Ithilien is finished!
It took a serious, concerted effort the last couple of weeks, but I did manage to finish my Ithilien Brocade Jacket just in time to check it in at our state fair. My eldest daughter kept telling me that I should take that opportunity to display it, no matter what happened in the judging. Such support and confidence must be heeded, so I submitted the entry form, without being entirely sure whether or not I could make the deadline. It appears that I am not yet too old to pull an all-nighter! I finished steam-blocking it just in time to shower and get to work, then sewed on the buttons over my lunch hour, and took it to the fairgrounds.
But a few minutes before that, I snapped a few pictures on the easy chair in my office. You know, just in case…
Front view
… and back view
I did wear it for a few minutes, and was gratified that it fit well! The cabled gussets at the lower back and sides turned out to be a good way to create shaping while knitting the leaf-patterned sections in (mostly) straight panels. The trickiest parts turned out to be mitering the cables at the front neck to form the collar, and deciding how to finish the unattached cable ends at the bottom of the front border and at the back neck. I wonder if my sleep-deprived state made it slightly more difficult than it would have been otherwise?
Once I get it back from the fair display, I’ll take more closeup pictures and document some of the techniques I used, and share the chart for the leaf pattern. We have a photo shoot planned, too, but in the meantime, I’m relaxing!
Oh, yes, the judging…
Best Of Show!
Congratulations!!!!
But then again – the judges would have to blind not to award Ithilien with the “best of show” prize:)
You are such an awesome knitter, and this prize was really well deserved!!!
Yea!!!!!
She was actually surprised it won…I was not! Pictures truly do not do it justice.
~ the eldest daughter
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Coming over from KBTH)…I can certainly see why your daughter pressured you into entering this and that it received Best of Show! This is one of the most gorgeous pieces I have seen in a very long time. Congratulations!
This really a one-of-a-kind jacket and I followed your way of designing and making it. It simply is beautiful! The prize was more than logical, or?
Best wishes and congratulations!!!
too beautiful for words! congratulations!
(coming over from KBTH) I am so glad you shared this with us! It is truly beautiful, what a wonderful job you did. I am glad your daughter pushed you a bit because you deserved the Best in Show and all the accolades you receive (and then some). I bet you can’t wait for the cooler weather to wear this.
your sweater is drop dead gorgeous!
It is beautiful. I still don’t know how you ever figured it all out. You truly deserved best of show. It has been fun and interesting watching it grow. So, what’s next?
Next?? Well, I have a couple of designs in my head and on paper that are itching to come to life… but nothing as complex as this one! I’m considering writing actual pattern instructions for those. But first, I’m starting a sweater and a baby blanket from someone else’s patterns!
It’s so very beautiful! I got a lump in my throat looking at it.
Such beautiful work. Congratulations on your well deserved win.
It is a masterpiece! The colors, the pattern, all just perfect. Congratulations Sharon. Take it to a larger venue or publish.
Congratulations!!!!
I’m not surprised you won Best in Show!
I’m SO glad. Well Done!!
Excellent job!
Are you willing to share the chart? I love the leaves and cables thing, and could totally see using it in other kinds of garments.
Congratulations! The award is well deserved!
Sharon, what an impressive piece! I think I’ll just put down my needles. I could never do such wonderful work. Congratulations on best in show.
Late to the party, but well done!
Thanks! And the door is always open! 😉