It only took a few rows of mulling things over with Calorimetry before I came to the conclusion that I need to know my gauge before going any further with the picking of a Latvian mitten pattern.  Yeah, I know, it's in every pattern and in every book and everywhere, and also right there in THE Book ("Latvian Mittens" by Joyce Upitis), where I've seen it countless times, pp 16-17, in both English and Latvian (how could I have missed it?):  General Techniques -- 1) Use wool, 2) Strive for balance, 3) KNOW YOUR GAUGE, 4) Correct your mistakes (i.e., RIP!).

I know.  Somehow, I even dared refer to myself as a knitter to another as recently as last Sunday over coffee.  The knitting of the gauge swatch is just not a natural, second-nature thing, no matter how many times it's hammer, hammer, hammered it into my head.  My experience over the weekend -- three tries, three different needle sizes, no luck -- drilled the lesson home pretty good.  (Any bets on how long the lesson sticks?)

So, last night, I took my desired yarn (Jaeger Matchmaker Merino) and desired needles (1US bamboo) and cast on 48 stitches.  I started out in one color, did a little two-color, practiced with a braid, continued on in one color, and will do a more complicated two- or even three-color bit before calling it finished -- I'd like to see how the three colors look knit up in different combinations.  That last bit was done tonight and so far, I'm getting 9-10 stitches to the inch -- and that's good.  I can work very well with that.  Ack, the red's not that bright and hopefully daylight will help make a better/more true photo.

At this time last year, many of us were beginning to "train" in earnest for our Knitting Olympics events -- remember?  I kind of feel like that now.  Last year, I was on the USA Cable Team.  If there were Olympics this year, I'd definitely be on the Latvian Mitten Team (was there a LMT last year?).  Alas, a few more years before we even have to worry about teams and events... still, I can't help but think of it.  Athletes train and compete every year, of course; smaller stage, smaller venues, step-by-step -- many, hopefully, leading to the Olympics.  Knitters, too?  I'm not ready to throw down and say I'll have a pair of mittens in 16 days, but I'll definitely be thinking about it, and about the Olympics coming up in a few years.  Maybe the mitts will be training for my future event of... what... Latvian Dreams?  Giant Latvian Mitten Cardigan (scroll down, it's Wool Gathering 67)?