Iron Craft 2014 #3 - Olympics Inspired

This week's challenge:

"For this challenge we want you to be inspired by the Olympics. We are not so much looking for Olympic themed project (though you are welcome to do that), but more projects inspired by anything at the Olympics that grabs you." (Courtesy of Just Crafty Enough).

It's been well documented that my family loves the Olympics. When I was in grade 6, the winter Olympics were held in Calgary (just a few hours drive from where I lived in Lethbridge). The whole city went Olympics nuts and I caught the bug. I can't help myself. I love to watch all the stories, the wins, the heartbreaks - I always get so wrapped up in it. And my family is the same way. Terry will forever remind me that he was trying to get my brother to like him when we were in Calgary visiting during the 2006 Olympics and was forced to watch for 4 hours straight while hanging out at my brother's apartment. hehehe. I don't think "forced" is the right word, but I think that's how Terry sees it. He just got a taste of how intense my family gets when the Olympics are on. Winter especially (although I did go to my best friend's wedding over the last summer Olympics and watching them continuously on the plane and at every place my brother and I went during that weekend).

But when it comes to Olympics crafts, I was stumped.

Luckily, I'm learning crochet, so I made it work.

**Warning: I'm going to introduce you to yet another crochet craft - sorry! It's my new love**

A moose! Okay... so that's not very "Olympics"... yet.

Although if you must know - this Moose's name is Sochi.

Ta da! A Team Canada Olympics jersey! :D :D :D

I was searching around Ravelry and I found a pattern for a Canadian jersey that fit this particular moose. I made the moose but realized quickly that the sweater pattern was not going to work. It was really hard to understand and was based on the moose that the designer made which meant the arms and legs were probably sewn on differently than mine. Bleh. So I winged it! I still can't believe it myself since I only learned how to crochet last month.

Winging it meant that I could look at a picture of the new Sochi Olympics Team Canada jersey and go off of that - unlike the pattern which was for a generic looking Canada jersey.

I think I did a pretty good job. It's not perfect. There is a bump on the front which makes the middle white stripe a little wonky, and if you're Canadian you totally know that it's just about impossible to draw that leaf (let alone sew one!)

Why 22 you might ask?

22 is Hayley Wickenheiser's number. She's an awesome Women's hockey player and also our team flag bearer for this Olympics. :D

And this photo just about sums up why I love crochet so much. This is me working on the moose while watching the kids run around at Kid City. Crochet is so portable that I can just pick it up and work on a project wherever I am. Unlike sewing which I pretty much have to do in my studio. Love love love!

So are you a big Olympics fan? Are you watching? Canada is in the lead for medal count right now! I couldn't be happier!

To see all the Olympics inspired crafts from the Iron Crafters please check out the Flickr Group.