Monday, February 27, 2006

Turtles KAL

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS to those amazing Knitathletes who finished their projects yesterday. I am in awe -- so impressed by the amazing projects I've seen in the last 24 hours.

After reading about two excellent knitters who, like me, didn't get the gold medal, I joked with Ms. Obsession that we should have our own "little post-Olympic knit along that we could name 'Last One to Cross the Finish Line KAL' or the 'Rotten Egg KAL'". She immediately responded with this hilarious button:

So in the spirit of all those KnitAthletes who had personal crises, occupational hazards, illness, kids, or swollen fingers, I invite you to the TURTLE KAL. May all the slow-but-steady green beings of the world unite in a goal of completion, on our own schedules.

Ms. Obsession says it well:
"It's a heartbreaking defeat, but I will not be daunted. I will not give up. I WILL finish this sweater THIS WEEK or die trying. The torso is complete, and the hood has about 6 rows completed. There's also about 6 inches of a sleeve. I can DO it. I can. Stop laughing. So you see, I can't talk now. MUST.KEEP.KNITTING."

Ms. Jess says it well:
"I'm disappointed that I didn't finish, but I feel really good about the way I did it. I chose something that was a real challenge and strove for the gold, but I didn't sacrifice my standards. I ripped out 4" of the front chest, and dropped 2-4 stitches 20+ rows to fix cable mistakes FOUR TIMES. I didn't finish in time for a medal, but I did do something wonderful and without sacrifice. And I'm not done yet! The medals may already have been awarded, but I'm going to keep going until I cross the finish line too."

TURTLES UNITE! Slow But Steady ... steal a button and join us.

*EDITED TO ADD: If you leave your site address in the comments, I'll add you to the Turtle Along blogroll on the sidebar. When you've crossed the Olympic finish line, drop me an email at TheFeministMafia AT yahoo DOT com and I'll turn you GREEN.

29 comments:

Nadira said...

Yeah-heah!

maryse said...

i'm in!

M. said...

This might just be my speed. Okay, I'm in!

Carolyn said...

Count me in! My arm should be feeling better in a few more days and I can pick up the needles again.

Blog name is "To Purl is Human, To Knit Divine."

shannon said...

I'm in. plastikgyrl.livejournal.com

carrym said...

I am SO in!!! I have not even bothered posting about my not finishing yet...

www.fairieknits.blog-city.com

susan said...

So do you have to have tried to do the Olympic knitathon to be a Turtle, or can I join on the basis of a sweater I started in 2000 and have just returned to (inspired by Marisa's mention of her slow-growing project, I might add)?

InkyW said...

Count this turtle in!!I hope to be feeling like myself soon :)

http://inkyknits.blogspot.com

Elspeth said...

I love the comments, thanks for connecting us turtles! Please include me, Elspeth, Multitasking, ladybug326.blogspot.com ...

Janey said...

I coulda finished, I really coulda!

But I took DH's advice that the Branching Out Scarf was too pretty to be crammed into a neck gaiter, so I consciously opted to continue until it was long enough to hang loosely and well enough to show its lacey bits.
While the pattern calls for many more repeats - in order to make it a Scarf of Proper Length - it also says you can make it as long (or as short) as you'd like.
I shall press onwards. And thank you for this opportunity to do so.

Janey from Nova Scotia,
jandhj2 AT yahoo DOT ca
fallen Olympian

Sharon P said...

may I join in?

http://sharonknitstoo.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Dear Turtles,
When I attend the NY Marathon, it is not to cheer the first to finish, but to honor all those who have the courage to participate!! Knit on with pride!!! We are with you!!

Dympna said...

I think I'll join you. I was unable to finish my Pumpkin sweater. Winter arrived in San Francisco and my hands and fingers fell apart. Knitting and typing were painful and bloody. LOL
I may not finish until Halloween, but I will finish.
My blog is
time4moretea.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

OK then... I shall join you too. I do not have a blog but I have been trying to do my simple sock project anyway. ^_^ Once I don't need these pain meds for the post surgery aches, I am sure to go faster. Thanks for offering a postive attitude to this!

Persnickety Knitter said...

Oh, what the heck. Sign me up. My Olympic Rogue cardigan is going nowhere fast. Will there be a prize for the very last to finish? ;-)

Anonymous said...

Please count me among the Turtles! Http://www.bnbstudio.com/blueknits/

Thorny said...

Oh, this is so PERFECT! I LOVE turtles!

I felt all right about my lack-of-win before, but now? Ha! Now it's like I was fated or something. Because really, I would be /so/ very sad if there'd been a turtle KAL and I hadn't been able to join.

Heck, even my Olympic sweater is green!! Count me in!

Anonymous said...

you can count me in! Thanks for the heads-up

Anonymous said...

Aye! In! Evidence: a prominently placed copy of the button. Thanks for executing a great idea.

Anonymous said...

Aw, yeah. I am in.

I didn't even come close. Darnit.

Great idea, guys!

Norskybear said...

I'm making slow but steady progress as well.

Lars
www.norskybear.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Is it too late to join in? I'm likely to be the turtle's turtle and I've no blog to cite/site, but I'd love to play too...

Unknown said...

Oh, wonderful! Can I play?
revsongbird.typepad.com/set_free

somebunnysloveDOTcom said...

Hi there!
I think you can count me in and also turn me green... I finished my project Clapotis this past Friday an hour before heading into work!
Thanks for such a great blogger idea,
Kimberly
=:8
http://www.somebunnyslove.com

Anonymous said...

Me, too! Me, too! I'm so slow, I just noticed this (3/7).

K. said...

I'm sooo in. Yaaay, other slow knitters!

Rana said...

Oh, this is a great idea! :)

wenders said...

Oooh, add me! Add me! I am hoping to finish up my St. Patrick's day. :)

Chloe said...

I myself was on Team Flying Monkeys. (And it was good to recognize you at Yarnology. What a treat!)