LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Mods:

• I’m using heavier yarn and larger needles than the pattern called for. I swatched to figure out what size needles to use, and settled on US 10/6.0 mm.
• I measured my swatch and calculated that 433 should be the right number to cast on - 12 wave patterns on each side of the shawl, plus a center stitch. (The pattern starts with a cast on of 541 stitches. Yes, 541! So 433 is actually pretty nice.)
• Since the semi-solid yarn tended to hide the waviness of the pattern, I’m knitting rather than purling the second row of each four-row lace pattern. This creates those garter ridges which emphasize the waves.
• The pattern calls for 18 inches, but made mine a little bit deeper. Unblocked, it’s 20 inches deep at the edge and 30 inches deep along the center line. The top edge is a total of 64 inches and the bottom edge 104.

Pattern note: The cast-on is the bottom edge. I recommend casting on in larger needles than you’ll use for the body to get a nice loose cast on. You slowly work upwards, decreasing 4 stitches along the center line every second row - a mitered corner.

The L-shape of this pattern is wonderful in a shawl. It sits on the shoulders without slipping and keeps both front and back warm. I will definitely be knitting more Ls!

Progress:

• 11/3/2008: 27 rows, (interestingly) about 27% of the yarn. I love it so far and it’s going to be pure divine warmth to wear.
• 11/15/2008: 55 rows, about 45% of the yarn, 10 inches deep.
• 11/22/2008: 75 rows, 68% of the yarn, 14 inches deep.
• 11/27/2008: 90 rows, 80% of the rows, 85% of stitches, 18 inches deep at the edge.
• 12/2/2008: 108 rows total, which is basically or three repeats of the mitered decrease pattern. Last row was 221 stitches. Used 480 g of yarn, about 4.5 of Sundara’s generous skeins of ASM.

I tried this shawl in handspun Sock Hop yarn and decided that the pattern and yarn were not a good match. I’ve redone it in Sundara’s aran silky merino yarn.