Y Ddraig Goch ddyry gychwyn!*

originally i had thought i'd avoid joining this:



but as i managed to meet several of the qualifications for this team:



i couldn't resist ;o)

my event will be:
completing a project within a specific time frame (without coming unglued lol), which for me is much more of a challenge than the actual sweater

project:



pattern: Oat Couture's Bistro Shirt (shop model)

yarn: Tahki Stacy Charles' "Tweedy Cotton Classic" Color 480 (color chart here)
this is a multi-strand mercerized cotton yarn, and so far i'm liking it very much (good thing, as this is the first time i've knit with this sort of yarn)...i can see how it might have a tendency to be 'splitty' because of the plies, but i haven't had much of a problem with that so far.

i've already finished a couple inches or so of the back (as "official" cast-on time was 2pm Friday), but as stockinette, even in bright yarn, isn't terribly thrilling, i'm hoping to have a progress indicator up very soon (just have to do the math eep lol)

Stephanie, organizer extraordinaire, posted this on her site earlier today...i've copied it here as my pledge of committment...to try :o)

The Knitting Olympics Athletes Pledge

I, a knitter of able hands and quick wits, to hereby swear that over the course of these Olympics I will uphold the highest standard of knitterly excellence.

I will be deft of hand and sure of pattern, I will overcome troubles of yarn overs and misplaced decreases. I will use the gifts of intelligence and persistence (as well as caffeine and chocolate) and I will execute my art to the highest form, carrying with me the hope for excellence known to every knitter.

I strive to win. To do my best, and to approach the needles with my own best effort in mind, without comparing myself to my fellow knitters, for they have challenges unique to them.

While I engage in this pursuit of excellence and my own personal, individual best, I also swear that I will continue to engage with my family in conversation, care for my pets, speak kindly with those who would ask me to do something other than knit, and above all, above every stitch thrown or picked, above every cable, every heel stitch, every change of colour, I swear this:

That I will remember that this is not the real Olympics, that I'm supposed to be having fun and that my happiness and self-worth ride not on my success....

but on my trying.

to my teammates i say (badly lol):

pob lwc! dal ati! daliwch ati!
Ewch tîm! Cymru am byth!





*i cannot guarantee that my welsh is accurate...as my usual "live" translator is MIA, most of the phrases and translations were taken from
this site...if i've mangled things badly, i apologize--let me know and i'll make amends...in order, the translations should be: "the Red Dragon will show the way!"; "Good luck! Keep at it! Don’t give up!"; "Go Team! Wales forever!"