Remember the Dragon Wing Shawl I was working on? I finally got off my fat ass and finished it up! It was only stalled because it has about 8 gazillion edging rows, and most days I'd rather chew aluminum foil than knit edging. But I'm on a mission to actually, you know, FINISH something, so I did. I finished it.
First off, look what I found yesterday!
Great big FAT pieces of styrofoam! (Hand in picture to give you an idea of scale.) And someone was THROWING IT AWAY! There were even two BIGGER, humongous pieces that I looked longingly at, but couldn't figure out how to fit in my car. And sorry, I just wasn't going to do that "stick it on the roof and hold it with your hand" thing. I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid.
Anyway, the shawl. Here's the obligatory, unblocked (aka boiled ass) shot. It's got an extra helping of boiled ass because apparently I can't focus a camera on unblocked lace.
About 40 minutes later, it looked like this. If I had a real understanding of geometry, it probably wouldn't have taken me this long to get here. This is after I pinned and unpinned at least three times before the penny dropped and I remembered that I'm essentially working with a CIRCLE, and that if you put your tape measure on the EDGE of the circle (as opposed to, oh I dunno, the CENTER), you just shouldn't wonder why you can't pull your all your edges out to the same measurement.
Yes, I'm a moron, but I'm ok with that, mostly. I figure things out eventually.
When I got to this point, I thought, "What does this remind me of??" 
Then I remembered: Han Solo's Millenium Falcon. :)
Done!
Ok, it's only MOSTLY perfect. I'm fairly anal, but I'm also reasonable about it. And I'd already spent an hour pinning this thing out. I took so long that it had dried out from washing, so I needed to dampen it back down. I couldn't find a spray bottle, so I filled a squirt bottle and threw water on it. It was the moral equivalent of shooting it with a squirt gun. It was close enough.
Here's a detail shot:
And the finshed shawl, back view:
Front:
The "my hair looks like crap, but my shawl looks GREAT" view.
That is gorgeous!! I love everything about it - the color, the pattern. Wow.
And - I think you're hair looks great in that photo!
Posted by: Mary | June 13, 2007 at 04:50 PM
FABULOUS! I adore that edging pattern. And I forsee lots of hearts in Ravelry. ;)
Posted by: Beth | June 13, 2007 at 07:27 PM
Dude.. you knit the Millenium Falcon of lace shawls... I bow to your coolness. (I'm sorry.. my geek was showing.. let me try that again..)
WHOAH! That is an awesome shawl!
Posted by: Mouse | June 13, 2007 at 08:24 PM
It's so beautiful!
And thanks for the pictorial with styrofoam--that would never have occurred to me, and what a great idea.
And, of course, Han Solo was always very inspirational.
Posted by: Amy | June 13, 2007 at 08:28 PM
Oh.So.Cool. You Rock! Love the shape, love the color!
For blocking, I use the foam squares that interlock, the kind you see kids play areas? I squeak of the pins on styrofoam makes my teeth hurt! Next time let me know and I'll send you some!
Posted by: colleen | June 13, 2007 at 08:42 PM
Oh my gosh, that is just fabulous!! Seriously, that is the prettiest shawl, and I love how big it is.
Posted by: Jane | June 13, 2007 at 08:57 PM
Your shawl does look GREAT! It's incredible. And I loved seeing your preblocked picture for contrast.
Posted by: Beth | June 13, 2007 at 09:44 PM
Absolutely gorgeous! It makes me want to order yarn and get started on mine.
Posted by: Restless Knitter | June 14, 2007 at 02:58 AM
wow thats really pretty, you go girl.
Posted by: pixie | June 14, 2007 at 08:24 AM
Wow, that is gorgeous, Janice!
Posted by: jane | June 14, 2007 at 08:42 AM
Ooh, does this make you Princess Leah and the Señor, Han Solo? Chewie? Darth Vadar? So many options.
I just love it. I like that the shawl can be worn to show all the lovely lace, without folding it in half the way circular shawls usually are. It looks tres elegant in the last picture.
Posted by: Marnie | June 14, 2007 at 09:08 AM
Gorgeous shawl. You said in your other post that you got the pattern at SAFF - can you give some details? designer, publisher, etc?
Posted by: Kendra | June 14, 2007 at 09:17 AM
Great googly moogly!
It makes my brain ache to think of all the work that went into that. I bow to you (and big ups to your geekitude).
Posted by: Emily | June 14, 2007 at 09:42 AM
Lovely! And it looks fabulous on you. :) Great blocking job, too--blocking circles is at the bottom of my things-I-like-to-do-in-lace-knitting list.
Posted by: alice | June 14, 2007 at 10:14 AM
Wow it's stunning. I just love the way you can see the color variations in it!
Posted by: Jen | June 14, 2007 at 10:14 AM
WOW! That is one gorgeous shawl!
Posted by: carrie | June 14, 2007 at 10:18 AM
Millenium Falcon, LOL. You look great - and the shawl is not bad, too. ;)
Congratulations! What an awesome accomplishment!
Posted by: June | June 14, 2007 at 12:18 PM
Wow is that the shawl that you started at the spinning retreat? It is beautiful. I love the color. You did a great job.
Posted by: Kate | June 14, 2007 at 10:39 PM
You look great and the shawl is a perfect addition to your big stash of gorgeously knitted lace. WOW!!!! My two lace projects are currently marinating in my knitting basket because of lack of will-power and time. But you are truly inspiring to whip them out and knit at least one row. AND - it was good seeing you last week. :-)
Posted by: Claudia | June 15, 2007 at 07:22 AM
OMG! It is absolutely gorgeous. You are truly a master!
You look beautiful!
Posted by: Sandy | June 15, 2007 at 09:50 AM
Beautiful! Love the look on your face. You finished a huge, complicated, gorgeous project and deserve a good smirk or two.
Posted by: Marguerite | June 16, 2007 at 08:34 AM
I made my husband read this post just for the Star Wars reference, but he read the whole thing, and he says the shawl is beautiful. I have to agree. I'll be sure to heart it in Ravelry, too. I want one just like it.
Posted by: Kristen | June 16, 2007 at 09:21 PM
Stunning!
Posted by: Debbie | June 17, 2007 at 05:22 PM
My gawd! I LOVE styrofoam! :^)
Great hair, by the way!
Ian
Posted by: KOARC | June 18, 2007 at 03:26 PM
Oh Janice, this shawl is simply gorgeous. Worth the ache in the back after pinning it all out to block. You must want to wear it every day! You should....the whole world should see it.
Posted by: Sharon | June 19, 2007 at 02:41 PM