Tuesday, February 25, 2014

follow that arrow

Ysolda's Mystery, Choose-your-own-adventure, KAL - follow your arrow - has come to a conclusion...


This has been a wonderful experience, overall.  I loved working towards a new clue each week far more than I expected to, and the small thrill of not really knowing what you were knitting was a different kind of buzz.  I guess it was also partly the motivation!  Although, for anyone who's knitted a bit of lace, the charts from Clue 2 onwards did give away the basic shape to a degree.

The lace was really quite simple and relatively easy to memorise, but the construction and some techniques did give enough challenge to keep you interested.  More than once the lace lulled me into a false sense of security and I was forced to rip back!


I'm pleased with the performance of the Bendigo Woollen Mill Luxury 4ply, too.  It's blocked out very soft, and there is no sign of pilling or fuzzing sometimes found with the 10ply of the same yarn.  I think if I were to knit this pattern again though, I'd either use a larger needle (I used a 3.75mm) or laceweight yarn and get that real lightness in the fabric that makes lace "lace".


I'd also like to give the cast-off edge a light steam press still, just to flatten out the slight rolling the stretchy bind-off method has created.  I'm not sure how to get around that edge roll another way?

Obviously, the very nature of the optional clues each release meant lots of combinations and interpretations, but with nearly 3,500 projects listed on Ravelry, there are so many interesting versions; it's well worth taking a look or checking out #followyourarrow on Instagram.

 Ysolda's patterns are always a bit of a treat, especially those that explore her use of texture, and I really am very happy with my version.  I'm so pleased I took part in the KAL - well worth it and would totally recommend it if another opportunity arose!

7 comments:

2paw said...

Yes, the 8ply pills too. I love your shawl, it is so pretty and it must be fun not knowing what you are knitting!!! That's a nice colour too.

rebecca said...

Pink has never looked so good. Well done you. What an extraordinary phenomena the mystery KAL has become.

Caffeine Girl said...

That is just gorgeous! I love the idea of a mystery KAL, but it scares me, too. I don't know that I could have done this one -- it looks like an exacting pattern.

Caffeine Girl said...

That is just gorgeous! I love the idea of a mystery KAL, but it scares me, too. I don't know that I could have done this one -- it looks like an exacting pattern.

Leonie said...

Yours is very pretty, some of the combinations have led to some oddly shaped shawls that make me wonder how you would wear them. Yours makes sense!

Rose Red said...

You got it done! Hurrah! Looks to be a good wearable shape, and pretty lace!

DrK said...

oh its finished!! its lovely, really gorgeous in that colour. the 4ply seems to be made of firmer stuff than the other two weights so i hope it holds up for you. i think 4ply shawls are really practical and wearable but there is something special about the superfine stuff isnt there! what will you do next?!