to accomplish a sleeve in 16 days, given how slow I knit and how little time I get to knit.

  2. As you know, I DQ’d myself, but I did knit, so I will enter. I just feel wrong about snagging the gold medal, so I won’t do that.
    We should talk about August (or sooner) one of these days…

  3. Congratulations! What a beautiful work of art. And how incredibly awed I am that you did that ALL during the Olympics. Canada ROCKS!

  8. I heard about this lady – someone in the Globe (letter to editor) pointed out that only in Canada would someone get so close to a head of State with a set of sharp pointy sticks — me, I’d like to see security try to take them away from her — I’m betting on the knitter!

  9. Awesome sweater!! Great job. I completely understand about trying to knit and watch that amazing hockey game (yay Canada!) – I was holding my own Dale of Norway (2010 Olympic) sweater without actual knitting happening as well. The headlamp idea is pure brilliance!

  10. Dayyum, Woman, that’s a good-looking sweater! Many congratulations on finishing it on deadline.
    Thanks for letting us didn’t-finish-but-gave-it-the-old-school-try’s a chance at a prize. I had thought it was enough of a prize to get the thing I knit, when I finish it about three weeks hence.

  11. Love the sweater. It and your mad knitting skills (and stamina) are awesome.
    Love the knitter.
    Love that I finished my modest pair of socks during the Olympics. Next feat of derring do is to finish off my WIPs by end of Spring Break.

  12. Great job Stephanie…!
    If I wasn’t moving, I’d have competed…..did some dishcloths for the new house though…..
    I also noticed the KNITTER in at the Men’s curling game…… good for her.
    Knitters rule!

  14. Wow, great sweater! Congrats on your finish and wonderful Olympics (just don’t get me started on the NBC coverage). I did watch curling (much better coverage than most sports), but I was knitting at the time and didn’t see the knitter.

  15. That is an absolutely gorgeous sweater, and like the Olympic athletes are inspiring to young athletes, you are an inspiration to me as a new knitter! Someday, I will hopefully reach those kind of heights in knitting! 🙂

  16. The sweater is amazingly awesome. I’m not sure I could have finished it in 17 weeks, much less 17 days.
    And my one regret from Sunday is that, because I failed to run errands during the 50k cross-country ski race, I had to run them during the hockey game. I gather it will go down in history as one of the most epic hockey games of all times…alas.

  17. As Jen mentioned above, there was a letter about this in yesterday’s Globe. There was a response today saying that a)knitting needles are no more dangerous than pens and b)experienced knitters can watch an event and knit at the same time (the letter writer had portrayed the knitter as oblivious to her surroundings, as she focused on her knitting).
    I just returned from a conference with over 900 women in attendance and I was the only one KIPing. I think we all need to do this more.
    And that sweater? Unbelievable. You are a true champion.

  18. I did not finish. I did try, and I thank you for allowing a prize entry for trying. I plan to revise the design — I still want this vest! — and keep at it till I’m satisfied with the thing.
    Your sweater is gorgeous! And looks soo good out and about in the countryside.

  19. Regarding knitting at a curling match: my husband is into curling and just went to his first men’s bonspiel. It seems that curling men and knitting women go together, as most of the female spectators had needles flying.
    and your sweater is amazing and looks great on you!

  20. This American knitter was secretly cheering for the men’s Canadian hockey team. Looking back on it, I wanted most Candians to win at their sport. Love my country, but I think it came down to wanting Candian athletes to win in their home country! I’m all sappy like that.
    Beautiful sweater!

  21. So wonderful to see the, isn’t it the, Lettuce Knit team? The team wins the gold!
    Absolutely drop-dead gorgeous sweater, Stephanie, and I can hardly believe you did that much that fast. Wow.

  22. Congrats on a beautiful sweater – reading your journey has been such fun. I’m still “in shock” that I managed to knit a cardigan within the last 2 weeks…I learned to knit so I would have dishcloths & I still remember taking a knitting class with the disclaimer “it’s not like I want to knit a sweater or anything” & chuckle now. 🙂
    Thanks for issuing the challenge to us all once again – I’m glad that I was able to meet the challenge with this large project.

  23. Gorgeous sweater. Unbelievable. If you can knit that complicated sweater in two weeks you can do anything woman.

  24. I tried, but between planning a wedding, working enough hours to become an ‘official’ full-time employee, and trying to fit bridesmaids for dresses (all of whom are away and need to come back and be caught at the appropriate moment) I failed.
    But I fail gloriously. After trying for a week to cast on the socks I was competing with I abandoned hope of actually making an error-free toe and moved on to the scarf level.
    Where I failed too.
    BUT! It’s my first year as a knitter and I am proud to say I participated in something (however far removed) with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee!!

  25. That sweater is fantastic! You’re not giving away a car or a million dollars? What DO you do with all that “big ad money” you get from the blog? 🙂

  26. Yeah! The sweater is awesome :-D.
    I secretly cheered for the Canadian hockey team too – being the national sport and all, I thought you deserved it. Husband from Chicago though and is big Blackhawks fan, so very quiet cheering ;-).

  27. Thorough post! Lots to learn…
    I really love your sweater in action, in the snow. It looks nice and warm on a sunny, chilly day. It’s beautiful, Canadian, perfect.
    Planning to see you in ten days.

  28. i absolutely love that natalie brought and wore a headlamp at the pub! and i respectfully suggest that the bronze in your sweater be more aptly called gold. congratuations on a gorgeous and exciting finish.

  29. Hurrah for nearly unobtainable victories! It looks *amazing*! (And it FITS!) Beautiful weather for the photo shoot, too – really scenic.

  31. I just could not follow the ice hockey, but the curling is a delight, but the problem is that here in Britain we can only watch it every 4 years on the Olympics as it’s not televised here in Britain. I’ll have to move to Scotland 🙂
    Congratulations on the jumper it looks really good.

  32. Fabulous sweater, and excellent dramatic retelling of Olympic experience!
    And I personally feel that berating oneself for timing errors is a task that benefits from procrastinating indefinitely. Just sayin’.
    And congratulations to all the competitors- a terrific challenge and very entertaining for the audience! *waves knitting enthusiastically from the stands*

  33. I’m just smiling from ear to ear after reading this.
    As David Letterman said How do you know you are going through Olympic withdrawal? You find yourself curling on your patio with a Swiffer and a fruitcake.

  34. Congrats on finishing your sweater. I loved reading about it.
    Also thanks for the picture of Nataile and her headlamp. I’ve got one at home, but never thought to use it for knitting. Now I am inspired!

  37. I cannot believe you knit that entire GORGEOUS sweater in 17 days. I am in awe of your skills. Thanks for holding the Knitting Olympics once again. It’s not as if you have nothing else to do. You are amazing!

  38. I knit, and can certainly appreciate all of the work that this entailed. I now knit only squares and rectangles, so you know that this project of yours is way beyond my scope of imagination in terms of actually doing something like that myself! Unbelievable…the sweater, and the fact that you thought you could weave the ends in in ten minutes! 🙂
    Gold medal awarded, I am sure!

  39. Congratulations! You are the best! But now I wonder, how are you going to beat your own fantastic record in the next knitting Olympics? A matching sweater for dear hubby?

  40. That bronze in your sweater? I think should should call it GOLD! You’ve earned it. Congrats and thanks for the great story. Mine was a close one, too. Had to rip my lace shawl on Saturday night, because I was running out of yarn. But I finished, soaked it (briefly), blocked it, and unpinned it with 15 minutes to spare. Whew.

  41. Stephanie, you continue to amaze and inspire me beyond all reason, thank you from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I too, take my knitting(simple socks, simple cardigans, felted bags and scarves) everywhere and I am quite happy to answer any questions from passers by. Having moved from the US to Southern Alberta when I was seven, returning to the US for college, and staying for 30 odd years, it was very easy for me to cheer Canada on during the entire Olympics but especially during those hockey games! Enjoy that beautiful sweater!

  44. Hooray! Congratulations! This is my first post on your blog, though I’ve been reading for a while now, but I had to comment on the awesomeness and hugely-well-deservedness of your gold medal. I unofficially participated, and I totally WOULD have finished my beautiful alpaca fair-isle scarf, but the pattern lied to me about how much yarn I needed of one color, and I had to order another skein from another state. But I almost made it…!

  45. Congratulations, Stephanie, on making a fantastic sweater. I’m truly impressed.
    And while I don’t care at all about hockey, the singing of the national anthem at the end of the game? One of the most moving experiences I’ve witnessed in a while. I swear that if we’d turned off the tv, we still would have heard you singing all the way down here in D.C.

  46. I shrieked “KNITTER!!!” and made everyone in my house come and see.
    I may have also waved my own knitting at the television set. She totally saw me.

  47. You look so great in that sweater! And it looks so great on you. Absolutely a gold medal!

  48. Congratulations again. That’s quite an accomplishment. It looks great on you.

  49. What a beautiful sweater! Congrats to Canada on the hockey win and to yor for finishing just in time!

  51. Awesome sweater. I love that you left out the zip. Here’s a question, does this not have a nice steek panel like a traditional fair isle so you don’t have to be quite so squeamish about where to cut? I’m not sure my wool-addled brain could do it. I’m not afraid to cut steeks but only cuz a steek panel makes it hard to screw up.

  52. as someone else already pointed out that when you modified the colorway you opted for bronze and not gold?? What if you had singlehandedly jinxed the hockey team with you thoughts of bronze and not gold? (I say that as a Mainer and a sad hockey fan)
    I say, missy, you have 4 short years to adjust that attitude and go for the gold!

  53. epic, truly epic. maybe 2014 will see a human sweater from team rockford. For now, I’m smiling at my tree sweater in my front yard. Even though it’s purple, it’s golden.

  54. Awesome that you finished your sweater and it’s beautiful! I’m so disappointed to find out you’ll be in Detroit the one weekend I’ll be out of town :(….here’s hoping you have a great talk here anyway!

  56. I love the sweater – I’m just in awe of the skill, dedication and sheer bloody mindedness needed to finish on time. Great work!
    I’m Scottish and was disappointed for the GB curlers but thought “the” hockey game was terrific. We loved Vancouver when we visited three years ago and are thrilled for everyone involved the Games went off so well.

  60. Scary Steeks: I feel the same way cutting up a piece of my handwoven cloth to sew up a jacket. I usually have to walk away for a month or so, before cutting, just to steel my nerves.

  61. I knew you could do it, you are the fastest knitter on the planet. What makes this achievement so powerful is your pattern choice. It is so perfectly suited to the occasion, and it looks absolutely wonderful on you!
    Oh and no one is gonna get on your case for knitting only three rows during the Hockey game. Few things are more important than knitting, but that game was one of them.
    Well done, lady, well done.

  62. God, that’s a beautiful sweater! I am in awe that you managed to knit that in THIRTEEN DAYS. Total awe.

  64. That is one amazing sweater! Truly gorgeous! Having not been brave enough to ever cut a steek leaves me in awe of anyone who does… and without beer, no less! Not to mention trying to hurry…eek, the mere thought makes me quiver.
    That sweater looks like it could give you the edge in the heating wars next fall, too!

  66. Praise the knitting fates! Way to go!
    BTW: Your tush looks great in those jeans! What kind are they?

  67. Dude. I have come to the conclusion that RachelH cannot take a bad photo.

  68. OMG…it’s even more beautiful finished and on your bod! What a glorious sweater! So gorgeous! Now awaiting the matching socks. Enjoy! You deserve it!

  69. Although I’m from US, I too was cheering for the Canadians to win gold in the hockey game. I know that win meant a lot more to Canada than to the USA – especially as the host nation.
    I was embarassed that Team USA was not more gracious in their loss. They all looked as if they were having root canals performed as they were receiving OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALS….as if that were some sort of shameful thing!!! So they didn’t get the gold – boo hoo. They got to compete in the gosh darn Olympics and did quite well. Perhaps they forgot that they are going to be able to put that on their resume for the rest of their lives, for Pete’s sake. Not such an awful thing from where I sit.
    What kind of message do we send to youngsters when it appears that a valiant effort is not good enough unless it is validated by a win?
    So whether you got bronze, silver, or gold in the knitting Olympics, I say be proud of whatever you accomplished.
    And Stephanie….that is one terrifically awesome sweater!!!!!

  70. I’m American but still screamed for Team Canada in hockey. Does it count that my grandfather fought for Canada in World War 1?

  71. Your sweater is absolutely beautiful, as I knew it would be, and I had every faith that you would finish it on time. Well done!

  72. Amazing sweater! And Congratulations on finishing just in time! And on the hockey win!
    (And I know I will never be brave enough to steek anything.)

  73. Your story of steeking your sweater reminds me of my brother customizing a van. They bought a plain van to save money and did the customizing themselves. He stared at it. Drank a beer. Punched a whole in the center of where a window would go. Sat and stared at that and drank more beer. He did get around to actually cutting the holes for the windows. His project eventually turned out really nice.
    Your sweater is GORGEOUS!

  74. I saw that knitter at the curling game. And I thought it would have been maybe a million times better if Stephen Harper had worked a few rows for her. Converting him would be a big coup, I think.

  75. *sigh* I love a happy ending (a freaked out, caffeine filled, angsty,happy ending).

  76. A hat tip to Natalie. I’m a headlamp user myself- esp during car rides. During the middle weekend of Olympic madness, my husband and I drove 3 1/2 hours for a ski weekend up north. About 20 minutes in, my lamp started fading fast so after I pouted loudly for about 20 more minutes, he took a detour to find new batteries.
    PS: sweater is awesome!

  77. It really is a beautiful sweater. Congratulations!! Although everytime I see the word steek it makes me feel a little nauseous! 🙂

  78. I was at the women’s curling semifinal on Tuesday night and knit all the way through!

  79. Love your sweater and the commentary, though I fail to grasp how you can comment and knit at the same time. Smart-needles that record perhaps? This was great fun, and I hope there are other excuses for challenging ourselves as a group. I got my dry Muir stole off the blocking wires just before the closing ceremony.

  80. Couldn’t enter as I had already started my deadline-knitting project. For me though, it was knitting during the mens’ curling final — and now having to re-do a miscrossed cable in a giant pair of kilt hose. Intricate, but no match for your beautiful sweater. Congrats – on a job well done, and a magnificent result.

  81. Wonderful sweater!
    Although I didn’t register as an athlete nor did I finish my project on Sunday, you did inspire me to dye some yarn (a first) for a shawl (another first) with beads (yet another first). Based on the number of beads I have left, I’m about halfway done. Thanks for encouraging us to do something at our boundaries.

  82. In the aforementioned letter to editor there’s a comment that identifies the woman as former ‘NDP Leader Alexa MacDonough’. Knit on woman!!

  83. Stephanie,
    Knit on! Well done. You need this
    http://www.amazon.com/Hands-Free-Light-Beam-Read/dp/B000BHORNI
    It’s the beam & read. I call it the dorklight and now all my IRL knitters call it that too. It is a godsend for knitting in dark pubs which I do quite a bit. Also the coffee shop I knit in is dark. I won’t lie to you the age of dorklight wearers skews 40 and up but I’m cool with that.

  84. And just like the other olympic sports, the sweater knitting competition looks like a weight-loss program too. Did you eat at all in 17 days?
    And how many times do you recommend we measure steeks? – if indeed, we ever screw up enough courage to do steeks. Stunning sweater – I love it!

  85. Looking forward to seeing you on the 13th. And let me know if I can assist in your travels in any way (i.e. pick you up at the airport, whatever). I would love the make things a little less hectic…

  86. Well, I can’t type today–to make sense-but hopefully you will understand my offer.

  87. Wonderful!!! How will you possibly top that four years from now??? A Dale of Norway for the very large DH?

  88. I can understand the trepidation that accompanies cutting steeks. I’d probably STILL be remeasuring. Either that or I’d have to close my eyes and that would surely occasion disaster. The pattern is lovely. The sweater looks perfect on you. Congratulations. Cheers and red wine, Hazel.

  89. Gorgeous sweater–I picked an easy baby cardi project to do & tried to combine it w/knitting a Cardigan to wear when you come to Detroit on the 13th. Undone by the Patons pattern for the A-line Swing coat from their booklet “Fall in Love.” To top it all off didn’t finish the baby cardi & the baby arrived shortly after the end of the hockey game!

  91. That is one amazing sweater. I do think you need to have a small pin made to wear with it (gold background, of course) that says something like, “Why, yes, I did knit this entire sweater in 17 days!”

  92. What a lovely sweater! It’s absolutely beautiful and you should be so very, very proud.
    And our lovely knitter on TV — Woot!
    I’ve used a headlamp too — it was the Christmas Rush of 2008 when I was making a lace cap for my Mum (who was going through chemo at the time) and a big ice storm stuck, rendering us without power for 2 days.
    The cap was finished on time!

  93. As always, you are awesome (and I do mean awe inspiring). Congratulations on completing a difficult knit on tiny needles in such a limited time period with so very much going on at the same time. Your sweater is beautiful and so are you.

  95. Are you giving away THE SWEATER??? No, how could you. Way too awesome and beautiful and fits you so well, and so CANADIAN!! Love it. Canada was an outstanding host during the olympics, and everyone I know is secretly (shhhh) glad you guys won the gold in hockey. What a great time!

  96. To finish a sweater like that in 17 days is just…wow. And it truly is heirloom work and heirloom quality so you won’t have to do it again anytime soon! The Dale Heilo sweaters my grandma knit decades ago are still in great shape. It is a reason why that yarn has been around for 80 years!
    And the sweater fits you so well!!!

  97. Lots of things to say:
    1) Beautiful sweater.
    2) Congrats on the hockey. You were, I understand from friends who own TVs and understand hockey, a amazing set of teams to loose to. We can be proud of coming in second to y’all.
    3) Knitter on TV during curling!!! I love Norway and their wacky, wacky pants!
    4) I did not finish my sweater. And you know what? I am good with that. I am a grad student, so my work like boundaries are flexible and I made the decision to be all OCD about work deadlines instead of knitting deadlines. In an ideal world, they would not have come at the same time, but they did and I have made my piece. This was super fun though. Thanks for hosting.

  98. Congrats on a finish as thrilling and down-to-the-wire as the hockey game’s finish!

  100. The sweater look amazing on you Stephanie, I have to ask if the crest on the left sleeve is knitted as part of the sleeve? or is it a patch. I can’t seem to embiggen the photo to see it better.
    Also, are you coming to Ottawa at all? Detroit is a ways to go and I am working that day…

  101. that sweater….(speechless pause here)…
    When you’re wearing it, do you feel the weight of a gold medal hanging around your neck? You absolutely should!!!
    Magnificent sweater – magnificent accomplishment!
    By the way – does anybody know if there is a pattern around for the famous Olympic red mittens?
    Jane in PA
    PS – I’m glad to know I’m not the only American that was (secretly) rooting for the Canadians in “the game”.

  102. What a Sunday you had! And it’s good you didn’t finish until the very last minute, that makes a good story even better. I can’t stop laughing at the obsessive measuring behaviour, that’s exactly something I would do. And then once more, just to be sure.
    The sweater is gorgeous and looks great on you, congratulations again.

  103. The sweater is BEAUTIFUL. Don’t know who the lady is in the row in front of Mr. Harper, but I do wonder, if I took a copy of it and showed security at the courthouse when I report again for jury duty. If they will let me have my WOOD knitting needles during jury selection. Anybody know who you talk to about getting needles into a courthouse?

  104. youre killing me ms. pearl-mcphee!
    i’m going home to the metro detroit area for spring break
    and i’m leaving the day before you arrive.
    *sigh*

  106. Dude. That sweater is bitchin’. Totally and completely. I trust you will not be giving this one away because it doesn’t fit right? What is that patch on the sleeve?
    Also – YES I did notice the knitter during the curling match! I pointed her out to my husband.

  108. All the sweater comments and not a single person felt the need to point out that “total world hockey domination” is a bit of a strong statement.
    Ah well – maybe next time.

  110. You’ve got me grinning ear-to-ear again. What a day of wild emotions you had! The meet-up at the pub looks wonderful and I can’t believe you and Natalie finished in the middle of all that. Just had me laughing out loud and feeling happy for you. Congratulations!

  113. Congrats on winning your sprint to the finish–the sweater is amazing. I watched the hockey game too–4 of my Blackhawks were competing for that gold. I am not sad that Canada won on their home ice, but I was rooting for Team USA all the way. And boy did they make it exciting. I couldn’t knit either…LOL.

  116. Your sweater is gorgeous! Amazing. Thanks for hosting the Knitting Olympics – it was fun!

  117. Exquisite sweater – beyond imagination. Perfect for the host country, perfect for the golds in hockey, perfect knitter – wow. While I didn’t finish my project due to the fab hockey game and a surly teenager, I think silver is a good medal to award myself. Reasons: Husband converted to loving the Olympics became obsessed with curling, I killed no one during the games, the house did not get a health department inspection, no pets died of starvation. In the Olympic after-glow, we recognize that we would love to live among the good people of Canada and must re-visit Vancouver in the near future – however, in summer. Congrats.

  118. Wow that sweater is so beautiful – what a souvenir of the 2010 Olympics- am really jealous that you look so fantastic in it too!!!
    I know you’re a fast knitter but 17 days is crrazzy fast
    P.s. Joe’s a great guy

  119. How gorgeous!!! Congratulations on everything!!!!! (including world domination)

  120. Not only is the sweater absolutely breathtaking, but it also looks wonderful on you. Congratulations, Stephanie!

  122. What a beautiful Gold Medal sweater!
    I knew I would not finish but I tried! The seven intermoving charts slowed me down! I never used charts for anything but a Christmas stocking and forgot I was not knitting in the roun and had to pull out first pattern,and start over. But I probably would not have attempted if not for your challenge. I will have a georgious sweater when I am finished.
    You truly deserve the gold! Carolyn

  123. I am completely in awe. I didn’t sign up because at time of the opening ceremonies I didn’t even know how to knit. I’m happy to report though that by the closing ceremonies I had finished my first finished object, a dishcloth. Thanks for the inspiration! See you in Sochi!

  124. WOW! GORGEOUS! Maybe a face cloth encore?! You definitely need a rest. P.S.: Some people need to remember that your blog is a gift to the readers and you have no obligations on post frequency or anything else. Best blog in knitting world.

  126. I *LOVE* that that lady was knitting at the Olympics and that she got on TV!
    Stephanie, your sweater is so lovely – and I am so impressed that you got it finished in 17 days! Congratulations!

  127. The sweater is absolutely gorgeous! And I’m adding one of those headlamps to my emergency knitting kits for car and home ASAP.

  128. The sweater is achingly beautiful. Just like Canada, really.
    I, on the other hand, am like the poor lone athlete from Monrovia or the like, who did not even finish a qualifying run. But, as Bob Costas explained over and over again, the Olympics is not made of golds, silvers, and bronzes, but of the competitors who showed up and did their best.

  129. Wow. Just wow. Makes me wish I were Canadian. Again. (The wishing part. I’ve never actually been Canadian.)

  130. STUNNING – never doubted for a moment that you’d finish! Also, not lost on me at all that team Canada entered the closing ceremonies wearing…sweaters. They were behind you 100%!

  131. Beautiful sweater – it’s really stunning and fits you perfectly. I’m scared of steeks, and it’s nice to read your steeking process, just in case hell freezes over and I ever decide to do a project that requires steeking. Congrats on the hockey – it was a great great game.

  132. Faboo! (new favorite word) The sweater is truly wonderful. Many cheers, even though it is neither my sweater nor my country — no wonder you love them so much.

  133. I saw that knitter!
    We were addicted to the curling (and my younger son even learned the rules)… and routing for Canada. How could you not route for Cheryl Bernard and Kevin Martin?
    p.s. — beautiful Canadian sweater ….

  134. Gorgeous sweater, Stephanie! What an accomplishment. I didn’t get gold, I finished last night. I figure that would net me the bronze, but I’m pulling a Plushenko and calling it a Platinum. The shawl I made was entirely too big to not merit a medal.

  137. After I began reading your dailies, I decided to treat myself and go back to the start to catch up, so to speak. I tell you this in all honesty, that sweater is, without doubt, the most beautifully fitting thing you have ever made yourself. Or at least the best you’ve ever photographed yourself in. AND only you would spit into the wind by calling your GOLD yard BRONZE during the Olympics, for heaven’s sake. What nerve. I have to ask about your steeking and sewing the sleeves in though. I have always cut the steeks, picked up stitches around the armhole, and knit the sleeves from the top down. That way I’m sure the sleeve really fits my arm because the shoulders can “grow” from the weight of the sleeve.
    The best Olympics, ever!

  138. Wow, what a gorgeous sweater! Excellent and beautiful work.
    Now the big question is.. what next?

  139. gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. And the pictures of YOU IN IT are gorgeous. I hope you feel just as gorgeous.
    What a great event. Next winter Olympics I hope to have a TV connection.

  140. Rock On! I LOOOOVE the sweater. It looks great on you. The color scheme is very stylish and the motifs are gorgeous. Who knew a garment could be hip AND patriotic? Great job!

  142. Wow. Just. Wow! What a gorgeous sweater. And finished in heart-in-the-mouth Olympic fashion, to boot. You’ve done an amazing job, again. And thanks so very much for hosting the Second Knitting Olympiad.

  143. Delusional optimism rocks. And the jumper (it would just be silly for an Australian to type sweater) looks wonderful! Jen

  144. Beautiful sweater. Thanks for letting those of us who were unable to take the gold be a part of the drawing. Thanks also for hosting the Knitting Olympics.

  145. “Apologized to Joe and cat” HAHAHA
    I’m glad I wasn’t the only American rooting for Canada in the hockey game. =) As for the sweater, it’s one of the prettiest sweaters I’ve ever seen.

  146. Wow, the sweater is gorgeous. What an amazing accomplishment. I knew if anybody could pull that sweater off in 17 days, it would be you.

  148. *rolls on floor, laughs hysterically, wipes eyes*
    Feeling okay with not finishing, because a good time was had by all!

  150. I LOVE your sweater! I’m so happy you finished – and the story of your final hours had me crying with laughter. 😉

  151. Gorgeous Whistler – congratulations! And yay for the knitter in front of the PM at the hockey game. Here in VA, my little 6″ dpns were denied admission to a college basketball game. I was livid. Prior to that night, my team had not lost any home game that my sock & I had attended this season. We lost that game big time. I blame the facilities manager. But YOU rock – sorry for the rant!

  154. Gosh. So much to say. 1) That sweater is just awesome on you. Deserving of being worn every day until May. And to think you might never have done it, if it hadn’t been Olympic knitting. 2) All that coffee. Did you not think to subtract for bathroom time? Or is that just my problem? 3) So sorry to have to miss your Detroit appearance. I have to work that day. Also, I live in Maryland (darn!). 4) So glad I participated (although I wasn’t on your list for some reason). It really is about rising to the challenge, isn’t it, which you’ve so beautifully illustrated.

  156. The sweater (and you) are drop dead gorgeous. Now maybe there will be some used copies of the book available for the rest of us.
    I must confess it was difficult to know who to cheer for during the hockey game. Canada, because as the host it would be awesome for the win; or USA, because they are my country’s team. In the end it didn’t matter as the game was fantastic with the teams so evenly matched.
    Don’t forget the Paralympic Games, also being held in Vancouver. The torchlighting ceremony for them will be on Friday, March 12th. The closing ceremony will be on Sunday, March 21st. Maybe I will challenge myself with a wee project.

  157. Wow you did it! Congratulations….I didn’t but I tried…..good for all those that earned the gold

  158. So unfair! Clearly this woman has connections, because my American mother had her knitting needles labeled “dangerous weapons” and was not allowed to bring them in to several curling events at the same Olympics. A lovely Canadian officer did personally escort her out through the VIP entrance to hide her needles until she could retrieve them at a later date, but still!
    p.s. Gorgeous sweater, quite an accomplishment there.

  159. wow! gorgeous sweater! and way to go for the lady with the knitting on tv! haha…Elyse has good eyes 🙂
    Thank you so much for everything. You really have inspired me to be the best knitter that I can be! I am proud to have taken gold, and even if I hadn’t, it would still have been worth it just for the sake of setting a goal. I mailed my gold winning project to a friend in London who has no idea it’s coming…should be there this week!

  161. Steph-
    I just wanted to say that your story is cool for a lot of reasons. The knitting part to me is the most cool, but also the real lesson beneath your whole story on the Olympic Sweater is awesome. At least the lesson that I took away from it…
    I hope that others took away, (as I did) that it really means something to start, work on, persevere and complete(or really give it your all) a project. That project just doesn’t have to be a fabulous sweater. It can be anything. Anything that has meaning to you.
    A person can accomplish so much if they just don’t let circumstances be too daunting and just dive in…or cast on.
    Great things are possible, just one stitch at a time. Though coffee and beer really do help.
    I shared your story with a lot of my non-knitter friends. They will be stoked to know that you finished!

  162. I participated and failed and also failed to sign up. Thanks for the challenge. Congrats on finishing. Thanks for helping me start the day off right: my coffee and a laugh with the Harlot. I don’t want to sound weird, but the butt picture looks good!

  163. Wow, congratulations! I was still too burned out from Christmas knitting to even attempt to knit something under a deadline. Yay you, and yay for all the other Knitting Olympians!!

  165. you know i love you but that photo of knitting and scissor and cutting ? it’s about the same as looking at photos of spiders.
    great work, you are and inspiration.

  166. I bet the knitter at the curling was trying to finish her project (a) before the grandchild arrived, or (b) before the Olympics ended (because she really IS one of us), or (c) BOTH!!!

  168. The sweater is gorgeous! However, I cannot get used to the idea of steeking. It makes my skin crawl, and my entire body tighten at the thought of cutting through knitted stitches. I know that you immediately sew them, but there is a very random and unlikely chance that through some inadvertent occurrence, the stitches will be pulled to smithereens, and they will be next to impossible to fix. Then, large scale rescue must be undertaken, involving crochet hooks, needles, and a lot of anguish to fix. Then, it never quite looks right, even though the stitches are replaced as indicated on the charts. It is making my blood pressure go up just thinking about it. Apparently, I operate in a non-steeking zone. You are VERY courageous!
    That being said, this beautiful sweater should keep you nice and warm through the rest of the winter, and be a special memory of the Vancouver games. Congrats!

  169. Well, it’s almost all been said, so I’ll just add my hearty thanks for hosting and posting! Though I just barely missed gold, your challenge got me through a project I was afraid I’d never get *to.*

  170. Hello, Old non-knitter (for awhile longer, but socks might convert me) again … commenting on two items that I spent extra time on while reading blog. Kudos to Joe for using his head, when you tried to drag him into your craziness. He sounds like one damn rational guy! We need to keep those around … Secondly, the sweater .. it is beautiful. Just beautiful. and fits you so well. Kudos to you.

  171. Well, it’s done. And you’ve done it yet again – you’ve impressed and inspired me. What a gorgeous sweater, and having seen the process pictures and the final result, I would love to knit a sweater like that, but it will be a gazillion years before I can knit one in 2 weeks.
    Congratulations!
    PS: you are not alone, I also accuse my family members of moving things I’ve placed and then can’t find.

  172. when I grow up, I want to be the Yarn Harlot, so I can even begin to believe I can knit a sweater as beautiful as that!!

  173. Well done! I knew you’d pull it off. I knit vicariously through you and sometimes it is quite a thrill. I signed up for the Ravelympics before you posted the Knitting Olympics and it didn’t seem right to use the same project in two challenges. You knit a Dale of Norway sweater in the same time it took me to knit Hello Yarn’s Fiddlehead Mittens. You are an inspiration.

  174. The brillance of your sweater makes my solid grey helmet liners pale in comparison. However, I did make as many as I set out to do and learned some new stuff in the process. Thanks for having the Kniting Olympics – let’s do it again in 4 years.

  175. Your Olympic sweater is STUNNING…good job, loved your minute by minute play on Sunday.

  176. A valiant attempt … but Stitches West, classes with Cookie A, Maureen Mason-Jamieson, and Sarah Peasley, plus appropriate homework, plus attempting to finish a pair of mittens for a frigid-fingered knitting daughter in Philadelphia, not to mention a galoof of a cat (calico with blue eyes) who ATE A CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT HANGER WITH A BIT OF TINSEL ON IT, REQUIRING SURGERY, HOSPITALIZATION, WORRY AND ANXIETY, NOT TO MENTION ABOUT $2500 US IN FEES….
    Well, all that got in the way of finishing, but I did make good progress and will look forward to finishing BY THE NEXT WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES.
    No, I’m not upset. Why on earth do you ask???????????????

  177. Love your beautiful sweater! Thanks for the great story too, entertaining as always 🙂 If we had to lose, I’m glad we lost to Canada, what a great game!

  178. Your Whistler is absolutely Stunning! what a way to finish!
    I did finish Lilleput, she’s had a proper bath and is now blocked and drying. :^) Sweetest.Baby.Sweater.Ever. and a delightful knit.

  179. Beautiful sweater. Yellow for Bronze?? Definitely a gold.
    Loved the head lamp in the pub. Intrepid.
    Do spouses and cats get team medals?
    Such fun and good to know I can do it.
    So pleased for you. You rose to the challenge. Well done.
    And you got a great sweater too!

  181. Love the sweater with the beautiful maple leaf in front. Congratulations, to you and all Canadians who hosted such a great party.
    I really, really tried to participate, but, time after time, I nodded off over the needles (once even drooling on it). Vicodin and knitting lace don’t mix, and I’m recovering from a hip replacement, and beer just wouldn’t do it. So I chose the drugs over knitting. Not a gold medal attitude, sadly, but the hip is coming along fine. I’ll call it my titanium medal.

  182. (humbly apologizing for losing perspective a little while ago)
    Stephanie, your sweater is fantastic. You ARE Canadian knitting, in a sense. You are a shining example of your countrymen and -women in knitting skills and determination. You are great. And you are ever so human, not knitting a stitch during the hockey final. And the stress over the steek? We understand.
    But, dude, get a headlamp! I gave one to my good knitting buddy, Peg of Kensington, for Christmas, specifically for knitting. I have 3 in different knitting bags, just to be *really* prepared.
    I’m very glad to hear ABOUT all the Olympic events second-hand. I only wish I could have SEEN any of it. I had so looked forward to curling. I would have had an ulcer during that hockey final. We, being tight as ticks in the financial sense, don’t have cable. Why pay a ridiculous amount for the privilege of watching useless TV broadcasting? You would think, being line-of-sight with the Sutro TV tower in San Francisco, that we would be able to get a major network like NBC over the air. We USED to be able to. But, thanks to going digital and to supreme idiocy in high places, the NBC affiliate for SAN FRANCISCO was changed to the station 60 miles SOUTH in SAN JOSE. And we CAN’T GET IT OVER THE AIR. So, for this momentous Winter Olympics, we got to see ZERO minutes of Olympic competition. ABSOLUTELY Z-E-R-O MINUTES.
    (again, humbly begging for forgiveness for shouting like a crazy woman…) (maybe I should go take my meds….)

  184. You totally rock that sweater Stephanie. Fabulous work! And a great post too. I love knowing the tick-tock.
    If you are ever in the random question-answering mood, please tell us what coffee maker you use. Obviously it gets a lot of use, and I assume makes a killer cup of brew. Or, if that is too personal, what sits next to your tv (is that a turntable to one side? the other items are indistinguishable to me). Or, how fast Natalie knits? Her hands in motion picture is priceless.
    Go Canada!!

  185. Your Olympics were fantastic!!! Your sweater is gorgeous! And, it looks wonderful on you! Gold all the way! Thanks for sharing your country, your athletes, and your grand adventure in knitting – all with great class, self-deprecating humor, and beauty. Hugs!!!!

  186. Beautiful sweater! Congratulations to all the gold medal winners…..had to DQ myself early on due to family issues but will still attempt my first lace scarf in the near future. Thanks for the inspiration!

  189. Love the sweater!! Looking forward to seeing you (and the sweater) in Detroit!

  190. That must be the most beautiful sweater I have ever seen. Me want pattern now.
    The knitter? Judging from the fact that she is flanked on both sides by people with medals around their necks, and on one side is the team’s coach, I’m betting she is the coach’s wife/auntie/cousin/mom, depending on how old she is and he is (can’t see clear enough to judge).

  192. OK I NEED to knit a Dale of Norway sweater. Have not yet found a reliable place to find a pattern or yarn. Is there somewhere that has kits? Anywhere hopefully in Edmonton? (Since I’m in Fort McMurray now(.

  194. Yay! Your sweater is gorgeous, and I am reassured that I wasn’t the only one knitting during the closing ceremonies. I used to live in Vancouver, and had friends performing in them; it was a test of concentration to knit AND try to pick them out on the TV!
    Inspired by your lovely work, I’m about to cast on for a colourwork vest… first one, and it’ll be my first steeks as well. I’m still not sure if I’ll be able to take the scissors to it… will have to find fortitude when the time comes!

  195. Ok, I am “daughter of Corie” responding to this blog for her….(suprised she let me..) so as i walked upstairs to hear what in tarnation my Moms riot of laughter was about, i proceeded to ask whats so funny, and the reading of the blog began..she was somewhere in the middle of when you were looking for your pins…( Im also pretty sure I’ve heard Sarah! where are my size (insert jargon here) needles! did you move them? they were right here on the couch 10 minutes ago! You guys have to quit moving my knitting! I dont move your things! ….5 minutes later, oh here they are..on the couch) So then as she read about Joe, and the cat, and the headlamps (which has been suggested to her as she struggled to weave/knit in the dark) and the dinner, and the closing……i came to the conclusion….My mother does indeed have a long lost fiber twin. Your sweater is AMAZING! BREATHTAKING! GORGEOUS! and various other synonyms of those adjectives. Its so awesome you got that done so fast! i know my mom was rather frantic at about closing time too…it was close! But yes, and she did finish her Cascadia socks…they are lovely! And that day, she even cooked a cookie dinner. WOOT! (:

  196. Those Norwegian know how to design! What amazing knitting and beautiful sweater. Congratulations

  197. What a beautiful sweater, and perfect for this event! I love the maple leaf detail over your heart. And what a treat to see a picture of the wrong side, too – stellar work!

  198. Your sweater is stunning, but your blog above had me laughing out loud! (My 13-year-old son was less amused, although he later told me I should get off the crazy sweater train and get on the “buy your son expensive video games” train.) You’re a fearless knitter AND a terrific writer – I am in awe!

  199. Your sweater is beautiful!!!!
    …our local radio station was making fun of “who brings knitting to the Olympics???”…at 6am the next morning when my sister Donna called them up and explained about the knitting Olympics and how this woman was probably a member and trying to get her project finished. Well, they thought that was totally hilarious and the whole conversation was aired…I think she mentioned you! I am so glad my sister had the chance to call them up and explain it, she might have left a comment here already…but I thought it worth sharing.
    A. xx

  200. Your sweater is gorgeous! I have to say that although I wanted the US to win that game, the next best thing was to have Canada win (so good thing they were both playing, eh?). And I also loved hearing that big crowd sing O Canada, which has been my earworm all week. Too bad all I know is “O Canada! Our home and native land!” I just keep humming that bit over and over….

  201. That is a gorgeous sweater. Way to go! And congrats on the Canadian gold medals. :o)

  202. Oh, it’s so gorgeous! Nice work, and perfect timing. Well done.
    Also, I think not working in the ends as you went along was perfectly rational. Why waste precious knitting time on them?

  203. What a stunning and perfect sweater! And you knit it in such a short amount of time–truly amazing!

  206. What impresses me mopst is how well the thing fits! As if it were made for you! THAT, imo, is the sign of a master knitter. A machine can knit fast. But only a human mind and human skill can make a sweater that fits and flatters. You are a goddess.

  208. Stephanie, You have knit a very beautiful sweater. The fit is great. Your smile in the picture on the walk tells how much you like it. I watched the hockey game too. Hard to knit when husband gets so excited he yells and I jump. Congrats to Canada. We live in Madison,WI and some of the players for both teams were from the Badger Hockey team in Madison. Exciting game.

  209. Is that Walter Gretzy (wayne’s dad) beside the lady?
    Is it possible it is Betty Fox (it vaguely looks like her, but my eyes are failing)

  210. Absolutely beautiful! Congratulations. Your bright personality shines through the smile on your face and shows the rest of the knitterly world just how happy you are with the finished object. Be very proud, dear knitter. Very proud, indeed, of this accomplishment.

  211. Gorgeous sweater. Way to go to gut it out the finish. Gorgeous gang of buddies at the pub, too.
    And, congratulations on the hockey win. As much as I rooted for US athletes in other events, this one seemed like it rightfully belonged to the Canadian’s (mens and women’s). Not that we didn’t want to make you earn it. 🙂

  212. That sweater is 120% awesome! It looks great and great on you.
    The Canada/USA men’s hockey game was what hockey is supposed to be like. I was working on my Julia Mancuso ear-flap hat in the hopes of bringing luck to Team USA. What kind of Buffalonian would I be if I wasn’t rooting for Ryan Miller? If USA couldn’t get the Gold it should go to Canada. Must have been crazy all over when that win happened.

  213. Way beautiful sweater!!
    Totally saw the knitter at the curling game and made sure everybody else in the house knew about her too!
    I’m a little disappointed that I’m not getting gold, (you and the gang look great at the pub) but still, a bit proud of what I did accomplish…thanks for the inspiration.

  214. As I watched the closing ceremony, I half expected to see you coming out of the ground casting off this sweater. You *are* an Canadian celebrity!
    Great job, again.

  215. not that it hasn’t already been said hundreds of times, but i’m truly in awe. you’re fantastic.
    watching the olympics from the other side of the world (Hong Kong) has made me so terribly homesick. i’m happy to see the Canadian knitters getting out and representing!

  216. That is SUCH a pretty sweater, and looks so nice on you! Congratulations! I didn’t finish, but I got way more done than I thought possible. Yay anyway!

  217. I too have no sense of how long it takes to do anything in knitting, even after the same amount of time as you!
    However, I actually finished the Snowfall Mittens (now my husband’s!) last night at 7:45 pm. So I am very pleased with myself. I actually feel that I accomplished a mental silver medal and feel good about that. And I was only 2 days over the deadline!!!!
    Thanks for the challenge!

  218. The sweater is beautiful. I think it’s one of your projects that I like the best. And I too saw the Knitter at the curling and smiled to see it. I hope someone has told her that she is in the blogs too.

  220. Great post. Riveting to read. Congrats on the sweater.
    BTW I can’t stop humming O Canada, and I don’t even know the words. And I live in Portland.

  221. I had no doubts that you would make it!! For a while there I figured you’d whip up a pair of socks too!
    I just needed 45 rows on a baby blanket and I totally failed. Hey, I’m pregnant and exhausted over here! But the hockey game? Awesome!

  222. A big clapping congrats to you.
    I too did little to no knitting during the Hockey Game. It was the best one I have ever watched. By the time it went into overtime I didn’t really care anymore who won, just watching such incredible Hockey was enough for me.

  223. It took you less than an hour to sew in two sleeves? How is this possible? Only once have I ever succeeded in sewing in sleeves, and that was in brushed mohair, and they were probably unconscionably wonky, but no one could tell. And I think it took me about three months.

  227. I love your sweater. What a wonderful present to yourself. I totally understand why you only knit 3 rows during the hockey game. I was on the edge of my seat from the first goal to the last goal. My daughter kept reminding me that I wasn’t actually on a team so I really should calm down. I truly did not care which team won. I was just so happy to see both of them in the final. It was one of the best games I have ever watched.
    You and your fellow Canadians have every right to be very proud of the wonderful Olympics you put on this past 2 weeks. You’ve shown the world what a beautiful place you live in. By the way, if anyone knows of a place close to Santa Fe that has a curling arena, my husband is totally hooked.
    Congratulations!

  228. Now that I have stopped laughing about your OCD measuring…
    That is truly the most beautiful jumper I have ever seen Stephanie. I just adore the maple leaf emblem and I am so glad you didn’t cut into it with a zip. And it looks just brilliant on you! And so lovely against the snow.
    Congratulations. Not so much GOLD GOLD GOLD! As PLATINUM, PLATINUM, PLATINUM!!!

  229. Total world hockey domination-way cool. Congratulations Canadians! And that sweater-there aren’t enough words for how awesome it is. Love that you showed us the other ladies projects too, even though the lighting was poor. When I go out with friends to knit we’re always looking for a table with a light overhead.

  230. That sweater is an awesome piece of work. My only problem with the whole olympic experience is that for the last three days ‘Oh Canada’ has been stuck in my head and pops up ramdomly and I’m not Canadian. Catchy tune.

  231. Stephanie,
    Girl, you are a phenominal knitter! I really do appreciate your knitting skills…without a doubt you are an awesome knitter. But, I also want to tell you (hoping that you really do read all 1,589 comments to your posts) that the thing that I enjoy about your knitting the most is your writing about your knitting. You are such an entertainer! When I read your posts, I like really want to go out to lunch with you or something to see if you are as fun to be around as you are to read! Of course that will never happen since I live way, way, way down south where we don’t even get snow, and you live in the Great North of Canada, but that’s the kind of affect you have on me.
    Now, let me mention that since the Olympics are over – I would really, really, really like to know what ever became of the green afghan? You know the one you wrote about in Yarn Harlot? That ended up being a punch bowl instead? Is it still unfinished in your closet, or is it happily stretched out on someone’s sofa? Please. I can’t be the only one who wants to know can I? I promise not to be a nuisance and keep asking. This is my final request.
    (PS: Not kidding. Yarn Harlot made me laugh more than any other book I’ve ever read…more than any movie I’ve ever watched…it truly is my favorite all time read.Tears. So many I had to put the book down and focus to stop laughing hysterically and regain my vision. And I’m really not just sucking up for the answer to the green afghan mystery…knitter’s promise.)

  232. What an amazing feat! Your sweater is incredible, and beautiful. I couldn’t do that in 17 days — more like a year. And it fits you perfectly (mine never do). You totally rock!

  234. Your sweater is stunning, fits you like a dream, the Maple Leaf is gorgeous,all the flashing bits of design are so eye-catching. Cannot fathom finishing it in so few days – you are so focused. I’m thrilled Canada took Gold in hockey too. Sometimes I do wear my husband’s bicycle head lamp for better light…teeheehee

  235. Love the sweater. The pictures are great!
    By the way, I finished my Olympic piece on Feb. 21.

  236. Congratulations! It is such a great story.
    I haven’t finished my sweater yet but I’m still glad I picked something challenging, that I wasn’t sure I could do. It was a fantastic experience!

  238. Steph, you are crazy. That is one fantastic jumper – I know you’ll wear your maple leaf with pride!
    (I just wish we had such a cool symbol in Oz – roos are umm, err, Not Cool.)

  240. AMAZING Sweater! And great job finishing it just under the wire. Wouldn’t it be fun if we later found out that the knitter in the stands was madly knitting on her Knitting Olympic project? I could just see it now–“Don’t talk to me, honey. I can watch the game and knit, but I cannot watch the game, knit AND talk to you at the same time….leave me alone!”

  241. Your sweater is just amazing. AMAZING! Congrats on finishing it, and on the wins (and golds) for Canada!

  242. So proud of you – gutsy finish! The sweater looks wonderful and definitely suits you. Kudos to the photographer, great job. That’s a gold medal effort, no doubt!

  244. You are the bomb!!! That sweater is a killer. I love it!! Maybe I will do one, one day…… Congratulations.

  245. congratulations. that there is a fine canadian sweater. that there is a sweater that looks at home in the cold canadian climate. and it’s lovely 🙂

  246. Amazing sweater! I hope we find out who that knitter is- she’s a great amabassador!

  247. I always shake my head at these crazy/ambitious goals you set for yourself, but it can not be denied. It works for you. Big time. Not only is the sweater gorgeous, a perfect fit, perfect for the Canada wins, but it was knit on some pretty small needles!

  248. I’m happy Canada won hockey gold;
    happy that the US won hockey silver;
    ECSTATIC that my FInns won bronze!
    Go Suomi!

  250. Congratulations to all the knitting Olympians!
    BTW, Natalie is brillant for that headlamp. And I love how her hands are moving so fast that they are blurred in the photo!!

  253. 6 month old baby + newly back at work = someone has to be on the sidelines cheering. Bummer I couldn’t join in this year. I’m so glad you finished, and so enjoyed reading your pride at such a successful Canadian Olympics.

  254. I refused to read parts of this to partner, because I think he should see all the pictures. You’re awesome. And you have a pretty rockin’ bod there lady! (No, I’m not going all weird on you, promise) Love the headlamp, love the knitter at the curling game, love the hike, love the steek pics.
    Love love love the sweater!
    Represent!

  255. As to the identity of the knitter on TV – here’s a slightly wild guess: The Honourable Pat Carney, P.C., Senator for British Columbia (Ret.)… possibly?

  256. That sweater is truly a work of art! You’ve made several sweaters in the last couple of years, which ones do you find yourself reaching for the most? which are your favorites?

  257. I do love that sweater so much. I’m disappointed in myself for not finishing but proud that I at least tried.

  258. It is gorgeous! And you met your goal. I was sweating to the finish along with you. It was a great game, though I was rooting for Team USA. Vancouver and Canada are to be congratulated, along with all the athletes, for a fine Winter Games.

  259. That sweater is simply breathtaking. Way to win gold and go CANADA! I’m a neighbor from slightly south but we were rooting for you all the way. I got my 6 year old son in on the spirit, and ever time a Canadian was competing he would say “Canadians are our friends, right Mom?” Yup!

  261. I tried, I DNF. My 5 day trip to Vancouver put a serious limit to my knitting. I was very afraid of my knitting being confiscated if I tried to bring it to an event.
    I think your sweater deserves more than a gold medal. It is quite an acheivement.

  262. Sweet! Nicely done.
    Ah, I miss the Olympics-especially Curling and Snowboard cross. I’m still humming “O, Canada” which wouldn’t be weird if I were from Canada but as I live in Massachusetts…..

  263. Love the sweater! How did you do the front panel where there’s three colors? Intarsia in the round? Or 3 yarns at a time? It looks so flat and even…..that’s not easy with 3 colors!
    I also finished a sweater during the closing ceremonies. However I started in December. Drank a beer in your honor.

  265. Very pretty sweater. I decided early on to cheer for North Americans throughout the Olympics – twice as much fun! My goal was to finish the body of the sweater I’ve been working on since late November and get the sleeves done. I finished the body and got about 2/3 of one sleeve done. I also made an entire quilt for a local charity (selection and layout of fabrics through quilting and binding). That was a nice 2-weekend project.

  266. Winter Olympics 2010 — inspiring!
    Stephanie’s Olympic Sweater — breathtaking!
    Stephanie’s Recap of the Knitting — Hilarious!
    Congrats to all those who finished, and all of us who tried really hard to finish!

  267. Steph,
    The sweater is stunning. I have ripped mine and restarted. I hope to finish before Spring….

  269. Amazing, stunning, breath-taking. And that’s just the blog! I laughed a lot, then took in the incredible complexity of that sweater. How does anyone finish something like that in just 17 days! If I had a hat, I would take it off to you. As for my effort, I stuck to it for a week, then had to stray way off-piste to make birthday quilty things in a hurry. And a doll’s knitted vest, and a child’s jacket, not to mention work on two wips for a Ravelry wip team. So I have not been idle, merely diversifying! Maybe I can stay more focused in 4 years time? Because you will do it again, wont you?

  270. Sigh! I didn’t get gold (I blame the time difference that left me some back neck shaping and a neck band short at midnight on Sunday) but I’m really glad that you did. Your sweater is absolutely gorgeous.

  272. The sweater is amazingly gorgeous. Congrats! Is the emblem on the left sleeve colorwork or a patch of some sort, I couldn’t tell. Love, love, love the sweater.

  273. You did a fabulous job. Definitely not playing it safe. So beautiful and something to be really, really proud of.

  274. Stephanie!
    What on earth are you going to knit now?
    Your sweater is breath-taking and has insired me to try a sweater with steeks, just typing that give me chills!
    congrats and loved the photos!

  275. Just have to say–my appreciation for Canada began to build when I started reading your blog three and a half years ago, deepened with visits to Vancouver and to Toronto and Lettuce Knit, deepened still further when I picked up a little bottle of Screech and a small packet of Screech-flavored coffee (!!) at a conference last month. But the Olympics capped it all. Canada did itself proud. And you have a great National Anthem, sung so often on the podium that I have now learned the words.

  276. I loved the men’s hockey game and was super excited that it went to overtime (and because I am a mean spirited person was glad that Slovakia lost to Finland for the bronze). I forgot when I picked my project that for me ribbing is inherently slower than stockinette, because for some reason I get bored more easily. After three days were I nearly fell asleep while working on the project, I just gave in.
    Your sweater is gorgeous. I have never done one of the DoN sweaters, though I had one in my queue for the longest time (pre-Ravelry).

  277. I love your new sweater! The maple leaf should be on the back too. Congrats on finishing!
    The Done Done Done only looks wrong because there should be commas between them and about 3,000 exclamation points at the end. Cuz that’s how great being done in time is. lol That’s okay though. Here’s some of them…!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I’m almost disappointed that you didn’t sleep in it like the last olympic sweater, but maybe it’s too pretty to actually sleep in without weather calling for it. Well done, you.

  278. Beautiful, beautiful sweater, Stephanie!! I absolutely love it! And as I don’t knit (yet) I wish I could find a place to buy a gorgeous sweater like that.
    I’m American but secretly rooted for the Canadians to win hockey gold. On home turf? for a game they invented? heck yeah, I’m so glad they won!! 😉

  279. Amazing sweater, and awesome effort! You certainly deserve the gold. And congrats to Canada for winning the hockey. I was a little sad that the US lost, but was glad that we took it into overtime-very exciting! I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed watching the Olympics so much in my life. Now I’m in withdrawal and don’t think anything is worth watching on the” idiot box” anymore in comparison (although I did watch Ken Burns lovely documentary about the National Parks).
    Enjoy your sweater in the True North!

  280. Wow!! Now that’s what I call knitterly love. It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we put our heart and soles into it. It’s a shame though that knitters are not recognized, for the most part, for their incredible talents. It is wonderful to have an event like this among ourselves for just that purpose. Challenge and Recognition

  281. Oh, please, may I share your photo of the knitter, Harper and women’s hockey team? I’ll give you credit and all. It’s so fantastic!

  282. Odd. I held my knitting through the hockey game too.
    Beautiful sweater. Regarding the fourth colour, online, it sure looks like Gold to me!

  284. Hi Stephanie,
    I participated in the knitting Olympics with a chunky green sweater because I couldn’t pass up the opportunity even though I was heading down to Ecuador to volunteer in a hospital for 10 days. I knit like a banshee on the planes and in the evenings at the hotel but knew all along that my sweater would not have sleeves. I still consider it a gold because it was what I knit while caring for sick children all day. All the stitches have thoughts of my experiences while there. Thanks for encouraging me to participate even though my experience was a little different.
    Andrea from Victoria

  285. You may be the only person in Canada who was glad that John Furlong made that speech. That long, terrible speech. Great sweater!

  286. Honestly, my admiration knows no bounds. impossibly short knitting time, scary cutting, knitting in the dark = incredible sweater, perfect fit, great story. One question: what is the patch on the sleeve?

  288. Having a stupid, stupid day at work (sorry, that’s all the maturity I can muster right now) and this post and that fabulous sweater just made me smile!!! Thanks!!!

  289. One of the highlights of John Furlong’s job as head of VANOC, was on seeing a street full of people celebrating after the final hockey game, he realized that it wasn’t Vancouver, it was Toronto! Canada has never felt so together and your photos and story have added to that feeling. Your twitter photo about the knitter in the row in front of Harper, I distributed all over the place to be received with much laughter- Holland, England, Australia, US,- My Aussie friend and I laughed long distance for 5 minutes before we could get on to other news.

  292. What a GAWJUS sweater!!! It has inspired me to try my hand at knitting something like that. But I’ll just sit here and wait for the feeling to go away. LOL! Great job!

  293. That woman doesn’t look like Alexa McDonough – the letter to the Globe & Mail must’ve said that as a joke, as many of us remember the “stick to your knitting” remark.
    Fabulous sweater, Steph.

  294. Sweater is beautiful. The game was one of the best
    I ever saw. Well done team Canada! Well done
    all around.

  295. Wow, what a beautiful sweater! Worth every hair-raising minute, I’m sure. Pretty great Olympics, too. I’m with Norma at 2:26: The American hockey teams, male and female, looked like jerks sulking over their silver medals. I kept hissing to my kids, “Where are their manners????”
    Loved the Knitting Olympics from afar, though a major personal bereavement kept me from taking part. Even knitting didn’t seem fun for awhile. Reading your blog certainly helps with that, though!

  296. Dude. Sweater is beyond gorgeous; I bow to your mastery of the knitting universe.
    And, Joe and a true apology for past AND future temporary quirks = gansey. Just saying…..
    Namaste.
    B

  297. I find it totally cool that your friend Natalie is a friend of Mary’s. Mary is my knitting friend who keeps me organized!
    Truly amazed by the sweater…perfect. Thanks for encouraging all of us to be better!

  299. Beautiful sweater, wonderful inspiration, and a good time was had by all. You make a lot of this world seem like a lot of fun. Thanks.

  300. Ok, I love that I’m not the only one who zeroes in on any on camera knitting! I laughed the hardest (and my husband rolled his eyes) when in the movie “Cop Out” there’s a knitting shout out. Awesome!!

  301. Ok, I love that I’m not the only one who zeroes in on any on camera knitting! I laughed the hardest (and my husband rolled his eyes) when in the movie “Cop Out” there’s a knitting shout out. Awesome!!

  302. That sweater looks great on you, and I’m impressed by all the finishing work you squeezed into one exciting Sunday (as well as a bath!). Congratulations.
    I didn’t achieve gold this year (designing while knitting doesn’t always work – I lost a couple of days to ripping and tinking) but had fun trying.

  303. Lady who knits with tiny sharp sticks, drinks coffee, beer and wine, watches TV and writes a blog and many books, I am so blown away by your many talents. Congratulations on the most amazing knitted object made by human hands, don’t know who well alien beings can knit!
    Eve from Carlisle

  304. Congrats, Stephanie. The sweater looks fantastic. I never had a doubt that you’d be golden again!

  306. Love your sweater..and lovely pictures. What fun you and your friends had. I am not that good at knitting to attempt that sweater but its awesome.

  307. I know who that woman is! One of our consultants at work was a volunteer driver and we were talking about any of the famous people he drove and he said he had driven the lady knitting in the picture. I hadn’t seen it but only on your blog so I was thrilled to make the connection. She is the wife of the Canadian curling big wig who was handing out the medals. Love her. I was at a medals ceremony and walked up to the stage to take a picture of my sock with the Olympic rings and I got that plus a very puzzled looking volunteer in the background.

  308. Fabulous post, amazing sweater. I didn’t even know what steeking was until I read your first book last month. Hooray for Canada!
    and the postscript about the knitter in the audience is hilarious. xx

  309. Well done! That is a fabulous sweater and a Gold Medal performance. I didn’t finish in time but will keep going. I have 4 years to train before the next Games!

  311. Fantastic sweater and accomplishment — but did we have any doubts????? Looks like a great fit — however did you do that???

  312. The sweater is amazing.
    I thought you might also be amused to know that it’s a “thing” on figure skating boards to find knitters in the audience at Canadian events. I’m sure they are also at other events, but there are enough at Canadian ones that pointing out a Canadian knitter has become a “I got it first” sort of event.

  313. Wow. Bravo!!! Thanks for sharing this breathless marathon! May you wear that masterpiece with joy and warmth all the rest of your days! I so enjoyed your posts. Canadians are good winners as well as good hosts–what an exciting showcase of our good neighbors to the north!

  318. Gorgeous sweater! Also enjoyed the progress reports even with humor! Your stranding is so perfect. Thanks.

  319. You brave brave woman! I think I’d have to lay down before I could ever cut my own knitting. Awsome sweater!

  320. I was so nervous reading about the steeking process I held my breath. Your sweater is fabulous- what a memento of the the Vancouver Olympics.

  321. Oh my. The sweater is very beautiful. I was on Team WIP on Ravelry, that is all I had time for and I finished my project. Wow, that sure does feel good. Oh, and another thing, your scissors are so cool! I want a pair like that 🙂

  322. I want a tee shirt like Amy’s. And a sweater like Stephanie’s, but the whole idea of steeking makes my bowels run cold.

  323. That is the most fantastic sweater that I have seen in a long time. I can’t imagine knitting it in such a short time.

  324. The hockey teams must have been getting some of that sweater mojo (maple leaf on the front of your awesome sweater)–I don’t think all that is just a coincidence!

  325. I want to steek so badly but am AFRAID. Your sweater is so beautiful and inspiring I think maybe I’ll have to try – eek!
    Congratulations on the fabulous job!

  326. Congratulations on finishing such a gorgeous sweater!! Totally jealous!
    And I agree about the hockey game – even as an American cheering my heart out for Team USA, there was very little to dislike about that game. And, as a Chicago Blackhawks fan, I’m proud to have let you borrow my boys for a while, but I’m glad they’re back in Chicago and all playing nicely together again! It’s very hard to choose between cheering for Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane!
    Anyway, I was not able to finish, so I’m glad that lots of other people were! Yay Olympians!!

  328. The very cool patch on the sleeve is of the Canadian and Norwegian flags. Maybe it came with the kit?

  331. (A) Love, Love, Love the sweater and that you got it done in time for a victory dance.
    (B) I can’t believe Joe didn’t abandon the house long before 1:10. Brave husband.

  332. Your sweater is spectacular, and I have to say that I, and other of my (American) friends, are pleased that Canada won the hockey games. The games were wonderful – your country did a super job.

  335. Beautiful sweater. You must be proud. I like the small changes you made to the pattern.

  336. I said it would be a photo finish, just like the Cross Country Ski Races. But this was better. It was the photo finish for the MEN’S 50K Cross Country Ski Race when Norway won by .2 second instead of the WOMEN’S 30K when Norway lost by about the same margin. This time you won with Norway–a Norwegian sweater, that is. Congratulations. The sweater is so beautiful!!

  337. Stephanie you did such a wonderful job on that sweater! Sometimes I think you must be the most amazing knitter on earth! I loved that sweater the minute you showed it to us. I wanted to try my hand at knitting such a thing, but when I checked the Dale of Norway web site it said the Whistler pattern was sold out and would not be continued. Stephanie, after you showed us that magnificent sweater and further teased us with knitting needle sizes and yarn and gauge and such, do you think you could write Dale of Norway in all your Power and Glory and ask them to try selling the pattern again? For all of us thirsting knitters? There’s probably a lot of us knitters drooling over that sweater and wishing we could knit it. I bet they would listen to you. You do in fact have thousands and thousands of knitters hanging on your every word. O Great Queen of Knitting. Please?

  338. such a beautiful sweater!! I was not as ambitious (I know my limitations) I did actually finish my knitting of my sweater,and as I am a prime ,oh I’m bored,let me start a new project (prettyyarn)I am still proud at my focus and determination in meeting my goal. That said, your sweater is truly a sweater of beauty and i am glad to see it!

  339. Congrats. You clearly get the gold medal, and as an American of Norwegian (& Irish – there’s a combination, God help he) ancestry, I approve heartily. The hockey final was fantastic – altho I was hoping for a different outcome. It was the way a championship should be: murderous for the collective blood pressure of everyone in two countries. I’m happy we kept the precious metal in North America in both mens and womens.
    As for the lady knitting in the row in front of the PM, security people everywhere should know that we are much more mellow with our knitting needles than without them.
    Included my URL. Just getting started with this.
    Congratulations again on the sweater and the Olympics. Great job all around, even if we can’t control the weather. And I love the Norwegian curling team’s pants.

  340. Detroit Public Library??!! That’s 45 minutes north of my house!!! I don’t care what is happening that day – I’m cancelling my stuff, and I AM COMING!!

  341. LOVE LOVE LOVE your sweater – but not as much as I love your written description about completing it and interacting with Joe, the cat, coffee and pins. The sweater looks beautiful on you in the fresh Canadian air. Congratulations!
    Nice hockey game, as well – we liked seeing you win!

  342. Great work on the sweater – it looks wonderful! I didn’t manage to finish my project in time but seeing as I got to attend a birth and see a couple awesome concerts in the last few days of the Olympics I think it was worth the forfeit.

  343. That is amazing. It is so beautiful. I’m glad you got it done in the nick of time, because it deserves a medal.

  344. I can’t believe that you knit a sweater that made me cry. Impressive work, impressive story. (Aren’t you glad you did Knitting Olympics this year? Not only did you make this happen for yourself, you made it happen for someone else too.) Congratulations.

  351. That. Sweater. Is. Absolutely. Gorgeous. Stunning. I can’t pick my adjective here. Looking at those pictures makes my heart swell. Wow.

  353. I love the sweater….an am not surprised to not be the only person to notice the knitter in front of the prime minister… I saw her before spotting him in the crowd!!!!! What a great hobby to have that you can take it to sporting events! Loved you on the cbc radio show a few weeks back.

  354. I’m so mad! I asked if I could take my knitting needles into an event and they said no! So I left them at our condo – couldn’t risk losing the addi’s.

  355. I’m so mad! I asked if I could take my knitting needles into an event and they said no! So I left them at our condo – couldn’t risk losing the addi’s.
    It was a great game! I’m glad we could make the win even sweeter by really competing! Congrats to Canada!

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