2022: Wk of 7/17-23; Shawl and Shrug FOs

FOs!!!!

Happy dance time!!! I finished both the Stephen West Spiraling Cables shawl for my stepdaughter and the Ladybird Shrug for me. I’m very happy with both.

The shrug color doesn’t go with the initial dress I was planning to wear it with but I think it looks nice with this dress. Now I just need an occasion to wear the dress. Probably Christmas Eve since the dress is velvet. The pattern calls for creating a ribbed border that would run around the neck, down the front sides, and across the lower back. I decided I liked it without the ribbed border.

WIPs

So that just leaves me with the Spiraling Lace socks. Need to finish the ribbed cuff on this one and the leg and cuff on the other. Should be done today or tomorrow. That will catch me up on a pair of socks or a shrug per month. (More happy dancing.)

NEXT…

Cast-on Time!! (Still more happy dancing. I know, I know, I should get back to knitting my hubby’s sweater.) I will cast on a Ranunculus for me this week. I’m using Emma’s Yarn in the 10 Questions Colorway. No idea why it’s called that. To me it is fall colors hence my desire to cast-on now.

This will give me both the Ranunculus and the pair of socks, Dragonfly, that I took on the schooner trip but didn’t knit on, for my trip to the Outer Banks in North Carolina the end of this week. I already have the toes knit. I think I’ll take some leftover Fixation yarn to make a pair of yoga socks as a third project. This trip will be the opposite of Maine – very hot. But the house is right on the beach so I’ll have the breeze while at the beach and air conditioning while at the house. No motion sickness! I’m looking forward to 10 days with our friends and their daughter and fiancé. They are getting married in September. We even get to be part of the taste testing of the wedding caterer. I’m giving my daughter a hard time, not really, because we didn’t get to be part of their wedding caterer taste testing (something about being a 10 hr drive away!!)

Hope you have a wonderful week of crafting. 

This is a year of projects (YOP) update. YOP is a Ravelry Group – make a plan for the year ahead for all your fiber activities, then update your blog each week. Plans can be calendar year (like mine) or mid-year start (like many). Following the plan is optional and creates some of the fun of posts.  YOP started it’s 12th year in July and I’m starting my third year in the group. I’ve been knitting for five years .

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2022: Wk of July 3-9; Shawl and Sailing WIPs

SPIRALING CABLES SHAWL #2

So close but not quite finished. I have a little more rows of trellis to knit and then to knit the roughly 1″ of border. This will have to wait until I return from my trip. I’m super happy with how it looks. Blocking will stretch it out very nicely to better show off the stripes and the trellis section.

SPIRAL SOCKS

Apparently I’m into spiraling at the moment. My Simple Spiral Socks got a lot of attention on my flights to Maine. The pattern is a very simple lace pattern that I could easily memorize and follow making it perfect for knitting during my long day of flying to Maine.

I also plan to get a lot done on my Ladybird Shrug. The schooner has a beautiful table in the middle of the deck under a shade canopy which will be perfect for knitting!!

LETTING GO

I definitely suffer from sunk cost syndrome or “if I bought it, I need to use it”. 3 years ago I liked Patty Lyon’s Roselle Tee so I bought the pattern, bought the yarn, and put it in my Ravelry Queue. Now I have to admit there’s a reason I never got around to knitting it; I don’t like it so much. I want to wear more fitted tees. The yarn is not “wasted”. I already have ideas for the basic cream color yarn I bought. It would be great paired with colorful minis for the Sea Glass Tee I want to knit or by itself in the Breakwater Tee. So I need to let go of my despair for buying a pattern I probably won’t knit. I need to be okay with buying a new pattern that I’m happier with. Rip the band-aid off. I deleted the project from my queue!

MAINE

I’m “schoonering” this week. I arrived safely Saturday afternoon with no major flight delays. I got to enjoy my first lobster roll with my friend and his wife. I’m sending this post with my phone Sunday morning. My friend’s wife is a knitter so we are visiting a local yarn shop before we board the schooner tonight and depart Monday morning. MUCH cooler here than Cincinnati so a nice break from the heat. I’ll be getting to wear some of my hand knit sweaters and socks!! Feels weird to be without my hubby but he would not be able to tolerate Maine’s colder temperature. It got chilly while we ate our dinner outside and he would have been in pain. Absence makes the heart grow fonder right!?

Ladona (stock photo)

Hope you have a wonderful week of crafting. 

This is a year of projects (YOP) update. YOP is a Ravelry Group – make a plan for the year ahead for all your fiber activities, then update your blog each week. Plans can be calendar year (like mine) or mid-year start (like many). Following the plan is optional and creates some of the fun of posts.  YOP is starting it’s 12th year. I’ve been knitting for five years and I’m starting my third year in the group.

2022: Wk of June 26-July 2; MidYear Review & Shawl Update

1/2 YEAR REVIEW – PROJECTS

I do a calendar year plan but I still like to check at the midpoint to see how I’m going. Always good for a chuckle.

WIPS – Complete the 4 carryover WIPS	😁DONE!!
SOCKS/SHRUGS/COWLS – Complete 1 per month I have 4 socks and 1 shrug done with 2 socks and 1 shrug on needles. I’m betting by the end of July I’ll be ahead of the game with 6 socks and 2 shrugs.	🙂CLOSE – 5/12
SWEATERS/SHAWLS/TEES – Complete 5 Surprise, surprise. I’m a bit behind. I have one tee and one shawl completed. But as discussed below, I will likely finish a shawl this month putting me back on track.	🙂CLOSE – 2/5
BABY KNITTING – 0 I didn’t set a goal for this year but I did knit a baby sweater for my new granddaughter. Helps explain why I’m a bit behind on my sweater goal as the fingering weight baby sweater took a lot of time to knit.	😁AHEAD!!
MISCELLANEOUS – 1 I wanted to do an advent calendar project since I already have minis from 2 advent calendars and I’ve ordered 3 more!! I do have yarn “packaged” up for a striped sweater using advent minis but truthfully there is a Halloween cowl I want to knit that’s a higher priority to me. Hubby’s sweater also has to be finished before starting an “advent” sweater.	😝BEHIND – 0/1

So not bad. I’m okay with where I’m at the year midpoint.

1/2 YEAR REVIEW – GOALS

Average 1800 stitches per day each month Not surprisingly I missed this in May due to gardening and my daughter’s wedding. I barely met the goal in June. I am still averaging 1800 stitches per day for the year.	🙂CLOSE
Make something Brioche Still struggling with this. I will go back and review the online Brioche class I bought from Patty Lyons before starting the Newspaper sweater. This goal will likely move to 2023.	😝NOPE
Knit Continential I continue to work on this. I can do rows of knits and purls but struggle when the knitting has increases and decreases like a lace pattern.	🙂PROGRESSING
Yarn Out > Yarn In 3 advent calendars will do that to you. Plus finding a new LYS. And a 75% off sale.	😵EPIC FAIL!!
Make something colorwork I am planning a Halloween cowl and maybe some advent socks.	😉PLANNED
Review Stash – Queue Was humbled by how long it will take me to knit my stash. I’m fast approaching SABLE. Sadly being aware of how much yarn I already have has not slowed my yarn acquisitions.	😁DONE
Knit “new to me” Designer/SPECIFICALLY JOJI, EMMA, STEPHEN WEST, PETITE KNITS Knit several “new to me” designers so far – Stephen West, shrugs and sock patterns. Joji (Brioche) and Emma (colorwork) sweaters likely to move to 2023 plan.	🙂KINDA DONE
Learn to Crochet Not a priority. Thought it would help make blankets quicker but blanket making is not a priority for me. Someday…	😝NOPE
Learn to Knit without Looking Still a work in progress. Only can do with all knit rows and DK or thicker yarns.	🙂PROGRESSING
Track Days Worked on Project Yes I have added to my knitting plan spreadsheet. I also now track the number of stitches I knit on each project so that I can better estimate how many stitches a project will take and thus estimate how many projects I can get done in a year.	😁DONE!
Sew a project bag with Charlie Harper fabric Sadly this is a low priority project as I already have plenty of project bags. The fabric is so cute but would just be another bag that I have to figure out where to store. I won 3 project bags this year in giveaways. Now I need to giveaway project bags.	😝NOPE
Knit an Animal Toy I still want to do this but probably will wait two or three years to make one for my granddaughter.	😝NOPE

Definitely not doing as well on my goals as I am on my projects. But I don’t mind changing my mind as the year progresses. Actually I expect it. It’s not a big surprise learning to crochet didn’t turn out to be a big desire. Not a big fan of crochet so I don’t want to use my “good” yarn on crochet projects. Also things happen making sewing a project bag not needed – no matter how cute the fabric. It will get done someday….

SPIRALING CABLES SHAWL #2

Made a lot of progress this week on my stepdaughter’s Stephen West shawl. She is happy with the black yarn instead of the tan I used on my shawl. I’m playing a bit of yarn chicken so I’ll be aggressively blocking it to make sure it’s big enough. I’m a little over halfway done as I’ve started the trellis half. The trellis pattern is much more complicated cabling so I have to follow the pattern more closely. It’s too complicated for me to memorize. Fingers crossed I can get it done this week but I’ll probably be finishing it when I get back from Maine.

YARN ACQUSITION

Really??! I’m supposed to resist a 75% sale on yarn. I bought 6 skeins for only $30. That’s 2 tees. Love the spring/summer colors and the shine that the 15% silk adds. I said I wanted to make a second Anne Hanssen Structured Top with a solid color so that’s the plan for the new spring green yarn. Seeing Eyelet to Eyelet is my pattern planned for the orangish sunflower yarn. So my queue is well into 7 years!!

Hope you have a wonderful week of crafting. This is a year of projects (YOP) update. YOP is a Ravelry Group – make a plan for the year ahead for all your fiber activities, then update your blog each week. Plans can be calendar year (like mine) or mid-year start (like many). Following the plan is optional and creates some of the fun of posts. 🙂 YOP is starting it’s 12th year. I’ve been knitting for five years and I’m starting my third year in the group.

2022 YOP: Wk of Feb 13-19; Stephen West Shawl FO and Accepting Change

Spiraling Cables Shawl Finished

This shawl is indeed luscious. I sure hope I get some cool weather in Ohio in April so that I can enjoy wearing it. (We are breaking records for heat here in Florida). I did use the contrast color for the border and I held it double (just for the border). Then I did an i-cord bindoff instead of the bindoff called for in the pattern. Can’t see it well in the picture – it’s at the top. My knitting friends did not like the pattern bindoff. Since the rest of the edges are i-cord it makes sense to me that the border edge is i-cord.

Baby Blanket

The baby blanket actually got a little love this past week as I needed some “brain dead” knitting for my “social” knitting sessions. I saved my “brain dead” socks to take on the ferry. The blanket should get a lot more attention this coming week since my shawl is done. Sadly at 200 stitches per row it’s going to take a long time to complete this blanket. Unlike the mismatch of yarn weights I used for the Stephen West shawl, the mismatched weight of yarns for the blanket (the white stripes are thinner yarn than the colored stripes) seems to add to the puckering. Since it’s acrylic I don’t expect it to block out. Oh well, it’s a baby blanket.

Starry Night Socks

The Starry Night socks did get a lot of knitting on them during the ferry ride to and from Key West Friday. I’m still on the foot so there really isn’t much point to taking a new picture. I am doing 2×2 ribbing on the sole side for the final 2″ before starting the heel so the sock will fit tightly across the arch of my foot. I hope to have them finished by next week’s update. I need to get them done to keep up my goal of a pair of socks per month. The Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea was amazingly calm so the ferry ride to and from Key West as smooth as silk. Thank goodness since I get motion sickness easily. We enjoyed walking through the downtown shops, visiting Ernest Hemingway’s home and writing studio and having a wonderful lunch along the beach.

“To Everything There Is A Season”

Sadly one of my Cincinnati knitting friends called to discuss the state of our weekly knitting group. We were only a group of 5 knitters but we have struggled to meet even after Covid restrictions were lifted. I knew the day would come but I am still saddened. I really enjoyed the company of these women. Lives have changed and weekly Saturday sessions are no longer working. I have contributed to the problem by snowbirding for 4 months. Even our bigger group of knitters that would meet monthly is no longer working well as jobs have changed. So the weekly small group is likely to disband and we will try a weekend day for the larger group in the hope we can get together at least once a month. My monthly “knit at a brewery” group has also struggled to restart post Covid. Less reasons to stay living in Ohio?? I’ll be checking out knit nights at some of the area yarn shops. I am thankful that my nearest LYS hosts “knit nights” although I’m still waiting until I can attend without wearing a mask.

I WON!!

In my search for knitting podcasts to watch, I recently found MC Knitting Adventures. They were celebrating reaching 1K subscribers and had a giveaway. Well, I entered…….. and I won!! A super cute project bag with a matching circular needle holder (I love this style) and some fun stitch markers. I can’t believe how lucky I am!! You can tell they are Canadian. They actually pronounced my last name correctly which NEVER happens in the US. (It’s French. You don’t pronounce the s’s!!! Blame my husband. I’m actually of Irish descent – hence the name Maureen. I actually kept my maiden name, Higgins, until I had kids. I still use Higgins for dinner reservations. 🙂 )

KAL Help Please

OK, I could use some advice on a) finding KALs, and b) tracking what KALs you are participating in. I’ve started adding the names of KALs to a section of my monthly knitting planner to help me remember what KALs are going on that month. (I need a much bigger computer screen so I can see ALL the stuff on my monthly knitting planner and still be able to read it!!!) I can carryover the KAL to the next month if it lasts longer than a month. KALs are still a work in progress for me as I’m much more interested in completing my planned projects for the year than I am knitting a KAL project. Hence KALs that require a specific yarn or pattern are unlikely to work for me. I do better with a theme like knit socks, or use stash yarns, etc.

That’s it for this week. Hope you had a great week too.

This is a year of projects (YOP) update. YOP is a Ravelry Group – make a plan for the year ahead for all your fiber activities, then update your blog each week. Plans can be calendar year (like mine) or mid-year start (like many). Following the plan is optional and creates some of the fun of posts. YOP is in it’s 11th year. It’s my second in the group.

2022: Wk of Feb 6-13; Monogamous (Semi) Knitting

I am realizing that I’m a pretty monogamous knitter. That may sound untrue since I have 5 WIPs. I am realizing that I don’t enjoy having that many projects on needles. I really do like only having 2 projects going at one time – a “small” sock project and a “big” project like a sweater, shawl, or blanket. I think that makes me a “project” knitter instead of a “process” knitter.

I haven’t touched my hubby’s sweater since I cast-on and knit the collar. I just don’t have the brain power to keep track of German short rows on his sweater while keeping track of cables on the the Stephen West shawl. My neice’s baby blanket hasn’t been touched in months. I don’t want to have projects that sit around in project bags for months or years. I started the baby blanket because I wanted to show my daughter-in-law that I was using the yarn she gave me last Christmas. Plus the baby is due in March.

It’s turning out that the Stephen West Shawl is what is getting all the knitting attention. It has been the “shiny object” that has disrupted my knitting plans. It came about when my daughter gave me some soft alpaca yarn for Christmas, my snowbird knitting group was knitting the shawl, and a podcast I like was having a New Year’s Day cast-on. So the baby blanket knitting got postponed for the much more fun shawl.

I really should not have cast-on my hubby’s sweater once I completed my daughter-in-law’s tank top, but I was feeling guilty for how long it has taken me to start this promised sweater. Now I’m going to accept it was a mistake to start it and put it in hibernation until the shawl and baby blanket are completed. I am going to focus and complete the shawl first since it’s halfway done. Also it will be nice to be able to show my daughter the completed project with her yarn gift on the return drive back north come April. The baby blanket will stay in hibernation until the shawl is completed. Hubby’s sweater won’t get restarted until the baby blanket is completed – probably April.

Having 2 pairs of socks on needles isn’t as stressful to me since they are small projects. One pair is my vanilla DK “walking” socks for practicing knitting without looking while taking my daily walk. The second is fingering weight yarn which gives me a chance to change up my knitting with a small needle. This will be a good project to take with me Friday when we take the 4 hr (each way) ferry for a day trip to Key West.

So while I have 5 WIPs, only 3 will be worked on. Once the shawl is completed, a hibernating project will be restarted. Another pair of socks will not be cast-on until the current ones are completed.

SPIRALING CABLES SHAWL

Speaking of the Stephen West shawl, I have now started the trellis half. I’m low on yarn so I did make it a little smaller than the pattern calls for, about a 10% reduction. I had counted the stitches needed for the shawl so I knew that when I started the second ball, I needed to start the trellis section. I think his shawls are big and at my size (or lack thereof), I need my shawls smaller. I knit one less “stripe” before starting the trellis section. My Florida knitting friends found they needed to use contrast color for the border as they ran out of main color. I’m pretty sure I’ll need to do that too and I actually like it better. I love the shawl it but I doubt it will get much wear. It really is a cold weather shawl. I may end up gifting it.

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

I couldn’t resist this nearly historic event of the Bengals being in the Super Bowl. I actually ordered myself an official NFL football “jersey” (t-shirt) to wear to watch the game. Here I am decked out in my newly knitted “super bowl” socks and my jersey. Since Joe Burrow is from Ohio as am I, I got his jersey number. Looking forward to having a big bowl of Cincinnati chili during the game. (Nothing like typical Tex-Mex chili. It’s an acquired taste.)

Go Bengals!!

Hope you have a great week of crafting. I’m looking forward to focusing and getting some FOs sooner rather than later.

This is a year of projects (YOP) update. YOP is a Ravelry Group – make a plan for the year ahead for all your fiber activities, then update your blog each week. Plans can be calendar year (like mine) or mid-year start (like many). Following the plan is optional and creates some of the fun of posts. YOP is in it’s 11th year. It’s my second in the group.

2022: Wk of Jan 23 – 30; New Cast-on, Yarn Mail, and Frustrating Fix

SPIRALING CABLES SHAWL – OOPS!

Sadly, this was a frustrating week. Seems that while knitting my Spiraling Cables Stephen West shawl, I made a mistake and purled one row instead of knitting it. Sadly I didn’t find the mistake until I had knit 12 more rows. I had to dig down 12 rows for an entire row to correct each stitch.

Oops, Contrast color is supposed to be a garter stripe

This was a very slow process so I didn’t meet my goal of 1800 stitches for most of the days this week. Fortunately I’ve had enough “good” days that my monthly average is still above 1800 stitches per day. I do really like the shawl and I’m looking forward to more of the colors showing as I work through my multi-color contrast yarn. I’m almost halfway done so I’ll be starting the “trellis” portion soon.

Spiraling Cables – 1/2 done

HUBBY’S HANSTHOLM SWEATER

The extra work on the Spiraling Cables Shawl means starting hubby’s sweater got delayed. I’m excited that it’s a “new to me” designer. While not specifically spelled out in my goals, trying patterns from “new to me” designers is indeed part of my goals. I finally cast-on yesterday so I’m only on the collar. This will be my first folded over collar. I didn’t swatch since I’ve made two sweaters already from the yarn. Have to admit that I don’t really like the “fabric” of my Shellseeker I made last year with the yarn. I used a US8 needle as I wanted a more open fabric so I could wear it in Florida. My daughter’s Shellseeker was made with a US4. I’m compromising and using a US6. I will determine the gauge and then adjust the pattern based on my gauge. As long as the collar is big enough to get over my husband’s head, I should be fine since the sweater is a simple stockinette raglan. Head fit I’ll be able to check this week.

Second 2022 Cast-On!!

YARN MAIL

My new “walking sock” yarn arrived. One set is supposed to be Christmas-ish called Holidaze and the other set is just summery colors. I will be casting on a new pair on Feb 1 so that I’ll have a project for various monthly sock KALs. I’m down to just the cuffs on my current socks so they will definitely an FO in next week’s blog. My extra yarn for the Spiraling Cables Shawl arrived. I have a feeling I won’t need the extra yarn. Oh well. I think I may make the Ranunculus top with it instead. Or at least some tee pattern. I love the autumn/campfire colors.

1 MONTH IN

One month into my new year of knitting goals, I’m feeling pretty good. I’ve completed 2 carryover WIPs and should have a third done within the next day. Plus I’ve gotten started my first new 2022 project. My yarn in/out is out of balance but that’s because I’ve been “gifted” some baby yarns from my Florida knitters. Hard to say no to free yarn. My daily knitting goal is going ok. I’m happy that I’m using Knit Companion more this year even though that wasn’t on my list of goals. I’m looking forward to completing, or modifying, my goals as the year progresses. This what my daily tracking looks like.

Hope you have a great crafting week.

This is a year of projects (YOP) update. YOP is a Ravelry Group – make a plan for the year ahead for all your fiber activities, then update your blog each week. Plans can be calendar year (like mine) or mid-year start (like many). Following the plan is optional and creates some of the fun of posts. YOP is in it’s 11th year. It’s my second in the group.

2022: Wk of Jan 16-22; Yarn Buying and FOs!!!

LET THE YARN BUYING BEGIN

As mentioned last week, I’ve barely made it into the new year before I started adding to my already sizable stash. Then I realized I should have ordered more!! So let me take just a moment to compliment WEBS customer service. I ordered more Cascade Fixation yarn to use for my “walking” sock projects late Saturday night. Duh!! I completely forgot that I needed more contrast yarn for my Stephen West shawl. I had delayed ordering it till after the new year to be sure I liked the shawl!! Thankfully nothing had happened on the order yet so I was able to contact WEBS customer service first thing Monday morning and get the 2 skeins of Noro Silk Garden Sock added. Extra bonus, now I don’t even have to pay shipping since the new order exceeded the minimum order. So excited about new yarn arriving!!

SOCK FO!!

First FO!!! Well, it is a carryover WIP so not as impressive but still happy to have a finished pair of socks. I love them. This will count as my January sock pair for my goal of a pair of socks per month. I can’t wait to cast-on the leftover yarn for another pair of socks. They will be gifted to someone. But I will wait a bit to do that.

I have another set of yarn that I am looking forward to casting on for a pair of socks. I’m making myself wait till Feb 1 as there are a number of KALs I can join if I start and finish my socks within the month. It’s not like I don’t have anything else to work on.

FO #2!! HELDIG TANK TOP FINISHED!!

Whew, I also got my daughter-in-law’s tank top finished as well!! Again, another carryover project from 2021 but still feels good to complete it. I’m counting it as finished even thought it’s currently being blocked and I still have to weave in some ends. I will be mailing it to her this week. That way if it doesn’t fit, we can get together so I can make changes before we head back north in 2 months.

This week I’ll finally cast-on a sweater for my husband. I will get to use the Summer Silk yarn that I love. I’m searching through Ravelry to find a pattern. Leaning towards Hanstholm by Petite Knits as the yarn is DK.

SPIRALING CABLES SHAWL

There was no progress on the Stephen West shawl this past week. I lost my last cable needle the previous week. My new cable needles finally arrived so I will be working on the shawl today. I could have tried harder to find something to substitute as a cable needle but instead I focused on the FOs above and waited for the new cable needles to arrive.

That’s it for this week. I’m excited to have some FOs but I’m also looking forward to working on the Stephen West shawl already on my needles and the sweater I’ll be casting on. They are both big projects so it will take quite a while before either is an FO.

This is a year of projects (YOP) update. YOP is a Ravelry Group – make a plan for the year ahead for all your fiber activities, then update your blog each week. Plans can be calendar year (like mine) or mid-year start (like many). Following the plan is optional and creates some of the fun of posts. YOP is in it’s 11th year. It’s my second in the group.

#45. 2020 Knitting Plan

As discussed before, I really liked having a knitting plan last year so I made a plan for 2020. It was helpful among my knitting friends as well.  Kim and I are already working on the “advent” sweater together.  It’s helpful to have someone to bounce ideas and questions off of.

We shared plans on Jan 3 and made modifications so that sweaters we jointly wanted to knit were timed together.  Kim and I (and Collette and Colleen?) will knit the Vitamin B sweater starting in August.  Colleen and I (and Lise?) will knit the Amrum sweater (ITO yarn) beginning in April.  Tentatively I have the Professor Cat sweater for October with Collette but might switch with the Roselle Tee with Teresa.

This year I am not planning to take any classes as I have plenty of projects already on my plate.  In 2019 I took a brioche class that I’m planning to use in 2020 with the Vitamin B sweater and another shawl project.  And I took the argyl sock class that I didn’t finish so it’s a 2020 project.  Not surprisingly my first 3 years of knitting were filled with classes as I learned new techniques and how to make shawls, sweaters, and socks.  Now I’m ready to apply those skills.

I know the owner of my LYS may be insulted as I don’t have plans for classes there not a need for yarn.  I am not avoiding the shop it’s just that I already have enough yarn and desired projects.  In the past my knitting tended to be driven by the classes offered.  Now it’s being driven by my plan with yarns I’d already purchased.

#42. Brioche #@$!&

I love this shawl now but I sure cursed it while knitting it!!!  The Haiku shaw is NOT a good first brioche project.  Brioche is really not that hard but it really took a long time for me to “get it”.  Now I can recognize knits and purls.  Increases and decreases were killer for me to tink.  I would have to have the teacher tink when I found a mistake.  I will knit brioche again as I do love the way it looks but it took me 7 months to get this shawl finished!!  Brioche does require concentration … at least this pattern does on the border!!