Icarus in flight

I finished my pet project, the Icarus shawl from Interweave summer 06 a few weeks ago, but it's only lately that I've managed to get pictures wearing it. The weather has been crappy - thunderstorms, rainshowers, and wind. But it finally got nice enough - and I worked up the nerve - to take it off the back of the sofa and wear it.

It's gigantic! Something like a 76" wingspan and 36" down the spine, it pretty much dwarfs me. Because I'm going to end up sitting on the tail if I wear it normally:

I think it will end up much better wrapped:

And then of course the matador shot, lest I am trapped in a field with a mad bull:



Most of my progress was blogged at the Icarus Knitalong:

cast on

in progress

beginning lace charts

finished and blocked

Summary:
pattern: Icarus Shawl designed by Miriam Felton, Interweave summer 06
yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr wool/silk, in Mahogany
size 3 Boye needlemaster circs
knit May 25-June 12
diverted by audiobook The Thirteen gun salute, by Patrick O'Brian
and the opening games of the World Cup

I received much help and assistance from fellow knitters at the Icarus Shawl KAL. It made it really fun, and it was really motivating to have people to knit along with. Thanks everyone!

I must also point to this post by a fellow KAL'er: scroll down to see the beautiful WH Auden poem Musee de Beaux Arts, and Breughel's painting of Icarus falling into the see. OK, I admit, kind of a downer. But still, a really evocative and mythical name for the shawl.