What are “Ravelympics”? :??
Why do folks participate in Ravelympics?
What is their ‘end goal’?
I’ve heard some buzz about it, but have no clue what it’s all about and what the purpose is.
Seriously. :pout:
OT: What are "Ravelympics"?
My take on it (and this is the first year I did it) is that you pick something that’s personally challenging to you - I picked a shawl with Japanese short rows… something that’s been kinda scary to me for a while. You cast on during the opening ceremonies and try to finish by the closing ceremonies.
I also did a few hats as my “sanity” project, but I gave myself the challenge to do each one faster than the last. My fastest hat time was 2 hours!
Another neat aspect was that one of my knitting groups had a team for it. Basically you all support each other and help each other with the projects that are challenging you. Some people finish, some don’t… there’s no penalty for not ;o)
We’re also throwing a big finishing party this weekend as a kind of reward for attempting something new!
Yep, it’s cast on during the opening ceremonies and be done by closing ceremonies to win gold.
Yarn Harlot finished a gorgeous stranded sweater in the nick of time! Her’s wasn’t technically for Ravelympics, but she followed the same principle.
http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/
A friend of mine was making a bohus sweater and didn’t quite make it because work got in the way this time. It’s amazing to me that anyone would even try finishing a stranded sweater for something like this!!
Thanks! I kept seeing it all over Ravelry and never had the nerve to ask there! (Afraid of the snarky “duh, read this page” answers I’d get 
What’s the deal with teams then? Do you have to join a team? I know the Olympics are over, but just thinking about doing something like that too…
Nah you don’t have to join a team…it is fun to join a team though, I met some wonderful new people that way during the summer and the winter olympics. The team can also help encourage you or help if you get stuck…its also a way to kinda have a captain who keeps track of all the info for you. That way if you can’t find the answer you can ask them.
I didn’t get my projects done but one this time. The last time I did better :teehee:
The teams are generally just groups you belong to that have created teams to compete. I haven’t checked out the completion info, but I believe that there are statistics as to how many team members completed their challenge. Some people have multiple finishes. I competed for the first time for 2 different teams with the same challenge which was to spin the yak fiber I had. I was able to get it done, but still find yak challenging to spin.
It’s just a fun way to work to improve your skills and sharing your journey with others on your team or in your group who chose to cheerlead instead.
I competed for Spindlers as well as Friends of Abby’s Yarns.
Had some free time and was browsing the forums (haven’t done this in a longggggg time). Saw this thread and had to comment.
This was the first year I participated in the Ravelympics. For me, it was about having a deadline to finish a project I’d been wanting to make for a while.
I made the Frog Prince (it’s over in the Whatcha Knitting forum) specifically for this purpose. My son was happy knowing he would have an “end date” instead of an “I’ll get to it soon” answer to his pleading for the project (for his teacher).
I was a member of the Alan Dart team for that project.
However, I also managed to complete two other projects during the Olympics. I submitted them without being a part of a particular team.
For me, these projects were all about production, not process. I wanted to crank out as many as I could. I cared not one iota about challenging myself (other than getting that frog done in time).
The “medals” they give out for crossing the finish line are precious. Look here if you want to see what a few look like.
What is amusing (to me) is that the Yarn Harlot originally came up with the idea four years ago, as an event to take place during the Winter Olympics. I believe it blossomed afterwards, with groups on Raverly particpating both the following Summer and Winter games. And although I have not taken part in any, I perferred to track the individuals as oppose to the team/group format. What appealed to me was the idea that the only one you were competing against was yourself (and the time restriction.)
It’s about personal challenge, no matter how small. Even if one did not complete a project, it’s about taking that step to attempt something you may not have readily taken on: a pattern, a technique, maybe something out of your comfort zone.
That is very interesting! 
I think KAL’s are kinda like that except everyone is pluggin’ away on the same project, but no deadlines, no timeline to keep on track!