Getting through the main body of the shawl was just fine, and once past the initial intimidation factor, reading the lace charts wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. Granted, I specifically chose a simple repeat pattern to start with, but it certainly helped to build up my confidence for the next project. Besides, once you learn to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and Norse runes, knitting charts are a breeze by comparison.
I brought in an extra set of stitch markers (super glad I decided to make the second set!) to help myself keep track of where the pattern repeats started and ended, but that's mainly for my own personal OCD reasons and not absolutely necessary. Also on that note, the original pattern required you to switch to the lace charts in the middle of a four-row repeat...which required me to do some quick math and add on an additional six rows, in order to keep both the pattern and my sanity. Switching mid-repeat literally makes my brain itchy, and I go out of my way to avoid it whenever possible. (The pattern must be completed! That's why it's called a pattern, not a random!)
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| Zigzag edging |
If I had followed the pattern exactly as written, the whole thing would have been finished on a single ball of yarn...as it was, I had to dip into a second for the last four rows and the bind-off. Not bad, though, and I still have enough of this gloriously soft yarn left to make another two shawls, with a bit left over. Honestly, this stuff feels so wonderful, I would knit myself a full body-suit out of the stuff and wear it all the time. Maybe a onesie. With feeties. Oh Gods, now I need to invent a pattern for that!
Anyways, with the exception of a good soak and blocking (laying the piece out and pinning the edges to dry in its desired shape), my shawl is now finished, and just in time for fall. I can certainly see it coming in handy as the nights get cooler.
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| It's a wooly-soft stingray! |
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