I, Vanessa, though deathly afraid of circular needles, have bought an interchangeable set for the sole purpose of knitting this project. Good God I hope it works.

About 5000 beads?! Are you kidding me?! I have maybe 2000ish, so well see how that goes. Hopefully it’ll look like a fishing net with pretty stuff caught in it. :)

I had to modify the second half of the Madeira pattern to get it to look mostly right. It seems to be a common problem. Beading the yarn is tedious and hard on my yarn. I should be good to knit with the beads soon. I changed the name of my project because, as I put my pretty beads on, it reminded me of the treasure Gripus pulled out of the sea in Terence’s Rudens:

This have I found in the sea to-day; whatever’s in it, it’s something heavy that’s in it; I think it’s gold that’s in it. And not a single person is there my confidante in the matter. Now, Gripus, this opportunity has befallen you, that the Prætor might make you a free man from among the multitude. Now, thus shall I do, this is my determination; I’ll come to my master cleverly and cunningly, little by little I’ll promise money for my freedom, that I may be free. Now, when I shall be free, then, in fine, I’ll provide me land and houses and slaves: I’ll carry on merchandize with large ships: among the grandees I shall be considered a grandee. Afterwards, for the sake of pleasing myself, I’ll build me a ship and I’ll imitate Stratonicus, and I’ll be carried about from town to town. When my greatness is far-spread, I shall fortify some great city: to that city I shall give the name of “Gripus,” a memorial of my fame and exploits, and there I’ll establish a mighty kingdom. I am resolving here in my mind to prepare for mighty matters. At present I’ll hide this booty. But this grandee pointing to himself is about to breakfast upon vinegar and salt, without any good substantial meat. (IV.2)

Turns out I probably do have about 5000 beads. I’ll have to string some more soon. Oh man…I remember how much I LOOOOOVED that…. :P It’ll be over soon.

I should probably pick this up again…someday.

So I’ve picked it back up after about 5-6 months. I hate it, but I’m sooooo close! I hate Noro with a fiery, fiery passion. Unfortunately, I may need one more skein to finish the remaining 15 rows. :P I’m sure I would have had this done a year ago, if I hadn’t had to deal with the Noro.

Son of a flippin’ banshee! I finally got the umph I needed to finish this sucker, the beads were absolutely compliant, then I go to join the final ball of Silk Garden and realize I didn’t get Sock when I bought this last skein. I got the regular Silk Garden!!! It might still work, but without nylon, I’m afraid it won’t hold the weight of all the beads. Right now the shawl weighs a ton. I can’t wait for this stupid thing to be done. :P

IT’S DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONE!!!! :D :D :D