The Olympics are almost done, most medals have been awarded, records have been broken, tears and joy has been shared and tomorrow it will all be over. Now it’s time to see how I did with my own “Olympic goals”. I actually met the deadline and finished my project in time! To be honest I never thought that I would finish this cardigan within the deadline, so that’s been quite a surprise. Nevertheless, I’ve been high-fiving people ever since!
Book: Knitting with Icelandic Wool
Designer: Védís Jónsdóttir
Yarn: Istex Lett Lopi
Soundtrack: Curling commentary by Sir David Attenborough
Raveled here
The cardigan is a Riddari, by Védís Jónsdóttir. It’s part of Knitting with Icelandic Wool, a book with a lot of Icelandic patterns, most of them by Védís
. I used Lett Lopi again, and I can not cease to repeat how much I love that yarn. I recently finally found a brick & mortar store that carries the yarn, but around here it’s quite easy to find online as well.
As the Olympics of the classic period were all about heroism, I’ve (nick)named the cardigan Beren. The colours just reminded me of Tolkien’s Middle Earth, so I named after one of the many stories from Tolkien’s Silmarilion. Beren is the first man to ever marry an Elf.
In order to marry Luthien, Beren is charged with capturing a Silmarillion, a jewel originally forged by Fëanor the Noldor but now stolen and placed on the crown of the Dark Lord himself. With the help of Luthien and several other great characters, he succeeds. I took this painting of Luthien by Alan Lee as a colour guide. Unfortunately I didn’t have any purple in my stash, and because I was working with a tight deadline no time to order more. So I swapped that colour for blue.
I hope that all of you Olympic fans also feel like the games were a success for you or the team you support. For me, the Olympics have been great. Not because the Dutch team won so many medals, but rather because I’ve discovered some new sports which I never expected I would like as much as I do now. Curling, Ice Hockey, Figure Skating, Shorttrack, skeleton and Slopestyle Snowboarding come to mind as sports that I did not really know before this month. And, obviously, because these games also gave me a new Icelandic cardigan to wear; now, that’s a medal all by itself!
xxx
Mooie prestatie! Jammer dat de XXII Olympische Winterspelen zijn afgelopen. Ik vond het 2 super gave weken met schitterende sport. Fijn dat je hieraan een herinnering hebt in de vorm van een eigen gebreide (olympische) trui.
#Hotcoolpool
Lance
Really pretty. Congratulations on your achievement! Gold metal for you!
Not really a fan of the Olympic games, so I didn't participate in the Ravellennics games.
But I am a fan of Alan Lee. He is an amazing artist and your sweater is amazing too.
That's a gorgeous cardigan. I always loved the story of Beren and Luthien in the Silmarillion. (I'm guessing you know Tolkien and his wife have 'Beren' and 'Luthien' on their tombstones?)
Bedankt Lance! Het is echt wennen nu geen Spelen mee op tv he? Gelukkig voor jou is sinds dit weekend het wielerseizoen weer volop begonnen dus is het geen heeeeeel groot gat! 😉
@Sandra Thank you Sandra! I'm quite baffled myself that I managed to knit it within the deadline.
Many people are surprised when I tell them I watch sports, as I'm usually known as a more "bookish, creative" type. I was brought up though in a family were sport was huge, and it kinda stuck around.
I love Alan Lee's work! He's one of my favourites!
@Mim
Thank you! I did know. 🙂
I think it's incredibly fitting and beautiful. I think the story of their love is a sweet, yet powerful one.
Mooi blauw is niet lelijk.
Heb je goed gedaan, kan je de trui als prijs voor de eerste plaats dragen(makkelijker als een gouden plak.)
Groeten van Math en Suzan.
Daaag.
Paul
Jow. Ja, mis het wel, maar het wielrennen maakt veel goed haha…