Casting on for backpacking trip. Began in the Grand Canyon on 4/2/2009 when my legs wouldn’t go any further. Finished 1st lace pattern while still there. Now up to the second lace pattern, 10 stitch pattern, easy to remember, knitting bliss.

6/11 Made it through the halfway point of the madeira lace pattern. Some rows are pure drudgery and others just fly by. i think I’ve made it over the hump and now will have to decide if I want to repeat this chart to make the shawl larger.

6/21 OK how crazy is this. I am using the beech leaf edging which is absolutely beautiful and I will use again on shawls. But.. to cast off 5 stitches, of the shawl, you knit 10 rows of 17 + stitches or at least 170 stitches for every 5 cast off. I am about 1/5 of the way around the edging. I don’t think I will have to block alpaca too rigorously. It didn’t crimp and looks pretty much as it should.

Finished it last night and love it. I wanted to wear it to bed. I have to block with out the benefit of pins so will use twine and lots of knots. It should dry in about 2 mins where we are.