I’m Project #74! Fell in love with this shawl when I saw it. As with all projects, this one had its challenges. I started it three times - first with a heavier sock yarn (Spud & Chloe Fine Sock Yarn) using US5 and US7- and after knitting the double garter realized this shawl would be monstrous. My second try was Dyeforwool fingering in color “Dead Leaves” using US4 and US6 - and I decided the color wasn’t right for this pattern, but I saw that sizing down the needles was going to work. Last and successful attempt was my precious Wollmeise, using US4 and US6. I used all but 89 grams of two skeins of Wollmeise.

I knit it as written till the very end when I messed up on the double garter by adding an extra row of purls on the third set, so rather than tinking back, my edge is two double-garters, three triple garters, and ending with two double garters. This “mistake” turned out looking pretty good! After completing the 3/5 lace, I finished with one ball of yarn on US 4 needles.

I cast off on the right side using one of the popular stretchy cast-offs which is P1, YO, P1, pass two stitches (the YO and first P1) over the P1. Now one stitch is on the right needle. YO, P1 from left needle, and again pass two stitches (the YO and first P1) over the P1. Continue till end. It makes a nice stretchy edge that looks nice. I didn’t even have to size up on the needles - used the US4’s to cast off this way and got plenty of stretch without a sloppy look. Better instructions for this yarn-over method at this link Yarn-over cast off)

What I would have done differently I would have used US5 and US7 for the 5/5 star. This area is quite compact and tight and I would have liked more “give” to open up the lace in this section. Take a look at this project MyMerinoMantra’s Moon & Stars to see how larger needles on the first double garter and 5/5 lace made a beautiful difference. Wish I had read MyMerinoMantra’s project notes before knitting mine.

The size is very substantial - considering I’m blocking at medium tension. Wingspan is 90” and depth is 24”.

Blocking…takes patience. It took me 2 hours to fiddle with blocking. I thought I could get away with not using wires on the top edge. Nope - had to string it up on wires - 3 long wires. This allowed me to pull the edge without having to use pins - which would have put icky pull marks on the beautiful edge.

I think I’m going to love wearing it. It’s being modeled by my friend Cindy.

Wollmeise and me… It took me years to get my hands on Wollmeise yarn and finally got some at The Loopy Ewe. I thought this would be the be-all/end-all of yarns with all the raves I’ve seen on Ravelry about this yarn. Well, sorry, but it’s not all that. Some of the US yarns have it beat - like Swans Island and the Germany’s DyeforWool…EXCEPT - the color of this Wollmeise is outstanding - the Herzblut is a deep rich red with some subtle color variation. The color alone makes it special. I also found the Wollmeise to be a bit splitty.