Firsts

I'm on a roll lately where almost every project I want to cast-on for involves some sort of technique I've never done before.  First it was the Wedge socks and now it's a shawl knit from the bottom up.  The shawl is actually a KAL being run by Wendy Johnson of Wendy Knits through her Ravelry group.  The pattern is named the Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl KAL 2012.  I'm in a little bit of a shawl rut where almost every shawl I've knit lately has been one of my own patterns.  Now don't get me wrong, I love knitting my own shawl patterns, but there is something fun about knitting someone else's shawl pattern & seeing how they put the lace patterns together.  Another reason I picked this shawl is because it is a mystery shawl.  Why is that good?  Well, it's because it will give me a little more to knit over the next month without feeling like I just want to knit on it nonstop.  I like to think of it as portion control for knitting.  

I'm knitting mine using Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in the fabulous colorway Silver Fox.  I knit a swatch using size US 5 (3.75 mm) needles.  Normally I wouldn't knit a swatch, but in this case if you knit a swatch AND posted it in her group under the swatch thread, then you would be eligible for prizes.  I'm not really hopeful that I will win a prize, but it's fun to play along and be part of the group.  This is going to be my first project knit using the Tosh Merino Light and if anything can be based on knitting the swatch, then I can tell I'm going to love it.  This KAL is running from June 20th to July 17th with a new clue being released every week.  I'm (hopefully) going to be posting my work in progress pictures along the way.