The Wool Shed: Curling and Crochet

The Crochet

I did not knit today. Instead I unravelled the edge on the almost completed Cadfael shawl. I started the border a few days ago but put it down. At the time I knew I should have put in a few more rows before the border but I was read to have it done. After a little rest I was more prepared to do the ripping and re-crochet needed to do the job correctly. After a few hours I am now back to where I was this morning but much happier and ready to get this finished.

This is the second shawl I have completed using Kat Strieby's lovely pattern. We have hard copies in the store but soon the pattern will launch on Ravelry. The shawl is a somewhat challenging but definitely doable with just a few hints about the increase pattern. I had sort of put crochet away for a while but this one rekindles my crochet desire and I am already looking for something new to do.

This one is out of an older skein of Teresa Ruch Tincel yarn. 540 yards of soft and vibrant yarn that is perfect for warmer weather. After this evening the main body of a shawl is now ready for a bold border design on the bottom edge.

The Curling
Last year Annie Raich (a frequent knitter at BlackSheep at Orenco and a neighbor) told us about her other hobby-Curling. This year we managed to go there for a fun field drip. 9 couples but on our warm clothes and of course knitwear and went down to Evergreen Curling Club. Once there were split up on to two sheets (the Curling equivalent of a bowling lane) and learned the fundamentals of Curling. The game is very much like Bocce or shuffle board only quite a bit more complicated.

Instead of throwing balls at at a starter ball you slide a 45pound hunk of Scottish granite at a bulls eye ring far far down a sheet of ice. To help you accomplish this task two of your team mates sweep the ice to help guide the granite blob towards it goal (for us it was more a matter of getting the thing over the scratch line so it was even counted). Yet another member of the team is stationed down at the bullseye end of the sheet to yell and signal directions at the thrower so that he/she slides the granite down in just the right way to gain the most points. Did I mention that you are supposed to do the granite sliding while crouched down in a one legged praying mantis like glide down a sheet of ice with a rubber shoe on one foot and a pad of teflon on the other? Thankfully they had push sticks. I was too afraid I would get down there and never get back up.

In all I found the game to be really fun. I am especially fond of sweeping. I hate sweeping at home but somehow sweeping a sheet of ice as fast as you can while running sideways is much more fun. Most of us instead of getting cold came away sweaty from the exertion. Here are some photos that Rod Wallace, Duncan Kitchin and Linda Kitchin managed to snap for us!