I just FINISHED a lace shawl that’s been on my needles for most of the year, and yesterday I blocked it out.

The pattern is Aeolian, which is a free pattern from Knitty – you can download it right here. I made the largest size on the smallest needles, because I like how this yarn works up on smaller needles. It’s blocked out to be 33″ down the centre back, which is plenty big enough for me.

The yarn is 2ply lace from Wellington Fibres – yup, gotta get some goat in! – and the handpainted colourway (done by WF) is called Mardi Gras. The colours reminded me of pictures of the Grand Canyon, with all the layers of colour in the rocks. So, did the pattern. It’s quite exciting that the colours didn’t pool – it really does look stripey like those pictures.

The pattern calls for beads and nupps, but I just added beads. I also used fewer beads than instructed – most of the first chart I left without beads. I was worried that it might be too heavy otherwise.

And here it is. Just a detail shot because it’s too big to all fit in the viewfinder!What do you think?