Yes, funny that.
At the end of this year, I will have been knitting for 5 years and it begs the question, “why knitting and why now?” Well, it all started with the Javelin…!
When I was 18, I started training with an athletic club. At the time, I needed to be more active and the people at the club were very kind and supportive. I took part in a number of events and I thoroughly enjoyed them. After a few years I decided to specialize in Heptathlons – it seemed that I couldn’t settle for just one event, I had to do 7! I competed mostly at club league meetings, at Inter-County competitions and at National Championships. Apart from work, athletics was my main occupation.
5 years ago, I competed in one of the club’s usual league track meetings. I took part in the 400m hurdles, then the shot putt, then the Javelin and then after that, the 100m hurdles. At the end of that race, my right knee was feeling a bit sore. That’s when it happened. Suddenly, my leg did some kind of reflex shoot-out from under me, threw me forwards, making me almost head-butt my shin! Next thing I knew I was lying in a heap, screaming blue murder to discover that my leg bone was pointing sky-wards where it shouldn’t be. It turned out that I had torn my knee ligaments and dislocated my knee joint.
No more athletics for YOU, my friend!
Much of the last 5 years were taken up with rehabilitation and treating the domino-effect of back and hip injuries due to weakened legs. So while I was convalescing, I was bored pretty much. I was given a knitting kit for Christmas from my husband (I reckon it was for a joke – yeah, who’s laughing now, huh?). Secretly, I had always wanted to learn how to knit, but never sat still long enough to do it. Now, with my leg on ice and the anti-inflammatory medication kicking in, I could finally get down to it!
Athletics and Knitting
The Javelin – It was a complex and difficult relationship I had with that event (I loved it, but I don’t think it loved me), the best I threw was 33.66m and yet I was capable of much more, if only I could nail down the timing of the throw, the trajectory, the approach, the strength, the speed….! I guess it was a relationship that was never to be.
So, in remembrance to the old favourite, I designed “Javelin”. It is a top-down raglan hooded sweater where you can grab all available yarn colours and add them when and where you want to.
In my sample, I am using The Plucky Knitter Primo Worsted in the following colours: Bohemian Blue (dk blue), Icey Audrey (lt blue), Before you Go-Go (pink), Buzz Lighter (green) and High Cotton (grey).
The beauty of this approach is that you don’t have to measure out or balance any yarn colours. You can be as bold and funky or as cool and minimalist as you want to be.
And to some extent, just like the Javelin event, all you need to do is relax, go with the flow and thrash it out there!
Happy Knitting! x
JimiKnits... and other bits. 