Shawl Update

I finished my washcloth/dishcloth/whatever last night and switched to my shawl today. I'll admit it was a struggle to return to the shawl as I'd put it down for such a long time. It was also strange switching from worsted weight cotton to lace weight wool. Talk about a huge difference! It took a little while to hit my stride, but I managed. I hope to work on the shawl from here on out until it's finished. Might take awhile, but I'll get there.

There is this row in Clue 4 that is hard to get right for some unknown reason. It's not a difficult row, but that might be the problem right there. In thinking it's easy, it becomes easy to make a mistake. Of course, it's an important row, so if it's messed up in the wrong spot, it throws the entire thing off. Figures, huh? This particular clue is repeated 4 times. The second time I tackled that row, I messed it up over and over and over again. I think it took me 6 tries to get it right. Gack! I faced that row again tonight for the third time. I'll admit that I was frightened of it. I mean, who wouldn't if you recently had to redo it so many times before? I'm absolutely thrilled that I managed to get it right the first time through. I'm honestly doing a happy dance here. lol All I need to do now is do the purl row, or the "lock in row" as I like to think of them, and slip in a new lifeline. Since it's right, I don't want to risk having to redo it if I make a mistake on the rows further up. Which, knowing me, I will. So, yes. Lifelines are my best buds.

After I get some sleep, I will attempt to remember to post photos of my finished washcloth and where I'm at on my shawl. Unfortunately, I can't spread out the entire shawl anymore. There are now 245 stitches on my 32" cables, so it doesn't quite work. However, I do enjoy seeing the pattern emerging in the section I can spread out. So I will take a photo of that section tomorrow and share it. Maybe you can get a hint of how gorgeous it's going to be finished.

Being half way through Clue 4, I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. There are 3 more clues after this one. I'll admit that there will be around 600 stitches on the needles at the end. At that time, photos will probably have to wait until I'm completely finished and the shawl is being blocked. Oh, what a day that will be. I will have completed my largest and most complex project to date. Yes. I will have to celebrate. :-)