I’m starting to feel a little like I’m bragging, but you guys understand the knit thing better than anyone else I know.

I skipped out of the pavilion, somewhat embarrassing Em in the process. Next weekend, Campbelltown Show, Tuesday April 7 is the Easter Show Preview, so the results will be in, and that’s it for the Shows until next year, I promise.

Not an awful lot to blog about. I’m knitting a secret sample, which can’t be blogged about just yet. Other than that, I’m still working on the same old stuff. Off to SnB this afternoon, the best way to spend a Saturday!
So with little else for fodder, I present Splendour In The Grass.

Yes, the lawn will be mowed this weekend!

I picked up all my knitting from Castle Hill Show today, and I have to say, I’m ridiculously proud of the final result.

That’s everything, here are the details.
Puzzle Wrap, Highly Commended. The section was G19, A knitted Shawl or Stole for an Adult.

Autumn Rose, First Place. The section was G4, Traditional Fair Isle Garment.

Tangled Yoke, First Place. The section was G8, Lady’s Jumper or Cardigan

Kitri Socks, First Place and a Champion Ribbon! The section was G15, Personal accessories (Not a scarf)

There was also a little note attached to the Kitri Socks, which read “Very Snazzy Socks!”
Magic Carpet Ride, First Place and a Champion Ribbon, the section was G18, A knitted Scarf for an Adult

And finally, the big winner, the Shetland Shawl.
First Place, Champion Ribbon and Reserve Grand Champion overall.

So now, the Shetland Shawl and the Kitri socks are off to Camden and Campbelltown Shows, and everything else is off to the Royal Easter Show. (The Easter Show has no sock category – Boo! And the Shetland did the Easter Show last year)

So on Monday, I took a bunch of stuff out to the Castle Hill Show for the knitting competition. I entered six items into six categories. There was the Shetland Shawl, the Magic Carpet Ride, the Puzzle Wrap, my Kitri Socks, Autumn Rose and the Tangled Yoke Cardigan.
I’m not going to the show itself, this weekend is pretty full on with Em’s dance stuff, so I thought I’d find out on Monday how I went, when I pick up my entries again.
But the lovely Janette went to the Show yesterday, and brought me some news. It would appear that I won 5 sections. The Puzzle Wrap got a Highly commended in it’s section. Yay! But I’m not done.
The Magic Carpet Ride took a Show Champion ribbon, and the Shetland Shawl got Reserve Grand Champion. Colour me stunned. I’m still bouncing in excitement! You can see Janette’s Ravelry post here, complete with pictures. Thank you, Janette!
More on Monday when I pick them up!
Let’s talk about the current state of the knits, we haven’t done that in a while.
The sock category is currently being filled by the Whisper Lace socks in Lang JaWoll. 3/4 done on sock number one.

Not nearly as hard as they look, but they’re fun to knit. I’m knitting them on 2.5mm needles, which is a change for me, I usually use 2mm needles, but it means they’re moving along nice and quickly.
The lace category is my Flit n Float scarf, which is rapidly approaching the finish line.

Once it’s done, the lace category is open. I had planned to start Aeolian, my beads have arrived, and the yummy Mama Blue silk laceweight is sitting here flirting with me, but I think I’m going to be doing some sample knitting for a friend. Top Secret type stuff. I think.
And the garment category is being filled by the sparkly, bling-y pain-in-the-butt Shoulder Warmer.

I’m not even thinking about what I’m going to do when this is done, because at the rate I’m working on it, it’ll never be done!
Well, the main body part is nearly done, then I’m in a bit of a quandary. There is very deep ribbing around the edge of the body and the sleeves. I can’t decide whether to just do it in the sparkles, or find a plain yarn for it. I’m 99.9% sure that if I do it in the blingy stuff, Em will never wear it, because those sequins are going to itch. So I thought I might do the main part in the bling, and the ribbing in a plain black yarn. But I can’t decide what yarn to use. The bling is 100% acrylic, light worsted weight (20sts = 4″). KnitPicks has 3 yarns that might work, Shine worsted, Comfy and Main Line. Of course, they won’t ship to Australia, so I’d have to go through the drama of having it shipped to someone in the USA, then forwarded to me, which would give me time to start something else (ha!), or I could just use the bling and get it over with. Unfortunately, the Light Worsted isn’t a weight that’s made very much in Australia, and I can’t think of another alternative.
Maybe I can just put it aside until I think of something else! (On the other hand, listening to Em whine until it’s done might also be painful). Decisions, decisions.
Twinkie has made a decision.
I bought a new Easter candle on Thursday, because I couldn’t resist the cute. And it smells like chocolate. I showed it to Twinkie.

She decided that she’s not impressed.

And so, finally, Autumn Rose.

This is, officially, my favourite knitted item, ever.
There are not many words, the pictures say it all.

Specs:
Pattern: Autumm Rose by Eunny Jang from Simply Shetland 4: At Tomales Bay
Size: 35″ (smallest)
Yarn: KnitPicks Palette (purchased as a kit in the Mineral colourway)
Needles: I had to go down to a 2.75mm (US2) to get the recommended tension. I used KnitPicks Harmony needles.
Modifications: None, knit exactly as the pattern says.

The worst part of it all was weaving in all the ends. I did some as I went, and I’m glad I did, or it may never have been finished!
Now I just need to wait for the weather to get cold enough to wear it!