Some math:
Because I’m a scientist and a nerd and a little OCD, I really, really get satisfaction out of changing the “percent complete” part of a project as I’m working through it. This is the first time I’ve done a circular shawl, though, so I had to do some math to figure out the percentages. I think there’s more than one way to go about this for a circular shawl, but I decided in the end to calculate it based on the actual number of stitches (rather than radius/diameter/etc.).

According to my counts and calculations, here are the stitch counts for each chart. For charts that are repeated, the count given is for ALL repeats. Caveat: I think I calculated each section correctly, but it’s possible I made a mistake, so please don’t get angry with me.

• Chart A stitch count: 1504
• A to B increase/transition round stitch count: 288
• Chart B stitch count: 3456
• B to C increase/transition round stitch count: 720
• Chart C stitch count: 13824
• C to D increase/transition rounds stitch count: 2020
• Chart D stitch count: 34800
• D to E transition/decrease rounds stitch count: 1740
• Chart E stitch count: 16128
• Total stitch count for project: 74480

As of writing this, I’m on Chart D, row 21 (first time through Chart D), so I’m only 42.5% done. That’s kind of depressing. On the up side, it means that every two rows of Chart D is 1.6% of the whole, so finishing those monster 580-stitch rows translates to measurable accomplishment. At the end of the first pass through Chart D, the project is a hair over 50% complete. I find it interesting that Chart E (the knitted on edging) is the second largest chart even though the rows are relatively short… by the time you get to Chart E, you still have a bit more than 21% of the project left to go!

10 Oct 2012: After fiddling around with both TECHknitting’s disappearing loop cast on and Eunny Jang’s lighter circular beginning for about twenty minutes, I ended up using TECHknitting’s approach (sort of), primarily because of the fact that I needed an even number and using a YO to get there with Eunny’s seemed awkward. I will admit that I ended up looking at where the yarn was in the TECHknitting diagrams and then figuring out the motions I’d need to get there rather than trying to decipher the red arrows! Looking at Eunny’s photos really helped with this. Because I don’t have size 4 or 5 DPNs, I used two circulars, and this worked fine.

I’m already enjoying the color and texture of the yarn. The pattern calls for fingering, but I really wanted to get something similar to the color used in the original, and the only thing I could find locally was the Zephyr (and ordering Loft was a bit cost prohibitive). It’s working up into a nice texture!

11 Oct 2012: Having a little trouble keeping even tension on the YOs that fall at the end of the circular. I’ve been trying to not tighten them up a lot when I switch to the other circular, but it still looks wonky. Hopefully I can do some manual adjustment with blocking, and if all else fails, hopefully it will get sort of lost in the overall pattern!

12 Oct 2012: Finished Chart A and the increase rounds. Moved up to gauge needle (7) and moved everything onto a 16” circular, which makes the knitting MUCH faster and more enjoyable!

25 Oct 2012: Finished Chart B and increase rounds. Moved onto my new 24” Addi SOS lace cable with a lifeline inserter… I am officially IN LOVE!

17 Nov 2012: Just bound off my Sunny Sky Thundercloud Scarf, so I was finally able to pick this back up tonight! It feels odd to work on the larger needles and with the grabbier yarn, but I really love the texture of the Zephyr—both while knitting and in the finished fabric—and am glad to be working with it again.

4 Dec 2012: After another hiatus to work on some Christmas presents, another Leaves of Grass interlude. Finished with the Chart C repeats!

18 Dec 2012: Got back to this last night to do the last increase section. Increases made, so I’m at the correct stitch count for Chart D… two more rows and then I start on the first repeat of Chart D. I really love this project, though I think I’d be wanting to tear my hair out if I didn’t have my addi SOS cables to install the lifelines!

20 Jan 2013: Finished first skein (57g, 630yd/576m) of the Zephyr toward the beginning of Chart D, row 21 (the first time through Chart D).

24 Jan 2013: Completed first pass through Chart D. Project 51% complete!

5 Feb 2013: Chart D and the subsequent knit/decrease rows complete! I am now ready to do the knitted edge. I’m a bit nervous about screwing that up, but I will get it figured out!

7 Feb 2013: Provisional cast on and first two repeats of Chart E complete! This was super simple; I used Åsa Tricosa’s winding (Provisional) cast on (my favorite) and took off running. I think this part is going to go really fast, especially since half of the rows are just purl.

12 Feb 2013: Halfway done with knitting edging.

22 Feb 2013: Done! Just need to block it now. I had a hole at the beginning of the edging join; I’m not sure how I could’ve avoided this. As suggested in the pattern, I used an end to darn it closed as best I could, though it’s not the most awesome darning job ever. Hopefully it won’t be too obvious/distracting.

I also found the Kitchener to be tricky in the lace weight yarn and pattern; I had no trouble with it (and tension) on my Pole sweater, but here, I pulled it a bit tight at the end. Again, it’s hopefully not too noticeable. Hoping to get it blocked tonight.

New Stuff
On this project, I learned…

1. How to do a circular cast on.