Mission: Accomplished!

I FINISHED THE RAVEN SHAWL!!!! I don't know how many hours went into this, or how many yarnovers and SSKs there ended up being (both things I probably should have kept track of for novelty statistical purposes), but this was certainly EPIC. Just blocking this thing took about 3 hours, and that was with the use of wires.

But overall, it was worth it. This is the largest and most complicated lace shawl I've ever made. The pattern was EXCELLENT, clear instructions, no confusion at any point. I took a risk by deciding not to use lifelines, but thankfully I didn't need them. I tried spit splicing for the first time when my yarn snapped - it worked! I tried lace grafting for the first time on the edging - it worked! The yarn (Centolovaggi) is quite lovely. With the cost of yarn (Rav destash), needles and pattern the total cost of materials comes in at around $AU40. But it looks and feels like a million bucks!




But the best thing about this shawl is that it's constructed so that it actually does resemble the wings of a raven when it's draped around one's shoulders. I remember getting a bit Antony & the Johnsons and exclaiming to my friend who was helping with the photoshoot, "I feel like a bird!"



So as of right now it's already been judged by the RAS people, and only fate and time will tell whether it's yielded me a ribbon of any description. In all honesty, despite my tendency to get a tad competitive, I actually don't think I'll be that devastated if I don't get anywhere with it. The fact that I entered it in the Show forced me to meet a deadline and knit something which one day will become a mad gothic heirloom.

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!!!

damson

Yes I disappeared again, and have returned again. I'm going to stop the constant apologies for almost abandoning the blog. But I will say that due to the re-capture of some much needed free time (due to the COMPLETION OF MY LAW DEGREE), as well as the acquisition of exciting new computer technology (MacBook Pro!) I am planning to post more frequently than I have been lately.
I finished this a little while ago:



As referred to in my previous post, it's Damson by Ysolda. Ravelry details here. Sadly I did not manage to obtain the Posh Yarn, but instead used up some lovely Knittery 3ply merino from the stash, in colourway Bloody Mary.
I've also got an Aestlight finished awaiting blocking, and am midway through the Audrey in Unst Cardigan. The knitting mojo is certainly on the rise.

2009?

So will 2009 be the year I actually get my act together and take the blog a little bit more seriously? By which I mean continue to post facetious and outlandish material, but on a more regular basis? We shall see. I'm certainly going to try.

Anyway, here is my last Finished Object of 2008. Considering I'm apparently getting more and more neurotic as I reach the age of 30, it's quite fitting that lace knitting completely absorbs and obsesses me almost to the brink of madness. Even at 3am after a bottle of wine, I am telling myself not to stop until I have 328 stitches on my awesome Addi Lace needles. Some might say I need to get out more, but I go out all the time!



I finally made a Swallowtail Shawl (ravelry link). I used Handmaiden Yarns Mini Maiden, which is a glorious wool/silk fingering weight blend in Indian Summer colourway with 3.5mm Addi Lace needles.



delightful!

lazy

elysian fields
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

I've been really lazy today. Perhaps it's the heat (Sydney is currently experiencing all the summer weather we didn't actually get all summer), but I couldn't really face doing much of anything today. Last week was really hectic, what with the return to uni, a promotion at my job(woo) which meant learning some new stuff, and lots of mad cycling. So today I just sort of pottered about, laid on the couch reading Tennessee Williams plays, did a bit of my uni readings and some knitting.

Speaking of knitting, the French Trellis Scarf is now blocked! It looks great, but I'm waiting until tomorrow when I visit a friend to get some hot action shots in. But now I'm officially in love with lace knitting. My next envisioned project is the Lily of the Valley shawl from Lace Style, but I'm also valiantly resisting the urge to order the Moroccan Days shawl kit so I can knit the shawl and then wear it to Morocco when I finally get there (hopefully early 2009).

I also cast on for the Lace Ribbon Scarf from the new Spring Knitty, which seems to be the new big ticket item on Ravelry. It's a beautiful scarf, and I'm knitting mine up in some black baby alpaca from the stash.

So tonight I'm going to take it easy, eat some chicken and salad, watch Charles Laughton in the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and read Night of the Iguana. Oh, and knit!

Wintry

Haruha Scarf in progress
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

I've been thinking a lot lately about autumn/winter knits. Summer is pretty much over already, and the majority of this summer has been crazy rain and weird weather anyway. I actually much prefer winter anyway. Winter means soups and stews. Winter means hot chocolate. Winter means reading big Russian novels. Winter means boys in beanies and girls in stockings.
So I've been ogling various berets, scarves and mittens over on Ravelry and have cast on the Haruha scarf as my first official autumn/winter accessory. I have a gorgeous black Stella McCartney coat to keep me warm, so some hot knitted accessories will really jazz it up.

victoire!

French Trellis Scarf Progress 2
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

ok, the panic of yesterday's posts has subsided. First border done, scarf turned and stitches picked up ready to knit centre panel. the width of the scarf is now just over 12 inches, which is fine. the bottom bit seems to flare out a lot more, and that was giving me a false representation of the width.
anyway, am off to pack my things for 10 days in byron bay as of tomorrow. i'm taking this with me, so be prepared for action shots of the scarf dangling precariously over the cliffs up at cape byron lighthouse.

Stage Deux Update

French Trellis Border Scarf Progress
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

okay, this is the scarf after three pattern repeats for the first border. i have to do five more repeats, then cast off, then turn the whole thing around and pick up for the next bit. this prospect is quite terrifying to me.
anyway, the pattern is from Victorian Lace Today, page 98, using Handmaiden Sea Silk in Midnight. I went with a 4mm (US6) needle, mainly because i'd just bought one of the Addi lace needles and wanted to try it out. the tips smell kinda funny, like when you've been holding coins in your hand for too long, but apart from that they're going well.
if i continue at this pace (that's a big if, as i'm going on holiday next monday), i may well just conquer that big polka dot mountain.