First completed lace project. After a previous false start on another shawl, I was starting to think I was doomed to be a lace dunce but along came something I could wrap my beginner brain around.

I think the fact that this was “advertised” as a fingering weight project helped me to feel like I didn’t have to attempt something too gossamer. Cobweb thread on larger needles felt too fiddly to me. I felt like Goldilocks when I found that this one was just right!

The yarn I used was perhaps a better weight for a beginning lace project but I must say not ideal in other ways. It is 2ply (read as splitty on lace needles) with a bit of a halo or loft to it which caused a slight issue when doing the laborious cast off. I hated the cast off for multiple reasons but persevered since I knew it looked good in the photos. I’m glad I did since the less I tried to FORCE my crochet needle into the K3tog, the easier it became and all was copacetic after halfway through. I just hoped the two halves would look the same!

There were lots of discussion threads on various forums that were helpful on the original pattern. The designer was responsive to all questions and issues and has just recently issued another set of updated instructions which I’m sure will be helpful to others.

I credit this pattern and its designer for keeping my interest in lace knitting just when I had thought all was lost. I would knit this lovely pattern again but as with all obsessive knitters, I’m looking down the road already to the next, more complex lacework challenge!

Blocking this project was an eye opener for a newbie lace knitter. This is sort of a triangular shawl….but for blocking purposes, it has an arc to the top so trying to pull it straight across was a mistake. As a new lace blocker, I was a bit surprised by this but used a method for triangular shawl blocking that worked either way; I had threaded a secondary yarn through the top line of stitches and although I initially pulled it straight across, I ultimately was able to pull it into the arc that you see. This is VERY important to note if you are new to lace blocking, or just a dunce like me.

I also used a spare mattress to pin this on (glad I didn’t do it on the carpet or something as other on-line posts advocated) and it took quite a bit of time to re-re-re-arrange T-pins in order to get this to pull out and look right. It is not perfect but I decided it was getting dry anyway and looked pretty darn good! Finished blocked size is 46” across top edge and 23.5 from top center to bottom ‘point’. I had 25grams of yarn left over.

I hope to post pics of this lovely item when it is no longer tethered to an old mattress. It deserves something a bit more glamorous! I am very happy that I was able to complete this project! Thank you, Emily Ross!