Didn’t know whether to use the Sunday Morning for this project or another one. I landed on the Portia but will keep info below for future reference…

Initial Thoughts: This pattern is very complex but incredibly enjoyable - and I don’t particularly enjoy cable knitting. It’s charted only. While this is the easiest way to do complicated cables, the process goes slowly… I’m using a yarn that is incredibly lofty (even prior to blocking). The pattern calls for DK but this fingering is working well. The added bonus is that the finished product will be very light-weight and drapey.

Final Thoughts:

• Although I used only ~700 yards of fingering yarn, I used the right yarn. It has a lot of natural give and easily expanded to 33” x 63” (slightly shorter but also wider than the version as instructed). The great thing is that it’s a very bloomy yarn which will ensure warmth and provide adequate stitch-plumpness - so that it doesn’t seem like the shawl has been knit in the wrong yarn-gauge. And this thing weighs nothing (ok 166g but, that’s very light for a full shawl - even one in fingering weight).
• This was a totally enjoyable, addictive knit and (as previously mentioned) cables don’t generally flip my switch. I think that what makes this work is the combo of complex cables that repeat regularly enough that the pattern starts to become knowable (though I had to look at the charts on every right-side round).
• One of my other cable project issues is that I often find cables too busy (and a bit show-offy). But this pattern is so elegant. It manages to be in-your-face while also receding adequately to allow the yarn to shine. I also find this cable pattern quite modern. I won’t feel like I’m living in Outlander while wearing it. And don’t get me wrong, I liked the first 2 seasons of Outlander!
• If this yarn blocks as I sense it will, I will be using it constantly. It’s skin-soft but rustic. You can feel the energy of the sheep and the land. And the colours are spectacular. I’m not sure if I love this colour or if it’s slightly too “grape” for me (and would work better in colourwork as a contrast colour), but I like it just fine with my skin tone. Also, I tend toward more muted tones. Thing about this one is that it’s not as muted as anticipated.
• I really recommend using blocking wires and pins (as per the instructions). These are cables worth blocking per best-practice.
• I love the end result. This shawl is so light-weight but also warm. This fingering-weight version works fine for me but I’m a small person and I can see how the proportions would work better for many if knit in a sport or DK yarn (in terms of maximizing size and optimizing the length of the shorter edge)