Used Judy Becker’s provisional cast on (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhBIS0AhhQY)
Skipped doing purl row, went immediately to Row A.

Had a problem when transitioning to Chart 2. It finally occurred to me that I had knitted Rows 33-48 on Chart 1, which the written instructions did not say to do. Rows 33-48 on Chart 1 are identical to Rows 1-16 on Chart 2, so I just began Chart 2 on Row 17.

Center issues/Second half

When starting on the second half, I had a problem.
Perhaps it was the result of using a different provisional cast on, because no one else mentioned it. When doing the setup row A, the yos did not match up because there was no stitch between them, and I think I also was one stitch short somehow. So here’s what I did:
Before knitting Row A, I knit a purl row in keeping with the rest of the pattern.
For Row A,

• at the first yo only, I made a stitch (m1) by picking up a stitch between the two yos; this provided me the “missing” stitch and lined up the yos.
• at all others, just before the yo, I did the following: k2tog, yo, m1, yo. This modification lined up the yo holes and gave me better peace of mind.

Beads

I wanted to add a little bling to the scarf and intended to incorporate beads into the final row(s) of the scarf. After several attempts (which nearly fuzzed up the mohair to the point where I thought I would need to break and replace it), I decided one 8/0 white pearl bead at each of the “contact” points and one 6/0 white pearl over the ch5 loop. This was a PITA, but the effect was worth it IMO. The beads add just enough weight to hold the scarf edge down.

The 6/0 beads had to be threaded onto the yarn, so I unwound what I thought certainly would be enough yarn to finish that row. (It wasn’t.) I initially tried using one, then three 8/0 beads on each loop, but it didn’t lay right for me. (I’m out of practice crocheting, which might have been part of the problem.)

The 8/0 beads were added as I crocheted. For the first and last stitch on my needle, as well as for all the k1 stitches, I slid the bead on before crocheting, then sc (or for the first and last, sc 2 together) as directed. For the sc 3 together, I pulled the yarn through the three loops, added the bead, then pulled the yarn through the two loops on the crochet hook.

I used a US1 crochet hook.

Lessons learned:

Never work with mohair (or other fine lace) without sharply pointed needles. The only ones I could find in an appropriate size was a blunt tipped set, and it increased my knitting time by at least 25%, probably more. :(

If I make another (in shawl size), I would use a linen-type yarn and add real bells to the bottom. (I love jingles like the belly dancing scarves.)

Notes to self:

A photo of the center (back) of the shawl:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ivinka/singing-bells-stole

For scarf, see http://www.ravelry.com/projects/irinasballofyarn/singing-...:
• cast on 63 stitches, 3 bells width
• used size 8 green beads (4 beads in the center of each full leaf & randomly while working on charts 2 and 3)
• used crochet hook size 2-2.75mm when binding off
Size while blocking: 13”(the center) x 19”(each end) x 68”