October 21, 2024

I don’t often buy a pattern, because I already have so many, but … This pattern seems about perfect for the yarn Jamal bought for me the last time he needed me to drive him to Michael’s - about two years before cancer took him. I’ve knitted miles of other yarns since then, always on the lookout for the right pattern for such special (to me) yarn.

Modifications I’m considering:

begin with more stitches; I’m 6’, 220 lbs, and prefer my shawls on the huge/enveloping side.

work a few rows even at centre-back - to both reduce strain on the centre and blunt the sharp point of the tail.

ditch the provisional cast on and begin with a crochet-hook cast-on.

I have two different colours of the Caron Cakes. Decision time!
Bumbleberry: https://www.ravelry.com/stash/search#colorway-link=17016-...

OR:
Cinnamon Swirl:
https://www.ravelry.com/stash/search#colorway-link=17031-...

OR … make one of each? (maniacal laughter fading into the distance!)

1820 hrs.
Decided on the Cinnamon Swirl.

1913 hrs.
Believing the repeat to be ten stitches, I have cast on 133, instead of 103.
I’ll slip the first stitch of every row purlwise for a chain selvedge. Why? Just because that’s how my grandmother said to always knit.

2232 hrs.
First four rows (garter stitch) are done.
Now, to disturb the cat in order to get some stitch markers ready.

December 8, 2024

Resuming, after finishing a test-knit.

To see what it looks like flat:
https://www.ravelry.com/projects/knittingnancyann/warm-sh...
Third photo.

December 9, 2024

Hit a knot! I wasn’t able to undo the knot, so, I cut it out. Because the very end of the yarn was a darker shade, I suspect this band of orange will be much longer/wider than subsequent, uninterrupted ones. Not a problem!

December 10, 2024

Only 20% wool! Yet, there’s a slight itchy/tingling on the back of my left hand, where the yarn moves across it. Maybe it’ll be less itch-provoking after a washing? If not, I’ll finally have a use for the red silk men’s shirt that’s hanging near the dryer. Its stitches are falling apart; I guess it was sewn with cotton thread. It’s been hanging there in hopes I overhaul and put to use one of the sewing machines. I like wearing silk shirts, though most of mine were left in our apartment in Latakia. I haven’t been back since February 28, 2011. To protect neck from contact with wool, I could fashion a collar from the red silk shirt.

December 15, 2024

IDEAS for centre back:

change to Bumbleberry, in garter stitch for 4 or 5 inches, alternating between the two colours every other row.

December 19, 2024

Just about two years ago, I used part of one ball of the Cinnamon Swirl to make https://www.ravelry.com/projects/JessicaJean/225-29-dubli...

I had forgotten that.

Worse, I have no idea where I put the remainder of that ball!

So, my new plan is to knit until I either run out of the Cinnamon Swirl or until I think it’s big enough to be one half of the shawl, and then finish with the Bumbleberry.

December 20, 2024

1630 hrs.
So, one ball of yarn done.
If the edge with the line of eyelets is the front edge of the shawl, then it’s past time to work a few rows even, before changing direction.
Or not.
I’m going to keep on as set for another few rows/inches.

Thinking more. The eyelet edge needs to measure from centre back of neck to wrist. Lots more knitting to do!

December 21, 2024

From my wrist to centre of back of neck is 30”.
The photo on the pattern calls for 20”.

I’ve changed my mind about adding even rows between sections … maybe. For now, I’m knitting on.

Pattern calls for casting off 14 stitches at centre back. Since I’ve enlarged it, I’ll cast off 18 or 19, when I get there.

Good advice: https://www.knittingparadise.com/threads/math-help-please...

March 22, 2025

I just found the partial ball that was missing! Where? In the bottom of the project bag, with a load of small balls of previously knitted worsted weight variegated baby pastels yarn.