The Knitting Dork

Thank you so much to Lisa for taking these pictures for me.

Before the pictures, the details.
Yarn: Chewy Spaghetti Capellini in color Lucky, purchased at Maryland Sheep and Wool in 2008. I used about 131 grams, so just slightly over two hanks. I actually used nearly 1/4 of the second hank because a winding mishap with the first hank caused me to waste some yarn. The yarn was nice to work with, and the finished fabric feels soft against the skin.

Pattern: Mandala (Ravelry link, Goddess Knits link)
As many people know, this shawl was a “choose your own adventure” pattern. There are four sections to the shawl, and each section has an option of four patterns. I chose the following:
Section 1: Chart C
Section 2: Chart A
Section 3: Chart B
Section 4: Chart B

Needles: I used my Knit Picks Harmony needles for this. I started off using size four needles. After I put the shawl in time-out, I reclaimed the needles for another project. I then thought I put the same size needle back on the project when I resumed, but learnd after I finished that most of the last half of the shawl was worked on size 5. I AM A GENIUS!

The finished shawl measures just over 61″. I wondered why my gauge seemed different in the later parts of the shawl, but now I see that it was a user error on my part. It looks good, though, and I tell you what, I am not about to rip it out and do a ‘do over’.

Okay enough yammering, here are the pictures.

No photos yet. It’s blocking on beige carpet, and the yarn is a light color. Will need a darker background to display the beauty of this lace pattern.

I finished the border this afternoon. I need to find space to block it. Hopefully pictures soon.

I am officially in the final stages of the shawl. I started the border yesterday but the pain medication made it difficult to concentrate. Today I went without pain meds to see how I’d feel, and I did okay. I worked on the border and finished 8 repeats, which is one section of the shawl. There are 12 sections with 8 repeats in each section. I am on my way!!! My overall completion rate is 80% (based on total shawl stitch count). Not long now!

I haven’t knitted since Sunday night. The short story is on Monday I had stomach pain, that night I had an appendectomy, and I spent all day Tuesday in the hospital. I’m hoping I’ll feel up to knitting tomorrow, but we shall see.

…is finished! Will start the border tomorrow! So excited!

That is all.

Last night I finished row 76 of chart 4, which leaves 20 rows before I start the edging. Progress was slower this week because I was sick and alternated between being so bored I had to do something, and being so exhausted I couldn’t even knit. I think I am still on track to finish this thing in two weeks. Still not 100% sure about the edging but after looking at a few people’s projects on Ravelry I think sort of see where it’s going.

Up to now I had thought I was about 70% done with the shawl, but I just learned that I underestimated the number of stitches in the edging by more than half, so I’m really closer to 65% right now.

edit: After reading through some threads on the Ravelry board and looking at A Gathering of Lace, I think I may understand how the edging is meant to be worked. This shawl is going to be awesome.

…I don’t knit a single stitch all day. I feel like poop and didn’t go to work today. Spent most of the day in bed, except when I was on the sofa. I’m probably going to lose two days on the shawl for this cold. I guess I’ll have to make it up this weekend.