MC: moonglow
CC1: saffron
CC2: daffodil
CC3: plunge

8/3/2015 - Casting on! The garter intro is simple.
8/4/2015 - I completed the set-up row for the brioche uneventfully, but I need to brush up on my 2-color brioche skills (one color is super simple, but I need to get used to making multiple passes for each row!). So, I’m watching videos and practicing with scrap yarn--hopefully I’ll learn quickly!
8/9/2015 - I unsuccessfully practiced two-color brioche with scrap yarn (I couldn’t find a tutorial with directions to set-up/cast on brioche with 2 colors). So. I just watched a few videos repeatedly until I understood brioche better. The main points (Andrea explains these in the pattern too) :

• You knit one row with the MC (every other stitch) and at the same time, slip and add YOs to the CC (every other stitch). Then, WITHOUT TURNING YOUR WORK, you complete the same row, but this time you’re working the CC and slipping and wrapping the MC with YOs. THEN TURN, and continue on the other side.
• It may sound slow-going, but it’s not, because you’re only working every other stitch, plus, it’s super fun to see the pattern develop.
• Make sure your set-up row is completed correctly, and then it will be easier to visualize the brioche.
• The first few rows of brioche aren’t pretty, since the pattern hasn’t taken form yet. Don’t lose heart!
• Follow Andrea’s written directions to a tee--they’re very helpful.

10/27/2015- Knitting is done! Binding off took quite some time with all of those stitches, but it is magical to watch a big project slowly come off the needles.

A note on colors/stripes:

The pattern is written for a Main Color (MC) and three Contrast Colors (CC1, CC2, etc.) I love the four-color versions I’ve seen, but I decided I wanted to simplify my shawl a bit, so I left out the blue. I’ll repurpose it for another project. I’m happy with my choice!

Also, I was a few yards shot of my MC, so I only knit 3 or 4 sets of Row 1 and Row 2 of the border. Aesthetically, I like it just as much :)

Overall Impressions:

This was a hefty project, simply because it was my first fingering weight project for a huge shawl, and each consecutive row got longer and longer. Towards the end, I felt like I was crawling. That being said, this pattern is wonderful, and this is one of my favorite knits ever. It’s tied for first place of “knits I’m most proud of.”

(I’ll post better modeled photos soon :)