Second shawl, different than the first, Exploration Station I - both are beautiful!

First one, bold and bright colors - second one softer, lighter hues …

This color scheme:

• Color A - Oyster Heather
• Color B - Lichen
• Color C - Charcoal
• Color D - Gentry Grey

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Schedule:

•Clue #1 - October 31

2014 11 04 UPDATE: Such a fun knit yielding lovely, fast results. Project must be meant for speed knitters, because first clue knits up fast … so decided to start a second shawl - this second one, very different colors than the first.

Easy to memorize, nearly mindless knitting - yet not at all on the boring side. Most lovely with its wedges swirling with color and a perfect icord edge along on the top! Bury those ends in the icord edging … no knots, no messy weaving, no show, secure finished color changes … Gotta love it!

•Clue #2 - November 7

2014 11 07 UPDATE: Clue 1 finished - now on to Clue #2 … and the Brioche.

After working numerous little swatches to practice the Brioche section with some worsted weight yarns, I think I get it enough to jump in and start working Clue 2 for real. I wasn’t particularly happy with my tension in those practice swatches, so I’ll be more careful with that. And I’m still feeling a little unsure about the Brioche increases so will need to study that portion of the video again when I get to that row. Life line in place, here goes … gulp!

2014 11 09 UPDATE: Getting lots of practice with the brioche stitches as I work each set of RS and WS rows on both this project and my first shawl, Exploration Station I … and turns out, it’s not so bad! I’d say I can comfortably recognize when to brp or brk and when to sl1yo … holding the working yarn in my right hand, I have established a nice rhythm to my knitting … though I proceed carefully, no where near a speed-knitting pace by any means, as it still feels new to me. Have seen this stitch in so many patterns and was curious about it … delighted to get to learn it with soooooo many others during this MKAL. Certainly seems easier and friendlier that way. I like it, and hope there is more of it coming in the next clues …

•Clue #3 - November 14

2014 11 15 UPDATE: Finished Clue #3 … barely (I repeat - BARELY!) had enough yarn B (Lichen) left to finish the clue. Had used a wee bit of yarn B in my first practice swatch for the brioche stitch before switching to a worsted weight for that practice. Fortunately I had not thrown that little swatch away! Did not want a knot in the middle of the row, so opted for a spit splice to attach. Had approximately one yard left when finished knitting, even with knitting the last few rows a tad tighter than usual. I had my scales next to me and weighed the remaining yarn at the end of each row - I knew it would be that close. One yard close … that may be my new record.

Meanwhile as I wait for the release date for the final clue, I’ll finish up Clue #3 for my other Exploration Station, Exploration Station I. Oh wait, tomorrow is a hiking day … so except for maybe an hour or so knitting time in the car while the Man drives, my knitting will have to wait until next week. Happy trails … oh, I mean, happy knitting. :-)

•Clue #4 - November 21

2011 11 24 UPDATE: Mystery revealed! Nearly finished with Clue 4, Chevron Shenanigans, then on to the icord bind off. This has been such a fun, inspirational, creative, educational, super fast knitting project. Making two of these has been twice the fun! FINISHED! Did the icord bind off in Color D, Gentry Grey. Love the contrast finish to the end of this piece.

Finished size after blocking is 72” wide by 26” deep … it seems large, big, nearly dwarfs little me … but I do absolutely love it.

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MKAL Page: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/westknits-mystery-shawl-kal...

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