As the real World Cup revs up toward the final three games (the semi between France and Portugal tomorrow, the consolation match between tomorrow’s loser and Germany on Saturday, and the final domination game between tomorrow’s winner (come on France!) and Italy on Sunday), knitters around the world are loosening up their fingers and clicking their needles together in speed drills for the final stretch.

On the home front, the tank top is going to fit. My first fitting was so discouraging, that I really thought this might all have been in vain. But I just tried it on again and was so delighted that I showed it off to Posey (who looked hopefully at the dangling pieces of yarn), danced a jig, and then awoke Rudi so he could look at me bleary-eyed and smile pleasedly (let’s see if he remembers that on his own or if he has to read this entry to jog his memory).

The front right strap has been bound off and the left front strap just needs a few more inches to go (but we’d reached that dangerous 1 a.m. time when knitters still feel confident but shouldn’t). The back neck and straps will be started tomorrow. And then after I seam the straps, the last thing will be to go back to the bottom and deal with the provisional cast-on. I need to put 140 (or so) stitches back onto the US9 circulars, which will be tricky. If I have enough yarn, I may try to add another row or two to the bottom to even out the spacing between the decorative purl rows and then I will bind off in a ruffly fashion.

With more than a full skein and nearly five complete days remaining in the project, I feel confident that (barring catastrophe) I will finish by the time the final whistle blows to mark the end of the contest.