Strictly speaking, this is my final project of 2008, not my first one of 2009, as I started knitting it on 26th December. But it’s not for me and isn’t selfish. Well, maybe a little.

This pattern, the Lily of the Valley scarf, was the one project – other than the gorgeous cover shawl – which really stood out when I was first given my copy of Knitted Lace of Estonia. And it coincided nicely with the UK Swap and needing to knit something suitable for my swap partner.

Ideally, I would have liked to have used the Jojoland Cashmere specified in the pattern. I do have some stashed, but it’s not the right colour. After a bit of a search, though, I found that Malabrig(i)o Laceweight has the same meterage and comes in better colours. Despite the colour name (Emerald), the yarn is more peacock/teal. And knitted up, it is hard to tell that it’s not cashmere. It’s incredibly soft. The yarn is a little bit uneven in places; it does have thicker and thinner spots, but they’re not noticeable in the scarf, just when I come to p5tog for a nupp and then think that I have too many stitches because there’s one thick one taking up loads of space.

I’m pretty much halfway through the scarf now. I’m aiming for a pattern repeat a day, which is a nice relaxed pace and will still mean it’s finished well before the deadline.