Knitting Marathoner Hits New Personal Best in NYC

I’ve written before about David Babcock, the knitting marathoner who holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for the longest scarf knit while running a marathon (12 feet, completed at last year’s Kansas City Marathon).

Babcock ran the New York City Marathon earlier this month, in part to raise money for the New York City chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and while he was knitting while running, he wasn’t going for a record this time.

For one thing, he wasn’t allowed to use knitting needles, which are considered a security risk. So he had to knit with his fingers. (He was supported by Lion Brand Yarn and his training included running on a treadmill while knitting, which you can see if you click on the link below.)

For another, he was double knitting a scarf with his fingers with the words “I’ll Remember for You” worked into the scarf that he was knitting while running a marathon.

He finished the scarf around mile 19.

Which is probably why he was able to finish up the race besting his fastest time by almost a minute.

If you want to support his fundraising efforts, you can still visit his page and make a donation before the end of the month. His goal is to raise $3,000 and he’s about 80 percent there.

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time.

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring.

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row.

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves.

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body.

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy.

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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