When I was planning what to knit while in Cuba a friend suggested I should do some ironic knitting and that the Bermuda shawl was the perfect project. Turned out she was correct.

A few weeks before I left I had the pleasure of going to a trunk show where I met the designer, Ilga Leja, and we had a great conversation about the importance of picking out the knitting projects for a trip. Many non- knitting friends poke fun at my plan to knit on the beach but clearly they just don’t get it.

This shawl is now full of memories, everytime I pick it up I’m on the beach - for a week after I came home I could still smell Cuba when I buried my face in the wool. My favourite memory is of the morning I saw another knitter on the beach (they are surprisingly rare) and I had to go see what she was doing - a sock. When I discribed what I was about to cast on she named the shawl and designer and it’s in her to do list. As we talked other women joined us and the Bermuda shawl was discussed at length, Ravelry membership encouraged and I know that there will be more knitters at the beach next year. In fact I can’t count how many women regretted not bringing their knitting and how many thought they should start knitting again. The other knitter was from British Columbia; I love how knitting links us.

The pattern is wonderful and I’m a few rows short of finished. There will be more Bermuda shawls in my lap in the future.

As I was loading the pictures I began to realise how the colours of the shawl are everywhere in Cuba so I had to add some scenic shots.

July 7, 2012 - So I finally blocked the shawl and took it on an outing to the coast of Nova Scotia to get some pictures. In fact it was also my very first fishing experience and I caught 3 mackerel. A very good day. Again the blues of this beautiful Kauni colourway are reflected in the environment, not as vibrant as Cuba this time, now its the moody rich blues of the north Atlantic.