I have so many lace patterns I want to knit. Unfortunately, things are conspiring this year to stop me doing any lace knitting other than socks. My Dolphin Scarf has barely grown and the list of patterns I am coveting just gets bigger. As does my stash of laceweight yarn…

I think I’ve found my shawly nemsis now, though. I have bought The Princess Shawl pattern from Heirloom Knitting.

It is absolutely beautiful. And terrifying. Seriously, it tells me so on the back:

The Princess Shawl is inspired by one presented to Alexandra, Princess of Wales by Shetland in 1863. It is one of the most challenging projects for lace knitters available.

*whimpers*

The pattern comes in a 24 page booklet AND with four A3 charts. The recommended needle size if I knit the pattern in the suggested yarn is 1.5mm. Have I bitten off more than I can chew? Probably! But when I do knit it, it’ll be the most rewarding knitting I’ll ever do.