The link provided by the pattern for the cast on was impenetrable to me. I found this link to Tech Knitter’s blog about the same kind of cast on which was much easier for me to deal with. The diagrams sort of confused me, but following the text description, which was very clear, had me get it right on the first try.

I cast on via Magic Loop because I just can’t juggle all those needles. It worked fine, and I kept on with magic loop until it was big enough to switch over to a 24” cable.

In the Bleeding Heart pattern on row 10, I slipped the first stitch, not counting it as finished, then knit 4, etc. At the end of the round, that slipped stitch is worked in the k3tog.

4/9 So far am just about to start Madeira. Planning on following NurseRatchknit’s instructions on cleaning up rows 30-31.

Got myself a bead spinner and a bunch of pretty beads in iridescents and greens. I haven’t been able to spit-felt this yarn, so I’ll be stringing on a few hundred beads, Russian joining the yarn, using them up, breaking the yarn, adding more beads, rinse, repeat. I’ve read too many horror stories about the perils of stringing all the beads at once.

4/10 My normal way of doing a ssk is slip one knitwise, slip one purlwise, then knit. I have found that this method doesn’t work right in part of the Madeira pattern. On the inside part of the leaves - that is to say, the right hand ssks on the low odd rows (3, 5, etc.), I have needed to slip both knitwise, otherwise there’s too much slack in the motif because there’s a yo directly underneath.

Row 16 of Madeira stumped me with the marker moving right - instructions on this project helped me out.

4/12 Done with Madeira. I used the alternate chart and ended up with a nasty looking leaf on the first repeat. No idea what happened; it’s fine on all the other repeats. I figure it’s my humble error that keeps me safe from the wrath of the gods.

At row 101 I followed the errata from the designer on this post in order to prevent a large hole at the beginning of the faggot lace.

4/13 Working the faggot lace. Am heavily into “WTF was I thinking?” territory. Only crazy people would make this shawl.

4/14 Okay, I’m a little calmer. I was running into two main problems with section 7:

First, the k2togs were very difficult to work.
Solution: Relax! Knit loosely and it’s much easier to insert the needle. Loosening up has allowed me to increase my speed from one round every day to every 45 minutes or so, and my speed is steadily increasing as I grow more familiar with the motions.

Second, the beads that were supposed to float on the yos were ending up in the k2togs.
Solution: Make sure that the beads are all the way to the right as you work the k2tog that comes after them. Especially check to see where the working yarn lies as you make the k2tog stitch; if the working yarn falls underneath the bead, it will pull it into the k2tog you’re making, and if it falls above the bead, it will allow the bead to float on the yo to the right.

Last, if you are uncomfortable fixing mistakes in lace, and these are difficult mistakes to fix if you’re to drop a stitch, you will want to insert a lifeline often. Mistakes are very visible.

4/15 At the beginning of section 7: 3 oz.
Row 110 complete: 2 5/8 oz.

4/30 Blocking! I had a great time making this shawl once I figured out how to deal with the outer portion (tug down on the rows below in order to insert the needle for the k2tog). I used a million pins to block it. The center medallion was about 23” pre-blocking, and I pinned it out to 32”.

The yarn bled like a stuck pig and I shouldn’t like to trust it on a rainy day. I soaked it in a vinegar bath twice, so hopefully that will help the dye hold. I had other problems with the yarn, like a major tangle every 5 rows or so, plus it had weak spots that broke or became hair-thin as I pushed the beads down the line. However, it ended up having a beautiful drape and softness, plus the subtle variegations are so much nicer than anything I could accomplish myself, so I’m glad I used it despite my troubles.

I’ll post better pics once it’s dry.

Used approximately 3.75 oz., or 1172 yards.