Last year, I decided to try and knit myself something special every year on my birthday. This will be my second knitted birthday gift -- and the pattern was gifted to me from a dear friend. I’ve always wanted a pi shawl and this looks like the perfect one. And I’m a big fan of Juniper Moon Farm and their yarn. <3

44” unblocked
52” during blocking

From IgnorantBliss: Yarn usage (note, she used light fingering, I’m using lace):

From cast-on to the end of chart C: 87 grams = 348 meters = 25%
From the set-up rounds for chart D to the beginning of edging: 185 grams = 740 meters = 54%
Knitted-on edging: 70 grams = 280 meters = 20%

My usage: 180 grams total/1436 yards

Charts A-end of C: 49 grams - 27%
Chart D: 95 grams - 53%
Chart E: 36 grams, 20%

Swatched 9/4/12. I’m not sure I did the chart right, since it was written to be in the round and not for a small 4x4 swatch. I tried moving the beginning stitch around, like the pattern instructed, but I don’t think it translates well knitted as a swatch. I figured as long as I had the right number of YOs and decreases, it will all work out in the end.

9/5/12 -- After 2 hours worth of false starts and using numerous cast on techniques, I finally got my shawl started. I was surprised at how few projects there are of this pattern and I’m now convinced it’s because people can’t get past the cast on!

What worked for me was following this cast on tutorial and using 2 circs for the first few rows before switching to DPNs. edit: that link is no longer working. It was a crochet provisional cast on.

Chart A completed on Day 1

9/7/12 -- I cannot for the life of me figure out why Chart B is giving me so many problems. And I’m still not quite sure how to treat rows where the beg. stitch moves over.

9/8/12 -- 1 repeat Chart B done

9/11/12 -- Chart B complete, on to Chart C. Thinking of treating myself to some new circs. The knit picks cables are not smooth at the cable joins and it is really bothering me. I have Addis in size 6, but I don’t think they’ll be long enough for the entirety of the project.

9/13/12 -- Finished third repeat of Chart C

9/14/12 -- 5 repeats of Chart C completed. Got some 40” circs and took the opportunity while it was on 2 sets of needles to spread it out and take a picture.

9/15/12 -- finished the Chart C section. In the middle of the setup rows for Chart D. I’m really glad I got the 40” needles instead of 32”. Once I doubled the stitches, I imagine it would have been so very crowded on a shorter needle.

Weighed my yarn just after the last repeat of C and I had used 49 grams/391 yards. That is almost exactly 25% of my yarn, so right on track!

9/17/12 -- finally started Chart D

9/24/12 -- slow moving around here. Halfway through first repeat of Chart D. This puts me right around 40% done! Radius measures 17” stretched. Half of Chart D measures 2.5” stretched. Right now I anticipate the shawl to measure 48” across before the knitted border.

10/1/12 -- 1st repeat of Chart D is done!

10/15/12 -- after a 2 week break, picked it up again. First ball ran out on row 5 of second D chart

12/06/12 -- finished Chart D. On last set-up row for edging. 95 grams used on Chart D alone. 144 grams used total (72% of my yarn)

12/07/12 -- Started edging. Used this tutorial for provisional cast on. Cast on a separate needle and went ahead and worked one purl row before starting Chart E. REMEMBER THIS EXTRA ROW. I don’t have enough yarn, I think, to make the edging wider. After it’s all done, I should have 8-16 grams left, maybe?

note: Don’t do that extra purl row after casting on for the edge. You’ll wind up with 2 knit rows together due to the kitchener graft. It’s not very noticeable, but the pattern knows best.