Olympic Training

Yesterday, I undertook my first training session for the 2010 Olympics. I think it went as many first training sessions might. Poorly.

My goal for Sunday was to read through the pattern. Although often recommended, my opinion on reading through entire patterns before starting to knit is that without the yarn and needles to guide me, everything is 'Greek'. But in the interest of 'going for the gold', I read through the pattern. It surprised me. It wasn't Greek at all, but seemingly straight forward. Perhaps, the surprise will come in the execution, but in the reading, everything seems do-able.

Ravelrers and bloggers who have made, or attempted to make, EZ's Green Sweater have posted about the difficulties. Some have even abandoned the project. Some hate the wool. Reading about these problems has caused me great anxiety about my choice for the Knitting Olympics. The pattern reading however, has calmed me somewhat.

My second goal for yesterday's training session was to swatch for gauge. The yarn is fine, one ply, sport weight. I consider sport weight to knit to about 24 stitches over four inches. The pattern calls for a gauge of 20 stitches and recommends using a 4 - 5 mm needle. Since my handy 5mm was in the sleeve of WCF, I choose to first try the 4mm. Perfect gauge. For sport weight that is. 24 stitches.

Obviously, I've got some intense training to accomplish in the next few days. I certainly hope that gauge issues don't delay me from peaking in time for Friday's start.