forest canopy shawl

Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl
Yarn: from Black Bunny Fibers in "Mexican Sunflower", handpainted laceweight merino wool(100g skein, approx. 880 yds)
Needles: Crystal Palace Bamboo 26" circulars, size US#6 (4.25mm)
Pattern: by Susan Pierce Lawrence, available here
Modifications: I did 15 pattern repeats (Susan recommended 14 for laceweight yarn to accomplish the suggested shoulder shawl size). It's good as it is, but I wished I had trusted my gut and done 17.
My Finished Measurements: 50" span, 23" down the spine
Started: November 23, 2006
Finished/Blocked: January 21, 2007 / February 1, 2007
Notes:
* This pattern was everything this designer promised. Perfect first shawl pattern. Excellent for gearing up to something more complex. Had the pattern memorized after the first repeat (very easy fabric to "read"). And it was a quick knit (I know it took me a long time as the calendar goes, but if I were to add up the actual hours spent knitting, I don't believe it was very many...and if you do it in the suggested yarn, it's gotta be a snap!).

* This shawl is a gift for an April birthday, and will be given with an accompanying shawl pin (I think this one, in the one in the upper left corner)...but if I were to knit another shawl for me, I'm not sure about the small size. I think I prefer traingular shawls a bit larger (I know I like stoles to be big). But I also think that a large traingular shape may = bad with crutches and/or wheelchair. So I'm going to try this shoulder size out with the pin before I gift it.

* The yarn is what made this such a joyful knit for me. These aren't colors that I normally wear. Oranges tend to wash me out a bit (although now that I see it on me, I'm kinda liking it!). Anyhow, this is my first time knitting with rusts, browns, and oranges...although I have always wanted to have them in my hands, if you know what I mean. It was a very warm and comforting colorway to have in front of me. The yarn felt comforting running through my fingers, and it blocked easily. The finished shawl is soft, lofty, and cozy.

* Using my handy dandy food scale, I see that I used a little less than half the yarn, so I could actually make a twin! But I think I might use it to make a wimple from Arctic Lace.

* The bamboo needles themseleves were great. They had a suitable point for the yarn, the bamboo was smooth but gave just enough grab on the yarn. I do not have words to tell you how much I hated the join, though. It was miserable. Supposedly this is their "new design" with the "improved" join! (my next shawl will be on Addis or KnitPicks, I think...I'm willing to brave the slick metal needles)

* My first time with the blocking wires. I reallllllly did not enjoy the process of getting damp knitting threaded onto the wires. Too fiddly and unpleasant. But once it was on the wires?? Ooooh, man. SO easy to manipulate. Using 1/10 the amount of pins on the straight edges and no scalloping made it worth suffering through the few minutes I didn't care for.

....and I'm already missing the lace and ready to to cast-on for more :-)