Winter Games Challenge winners

Well, the Olympics are over and that means the Sheepish Winter Games Challenge is, too. Big thanks to everyone who participated! We hope you all had as much fun as we did.

And now, without further ado, let's reveal the winners (selected by random drawing). First up, in the Sock category, the winner is...Hanh Vivian Ngo-Vu! She made these fabulous socks with Olympic rings on them (out of Fortissima Socka), and wins a $20 Sheepish gift certificate.

Then, in the Small Project category, the winner is...Sarah Miller! Here she is modeling her Perfection cowl. Sarah also wins a $20 Sheepish gift certificate.

We didn't have any entries in the Large Project category this time around. Something to think about for the 2016 Summer Games?

Congratulations, Vivian and Sarah!

Winter Games Challenge progress

How are y'all doing with your Winter Games Challenge projects? We hope you got the chance to make a lot of progress during the snow days this week. Here's how things are coming along for us.

This is Carrie's amazing Null Hypothesis scarf. So far she's completed one and a half charts (out of seven). Carrie says, "I love double knitting for the same reason I love fair isle: knitting with both hands engages both sides of your brain!"

And here's the latest bobbin of wool Stacy's spinning toward the ultimate goal of knitting a handspun cardigan. Love this bright, heathered green. It will later be plied with a multicolored wool. There are some bobbins of orange, too. This will be a very colorful sweater!

The Winter Games Challenge ends on Sunday night, Feb. 23, when the Olympic flame goes out during the NBC primetime broadcast. Meanwhile, feel free to post your progress pics on our Facebook page or email them to carrie@sheepish.biz.

Keep going, everybody!

Sheepish Winter Games Challenge starts tonight

Is everybody ready? Tonight's the night! (If you don't know what we're talking about, or need a refresher about how this works, read this.) NBC coverage of the Olympic opening ceremony starts at 7:30pm. Of course, the ceremony will actually already be over by then. The time difference makes it tricky, but just use your best judgment. This event is pretty much on the honor system. :)

What are you all doing for your challenge? Here's a look at what your friendly Sheepish staff will be working on.

Carrie plans to dive headfirst into this double-knit colorwork adventure: The Null Hypothesis by Katrina Elsaesser. The Ravelry description says, "A six-foot long double- knit scarf with a non-repeating Mad Science themed pattern - but you don’t have to be crazy to knit this (or do you…?)." Hmm...we'll refrain from answering that question for now!

Meanwhile, Stacy will be tackling a spinning project. She started spinning this wool circa 2008 (!), with the idea of using the resulting yarn to knit a cardigan. She didn't get very far before life got in the way and the project got pushed to the far back burner. It's time to get back to this longstanding UFO and finally make it happen.

Let us know what your Winter Games Challenge project is! You can show us your progress by posting photos on our Facebook page.

Sheepish Winter Games Challenge

The 2014 Olympics are fast approaching, and that means it's time for a fun Sheepish tradition. Pick a project using yarn purchased at Sheepish, begin it during opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, finish by the end of closing ceremonies, and you'll be entered to win prizes! 

Like the 2012 Summer Games Challenge, here are our three categories:

• Small projects:  hats, scarves, baby sweaters, etc
• Socks
• Big projects: adult sweaters, blankets, etc

There's no judging or scoring--the idea is simply to complete a project that's challenging to you. Just stick to the rules and finish by the deadline, and you'll qualify for a drawing where we'll be giving away shop gift certificates and maybe other goodies. If you're not sure what category your project would fit in, just ask! We'll help you figure it out. 

Remember, you must purchase your yarn at Sheepish to qualify for the prize drawing!

The opening ceremonies will be broadcast on Friday, February 7, and the closing ceremonies on Sunday, February 23. (Note: this year some Olympic events will actually happen the day before the opening ceremony. We aren't counting that day in our challenge. It starts when the broadcast of the opening ceremony starts. This is the honor system here.)

If you like to watch the games as much as we do, this is a great way to keep your hands occupied while you cheer on Team USA!