(Please try to ignore the fact that I took this in my work’s bathroom mirror.) I was quite happy to find the Olympic sweater had finish drying over night even as it poured outside. Rowen Felted Tweed softens so nicely when it’s washed. Now that I’ve had the opportunity to actually put on the sweater, there are some triffles. The sleeves, which have an underarm sleeve measurement of 18 inches, seem to be what one might call bracelet length, and I have no idea why. The sweater I made for The Husband has an underarm sleeve measurement of 18.5 inches and fits quite nicely. So, why does this sweater, with just a half inch less, land 3 inches from my wrist bone? My wrists aer getting cold. I am actually contemplating taking out the cuffs and adding some length. (Would that negate my gold?) Maybe I just need to let it grow on me. Second triffle is the seemingly abundant amount of material in my armpits. I have never made a raglan sweater before… is this usual? Or do I just have short shoulders? The only other thing I can think that would be a contributing factor is the number of stitches I cast on in the armpit area.

All in all, though, finishing was worth it. I have a sweater that is wearable, in a pretty color, and I made it.

Thanks to Steph, Kat, S.Kate, Emma, and Ken for making this all possible. And thanks to Franklin for creating the medal.

I wish I could say that I was able to wear my Olympic sweater today, but the storm that rolled into the area yesterday (and is still pounding us as I type this) has prevented it from drying as quickly as I had hoped. I think I’m also a bit shell-shocked over the whole Knitting Olympic experience. I feel like I should be knitting, but my hands cringe a little whenever I consider pulling out the lace shawl I had been working on before embarking on the Olympic endeavor.

I still can’t believe I got the whole thing done in 16 days.

I’ve been trying to think of what I have gotten out of this whole insanity. I certainly learned that if I put my mind to it, I can actually get a sweater knit in 16 days. (I also learned that I am rather glad I hadn’t tried to do a lace shawl; I would have either ended up more crazier than I already am or a drunk without a shawl cause I can’t knit lace and drink at the same time.) I learned that I need to sit down and write an email to the designer about some questionable sections of the pattern, namely the stitch counts of various sections (the pattern insisted I should have an even number of stitches while I consistantly had an odd number of stitches). I learned I like Rowan Felted Tweed, which is good because I only used 5 and a half balls of it for the sweater (which is slightly worrying because according to the yardage lised in the pattern it was supposed to take me 7 balls… but I got gauge). I’ve learned that I need to get back on the ball with organizing my side bar (I hadn’t realized I still had Ribby Cardi listed as a WIP; I finished it how many months ago?).

Now I just hope the twitching ends soon.