One Side Of Olympic Cusion Completed

I have completed one side of my olympic cushion.  It will need blocking to within an inch of its life.  If it is measured from the middle of the side to the opposite side it is 16".  Along the actual sides it s a little less, hence the required blocking.  I still like the colours.  I'm lookimng forward to doing the other half, I know it won't take long either. 

After that I want to finish Sereknitty.  After that, it's a toss up between something for Mary-Jane or the Skew Socks. As long as I don't get distracted by anything else, these things happen!

Mary-Jane has a cold at the moment.  Poor little mite.  She is struggling with herself.  She does her best to be good, then gets really tired and cranky, but just won't let herself have a nap.  She contents herself with sitting on either mine or HK's knee, having big cuddles, sucking her fingers and holding onto Mr Snuggles.  She hasn't lost her appetite and loves taking calpol.  She has been a bit windy, and looks in the direction of her bum at these times, then looks at us and says 'bop'! 

MJ spent a good part of the afternoon, walking about the house, visiting Grandma & Grandad in their respective rooms.  After her tea, she was lying on the floor.  I asked her if she wanted to go to bed.  She got up, went over to Daddy HK, put her arms up for a pick up and said 'bed'.  Her bed time routine starts with saying night night to Daddy HK and having cuddles.

Woolsack Olympic Cushion Knitting

I had heard of the campaign to knit a cushion to give to each and every athelete at this years Olympic Games.  I'm not particularly olympic minded.  The more I saw about this though, the more I gavve it thought.  The final straw was when I saw a 'bit' about it in the December/January County News from the WI.  Well why not I thought.  I'm trying to be more active, get involved and get out and about.  I contacted the local co-oridnator, DP, and things are going well.  Luckily DP lives probably less than 10 miles from here.  We have swapped quite a few email and seem to get on.  I was invited to go to her house, sort things further from there and join in with the Knitting Group that was happening that day at her house.  The views from her house are stunning.  I must explore that neck of the woods.  Then again, all around here ranges from beautiful to breath takingly stunning.  Even Sellafield has a strange beauty.  I digress.

The cushions are to be 16" square and to be made of British Wool only.  DP gave me three balls of yarn from her stash, that she had set aside for the cushions.  All I can say is that I am thankful to have the chance to knit with such exquisite yarns.  Two colours don not have ball bands but the third is 'Pure Hebridean Wool - Natural coloured fleece from a Rare Breed Hebridean Flock'.  If I'd not decided to participate in the Cushions, then I wouldn't have had chance to knit with this wonderful yarn or meet someone who calls me a 'Fellow Knitter Nutter'!  Kismet.

I have started on the knitting proper tonight.  I initially decided to do stripes.  Later I decided to do a mitered square.  I cast on 145 stitches on to 4.5mm circulars.  I am k2tog either side of the central stitch on alternate rows.  I am doing four rows in each colour and keeping my fingers crossed that it turns out a 16" square!  If not, jiggery pokery!

Here is a close up of what I have done so far, only 12 rows.

 And here is not quite so close up!

I'm hoping it will turn out rather good and I do the yarn justice!

If you want to know more about the whole cushion thing - have a look at Woolsack  It is full of information - and includes free patterns!  There is one with some cabling that has caught my eye.