Pattern: Perfect Pie Shawl by Veronique Avery, from Weekend Knitting

Yarn: Elann Pure Alpaca in Jasper, 4.5 balls

Needles: US 10

Notes: This was an easy and quick pattern.  Other than the yarn sub, it was made without alterations.  There is an error in the pattern, and if you decide to make it you should be sure to twist the stitch on all of your M1s in the lace section.  This is the opposite of what the pattern tells you to do, but it will result in a shawl that looks like the one in the book.  Other than that, the pattern was error free and fun!  I bound off in K2P2 rib, following the pattern, and I think it resulted in a nicer bind-off edge than a plain knit bind off. I do have one problem… I think I might be allergic the the yarn.  I haven’t had any skin reaction to it or anything, but it was making me a little stuff while I knit it.  I’m not sure if this might be due to the manufacturing process Elann uses, as I have been sensitive to the sizing they use in some of their cotton yarns.  I will wait and see if it gets better now that it is blocked.  After all, I have made (and frequently worn) an Alpaca sweater before with no problems.  It could even be the time of year, as I always have allergies in late July/August.  It’s hard to say… I will have to wait until the weather is cold enough to wear the shawl, and see how I feel then!

My shawl turned out maybe a tiny bit smaller than the one in the book, but I have decided for the moment to not add an edging.  I don’t really feel like searching for a complimentary yarn, at least not until I see whether I will need to give it away.