I did finish one thing, however!

Along with the aborted weaving project, I was working on something for me to wear. I had this yarn that I had dyed years and years ago, which seredipitously matched the dress I was wearing to the wedding. I had two large balls of it, and it's a 50/50 blend of wool and silk. I thought it would be great in lace. You may remember the attempt to make a mitered chart (here) for a triangular shawl. I used the same edging but straight, not mitered. More on the charts later (warning, rant ahead). When I blocked that sample, it was wonderfully crisp, but drapey.

I had originally decided to make a shawl, but part way through thought that I could make a tunic, if I knit two halves and grafted them at the shoulder. But, of course! So that's what I did.

I finished knitting the night before last. I grafted it last night, but was too tired and my eyes were shot from all the smoke in the air, so I blocked it today.

On the blocking table (love blocking wires...):

Though it looks like there's no place for my head, it's a boat/slit opening, and it's being blocked closed to make the lace the same.

A close up of the body lace:

And the edging:

Ok, here's the rant: Both of these charts are in Knitted Lace of Estonia, by Nancy Bush. I purchased this book because I love knitting lace, and cables, and... ok, I just love knitting. But this one had been highly touted, and I bought it. Later, when I tried to knit one of the patterns, it wouldn't work, despite many tries. I'm not a beginner knitter - I know how to balance decreased with yo's and to count stitches - these didn't line up. I looked online, and there was errata for almost half of the patterns in this book. In knitting this project, I found 1 glaring one, and one minor one. The glaring one is is the edging. On row 25, you can't have the double decrease and 4 r/l decreases with only 4 yo's. You're losing more stitches than you're making. I just left out two of the opposing r/l decreases, and it worked fine. When working the body, after having found the previous error, I was confused as to why there were 3 right-leaning decreases and only 1 left-leaning. I looked at the picture with the chart (on page 125, if you care). It's UPSIDE DOWN! Now how would a newbie know to turn the book over? They wouldn't.

Understand that I don't in any way, shape or form blame Nancy Bush for this. It's purely Interweave Press's fault. This is not the first time I've discovered errors in their knitting patterns. After several condescending emails about another, I finally reamed the person on the other end a new one. They don't realize what a disservice they're doing to their readers. If they intend to keep promoting knitting, weaving, spinning, etc., they'd better get their patterns right. Otherwise, people will think that it's them, and that they just can't knit lace, or weave placemats, or whatever.

End of Rant.

I'm really please with how this turned out. Of course, I still have to seam the sides, but I'll do that Friday when I'm in Reno, staying at Mim's. The wedding isn't until Saturday, so I have plenty of time.  Right...