The Stole

Proof that the Unst lace stole really is being worked on:

That is 98 rows of the center lace panel. It actually stretches a bit more (those are 24" needles), but I didn't want to stretch it off the needles. The pattern calls for 380 rows of the center panel (10 repeats of 38 rows each), but since I'm using a slightly thicker yarn (2-ply vs. cobweb weight) I'm only going to do 7 repeats. That's 266 rows of center panel, 272 rows of borders, a few rows (10?) of garter and eyelets between the center panel and the borders, and then the edging. I calculated that if I do ten rows a day, I should be on track to finish the center and borders in less than two months. And then I have the edging to do. I might not do the edging in the pattern. I'm not sure yet.

When I first started, there was NO WAY I could have knit ten rows a day, but I'm getting much much better at it. I think I will actually have the pattern memorized by the time I'm done. The first repeat, I had to count everything. Now I can see what's going on in the previous rows and see what I'm supposed to knit next with a little guidance from the pattern. I've stopped using the safety line because I've found knitting the row after it very annoying (it adds too much thickness), and I've gotten to the point where I can fix mistakes as they come up (as I had to do a lot yesterday).

So right now I'm very optimistic that I can finish the stole in time for the wedding. Yay!!!