A couple of big projects on the needles at the moment. Has anyone else made an Amelia or Harumi? Would love to see them if you have.

Harumi shawl (rav link) by Emily Ross

This was a lovely free pattern, but involved a (rather hard on the eyes) full chart instead of a number of repeats. I didn't have enough yarn so had to rip back many rows before the edging to have enough. Even then I had to re-write the edging quite a lot of have enough yarn. It lost what I originally loved about the edging, but it's still very nice to wear.
The sunset light makes it tricky to see the colour of the yarn but it's black and teal and I love it to bits. In fact I love all yarn from Dyeforwool. Their yarn names are the best! Slightly squiffled has also been experimenting with teal dyes for yarn so I'm keen to go over for a visit and we can have a play to make some.

This was long in the making (2 months) but totally worth it ^_^

Very inspiring pattern with great results. I would like to try this again one day with thinner yarn, as the Socks that Rock lightweight was perhaps a little heavy for this shawl and makes it quite bulky if wearing as a scarf (as I generally do).

I first became obsessed by Blue Moon's Raven Clan colourways when I saw Chrissy's amazing versions (Ravelry) of the Multnomah Shawl and knew I had to get some for myself.

I noted on my Ravlery that this was a ‘keeping me sane’ shawl. Now, a few months later, I can't quite remember what it was keeping me sane from, but I imagine part of it was having to move house yet again.

On nupps
Found the new technique of nupps pretty fun. Because of the thicker yarn, I used 5 stitch nups instead of 7 or 9. They're not super noticeable, but because I was running out of yarn I am glad I chose to do smaller ones.

Unfortunately I'm still not very good at checking how much yarn I need for a project, and it was particularly scary as I didn't notice that the edging required an even number of leaves along the centre spine - was planning to stop after 9 but had to make it 10 or rip back, so I ended up running out of yarn 5 rows short of the end and couldn't get more yarn as it was handspun :(

Over the last few months I've been knitting away on the Spring Thaw Shawl - a very pretty pattern by Cheri McEwen from Knitting on the Border. I am also working on her Small Talk Shawl which is crochet and a lot easier to work (simply because crochet is a easier to keep track of where you're up to)
I've come to the point where I have a dwindling ball of (handspun) yarn, and 42 rows remaining in the pattern :s (I didn't notice that an even number of leaves down the centre spine was required before starting the edging so have to knit another 8 rows to achieve 10 leaves).

My choices...

Wheee! The shawl is done - I'm very proud and have already started a new shawl project and ordered too much shawl-ish wool online

The pattern is 198 yds of heaven by Christy Verity. It was a great first shawl pattern, and is a free download on ravely. The yarn is pure cashmire and was an xmas pressie from Robyn and I think this was a perfect project for it.

My first shawl knitting experience was exciting and challenging. I found it hard to read the chart, but I think that was my own inexperience with lace knitting as I found it hard to know when to start and end repeats.

At the beginning it was taking my whole 50min commute to do one row of the chart, and I was putting in lifelines every 2 rows, but I got pretty quick by the end. I didn't use stitch markers but instead used the two purl sts at the start and end of each repeat to mentally note where I was up to (If I had to change trains mid row).

By the end I could turn back on my audio books and easily knit without too much effort, and I found the edging easy. Blocking was so exciting as it all stretched out and I finally understood the pattern I had been knitting

After favouriting far too many lace shawls on Ravlery and getting this purpley-blue lace yarn for Christmas, I knew I had to have a go ^_^ If you look closely you can see the lifelines I've been adding in every second row

I've worked my way up to completing around 4 rows on my 50min commute, with a train change or two in the middle (at the start it was taking me 50min for 2 rows while I got used to the pattern :S)