08-31-2020

I was very confused by the placement of the two stitch markers at first. I figured out that the issue was how the pattern calls for a yarn over directly before the first stitch marker and, if you are not careful, the stitch can end up AFTER the stitch marker instead of BEFORE. It’s not an issue with the second stitch marker since The yarn over on that side comes directly after you slip the second marker.

I use bell shaped safety pins as stitch markers and it’s possible this would be less of a problem with “proper” stitch markers. Still, I think it’s something to be aware of.

This yarn is SO GORGEOUS. The pictures don’t do it justice at all. The slight variation and amazing sheen create a pearlescent effect that I’ve never seen before. It’s glorious on this lace knit. So fun to work with!

09-03-2020

I love the lace and have decided to increase the lace sections. I’m doing this by completing 20 rows of garter stitch sections (section I) between lace (section II) instead of 30 rows. We shall see how many total bands I create.

This yarn is still absolutely beautiful but it has a roughness with the linen. It’s not something you notice immediately and I don’t think it will be an issue for wearing at all, but knitting with it for a long period of time is quite rough on my hands. I keep wanting to reach for some lotion because my hands feel so dry!

I’ve realized that this pattern has a small feature I don’t love but that it’s too late for me to change now. During the garter sections the very center stitch between the two eyelits running down the back is also garter stitch. During the lace sections this stitch is always knit from the front and purled from the wrong side, forming a single knit rib down the back. I wish I had made it always knit facing the right side the entire way. That would have required row 2 Of section I to always have a single purl stitch right in the middle (the stitch directly after the first stitch marker) and I think it would have created a slightly more polished detail. It’s likely something no one will ever notice but me, but still I wish I had realized it sooner!

09-08-2020

At this point I’ve completed about 130 rows and I would expect the piece to be bigger than it is. I have increased the percentage of the shawl that is lace, but otherwise I am following the pattern closely, same yarn weight and needle size etc., and overall size still seems small.

Reading some of the other projects it sounds like the blocking will make this grow considerably. I do wonder if this will be my experience with a different (albeit still cotton!) yarn then most people are using. I guess we will find out!

09-11-2020

Binding off and blocking!

Because I decided to make the garter sections (section I) smaller and the lace sections (section II) thus closer together, it messed with the ending point. The original pattern ended on a lace section, but I prefer to end on a garter section because it feels more grounding and secure somehow. BUT I found myself on track to reach the total number of rows (according to the pattern) halfway through a lace section. To finish that lace section AND add another garter section would have been huge.

I decided to skip the lace and finish with a single lace stripe (two rows of section II) and then a few final rows of garter to make a cute little border stripe.

Bound off with a stretchy bind off, knit two, then knit both together through the back.

Now blocking
Starting dimensions: 39”x18”
Blocking dimensions: 56”x30” wet
Dry: TBD

Final counts
Row count: 122 (pattern was 120)
Stitch per row count: 151 (pattern 147)
Rows of lace: 3 of section II (5 rows of lace each from 10 knit rows) plus one, 16 lace rows total (32 knit rows but eyelits spread over two rows each.)
Rows of garter: 30 first, 18 * 3 is 54, after detail single lace 6 more of garter. 90 total.

09-26-2020

Added tassels! Could not be happier with the finished product.

Who doesn’t use wine bottles to hang up their shawls for showing off?

All done. Very pleased