12/28: started tonight and got through row 25 and then dropped a couple of sttches and they unraveled down 6 rows. Aaaaaaaaaaaggh!!! I will start over tomorrow, and I think I might use the shepherd's wool fine that I was planning on using originally. The yarn that I was using tonight is the tight 2ply superwash merino base that a lot of indie dyers use. It Is very pretty but the way it is plied makes it have a lot of energy, and if you drop a stitch you are SCREWED because it completely unravels and ruins your entire life. I decided to keep using this yarn because it is too pretty not to use. I think my problem was my gauge, and after I switched to a bigger needle I no longer had any problems with dropped stitches. I love this yarn! I wish I knew who dyes it!
I am really enjoying the pattern, however, and what I have done so far is very well charted. I love the included stitch count chart. That is a very helpful addition.
I think that the intermediate level is accurate for this pattern. The lace stitches it requires are not difficult, but the fact that there is lace patterning on both sides means that it requires more attention and concentration than some other lace patterns.
My shawl was totally looking gorgeous before this yarn betrayed me. I am going to sleep on it and try again tomorrow.

12/29: Started again! But this time I’m adding lifelines!
Just finished row 40. Really zipping through this now that I’m done with the double sided lace.

1/3/14: Done with row 73, really enjoying this pattern. When I started again I switched to size 6 needles, because they give me more drape and give me a better gauge

1/5/14: just finished row 80! Rows are getting longer! I cant wait to have this done so I can wear it!

1/6/14: Just finished row 89. I timed myself and it took me about 14.5 minutes to get through two rows, which is a long time for me. I’m guessing that it took me about 50 minutes to get through 9 rows today, so I will probably need about an hour and 45 minutes to finish (if I did my math correctly), not including the cast off row (which will probably take me about 20-30 minutes). So close to finishing I can taste it

1/8/14: Man, those last two patterned rows really tripped me up! I was still in the swing with the previous repeats, so I had to pay attention to all of the new K2togs and yo’s. I am going to bind off with a size 7 needle, because when I started binding off with the size 6 it was too tight.

1/9/14: I ended up doing a P2TOG cast off because the Icelandic cast off was too tight no matter how big of a needle I used. I am blocking it tonight and will hopefully get some pictures tomorrow