Cast On for the Widow's Shawl

With several Finished Objects recently, it was time to start a new project. So I cast on for the "Basic Black Shawl" from Folk Shawls. This is the Harrisville Shetland wool that I bought from the Yarn Barn and showed off here.

If any of you look at this and then at the pattern, you'll say "wait a minute, the corner increases aren't in the corners." Right you are. The way that the pattern is written, there's a YO at the end of a needle with no stitch beyond it to anchor it in place. That's just asking for it to slip off into the drink, fouling up stitch count and tension as it goes. Much better idea is to corral those pesky YOs in the middle of the needle. That also lets you snug up the corner needles together as one does on socks to prevent ladders instead of having all those open stitches there. Better all around.

Hard to believe that this little coaster sized beast will be a shawl some day. Hopefully soon instead of later.