Saturday, December 05, 2009

Third Time's the Charm

My first attempt at entering the Royal Easter Show knitting competition = FAIL. Trying to convert an Alice Starmore jumper into fingering weight and getting easily distracted proved not to be a winning combination.
My second attempt at entering = FAIL. Fair isle mayhem (Ivy League Vest) including techniques I'd never tried before (steeking) meant I got scared and wimped out.

HOWEVER, my third attempt I think may be my breakthrough. Bear in mind I am not expecting to actually win anything, or even make it to the cabinet display. My goal is simply to finish the thing and deliver it to the RAS people on time, thereby not forfeiting my entry fee and feeling like a loser.
Why do I think this one will be different? (hello overlap with personal life). I present the following evidence:

- I am in love with the pattern and have owned it for a couple of years now
- The yarn is currently on its way to me from a Ravelry destash
- It's LACE
- It's BLACK
- It's.......THE RAVEN



Yep, it's Irtfa'a. I am confident enough in (a) my lace knitting skillz and (b) my tendency to get really obsessive when knitting lace and (c) my obsession with ravens and (d) my obsession with black lace shawls that I think this just might work.

I will be using Filatura Di Crosa Centolovaggi in Black and some 3.25mm Addi Lace needles.

So watch out, Arts Pavilion - the raven approaches!!!

3 comments:

Cecilia said...

Can't wait to see it! It will be gorgeous!! I really love the shape of the shawl.

Kris said...

Awesome! I'm going for the two-fer this year. I just cast on for St. Brigid yesterday (giant Starmore aran for me) and then I've got a very special original toy planned...

Andrea James said...

I wussed out before I even entered last year because I realised the pair of sock I made had different numbers of repeats. I applaud you for bravely forging ahead this year! I am actually starting to seriously contemplate entering as well, when it occurred to me I have another handspun project in the works that will be timed just about right!