You got your mojo back!!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't that looking GOOD ! *high-fives you*

Amazing! Knew you could do it.....the demons are put back in their place!

That is going to be so beautiful! Congratulations on getting past the Cast On! :-) I would have given up long ago!

CLEARLY you are! congats! lol.

Very spectacular! Perserverance pays!

Congratulations! I knew you could do it! If it's any consolation, I've had my fun with a 640 cast on row. But it was really 620 stitches I should have cast on. Except I ran out of yarn on the long tail cast on at 630, which would have been fine, but at the time I thought it was 640, not 620 stitches..... Congratulations on your perseverance!

Yowza! You da knittuh!

It's beautiful! Congratulations!

ps. what kind of needles? signature?

It look awesome! Hurrah!!
Although when somebody asks me "Who's your Daddy?" I inappropriately reply "It's me 'cause I did this to your Mama!" while making lewd hip motions. Wildly inappropriate to be sure, but it does confuse and surprise the staggering men who have said it to me (I used to be a bartender)

Wow! Beautiful.

Yeah! You made it out of the "redo jail"!!!

You show that lace who's boss!

Yarn pride goeth before the frogging....

Yee haw!

Knew you could do it (but what a ride to get there!)

I'll keep this in mind the next time I have one of "those days" myself.

And from here on, the rows keep getting shorter, right? It's all downhill from here--congratulations for your stick-to-it-iveness!

I never had any doubts you'd conquer it. It's beautiful!! Good for you!

very nice

Beautiful! Nicely done.

Am I the only one who finds the "who's your daddy" line especially funny while talking about lacy knitting?

YOU* are!!

It sure as hell ain't Nancy Bush. :)

Whoo-hoo!!

Congratulations. It looks absolutely beautiful. You did good to stick it out and not eat the yarn in frustration.

YEAH!! I knew you could do it!
btw, it's beautiful!

Yeah baby! You conquered!

very clever and beautiful.

Yeah baby! You conquered!

Fantastic. It was worth it. I usually work from a few stitches to a lot, but think I may try your way next. The last shawl I did had 1600 stitch bindoff because I did it as a picot. Thought it would never end. Keep the pictures coming.

beautiful!

WHEW. My faith in the universe is restored.

Fantastic. It was worth it. I usually work from a few stitches to a lot, but think I may try your way next. The last shawl I did had 1600 stitch bindoff because I did it as a picot. Thought it would never end. Keep the pictures coming.

Fantastic. It was worth it. I usually work from a few stitches to a lot, but think I may try your way next. The last shawl I did had 1600 stitch bindoff because I did it as a picot. Thought it would never end. Keep the pictures coming.

Fantastic. It was worth it. I usually work from a few stitches to a lot, but think I may try your way next. The last shawl I did had 1600 stitch bindoff because I did it as a picot. Thought it would never end. Keep the pictures coming.

Fantastic. It was worth it. I usually work from a few stitches to a lot, but think I may try your way next. The last shawl I did had 1600 stitch bindoff because I did it as a picot. Thought it would never end. Keep the pictures coming.

Fantastic. It was worth it. I usually work from a few stitches to a lot, but think I may try your way next. The last shawl I did had 1600 stitch bindoff because I did it as a picot. Thought it would never end. Keep the pictures coming.

Fantastic. It was worth it. I usually work from a few stitches to a lot, but think I may try your way next. The last shawl I did had 1600 stitch bindoff because I did it as a picot. Thought it would never end. Keep the pictures coming.

Fantastic. It was worth it. I usually work from a few stitches to a lot, but think I may try your way next. The last shawl I did had 1600 stitch bindoff because I did it as a picot. Thought it would never end. Keep the pictures coming.

Fantastic. It was worth it. I usually work from a few stitches to a lot, but think I may try your way next. The last shawl I did had 1600 stitch bindoff because I did it as a picot. Thought it would never end. Keep the pictures coming.

Way to show that yarn who's boss! It's looking lovely :)

Ahhhhhh, all's well in the world now!

You rock the hardest. Yeah!

I'd say that was worth the re-do. (And the second re-do, and the third re-do, and the fourth re-do... etc.)

I knew you would prevail in the end! It looks very lovely!

Congratulations! is it knit on straits or circs?

Gorgeous! I see the yarn gods have finally wandered on to some other poor sap.;)

Congrats!

Beautiful, you have your magic back.

Wow that's pretty. I think I'd've waited till I'd cast off before saying "who's your daddy..." I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya!

Peter ... at least that's what my mom says.

You have shown that yarn a lesson it won't soon forget ... I don't want to know what dartardly things you had to do to it to make it comply (I'm picturing it being dangled over a basin of hot soapy water, with threats of intense aggitation uttered under your breath). You did what you had to do ... and now it is lovely!

Oh yeah baby! You go girl! You are the boss of your knitting.

That's great! I feel like that when I get through a row on my picture hat with no mistakes!

YOU ARE!

(aside: can one say 'who's your Mommy'? What is cultural/feminist implication? Possibly too much thought involved to figure out the answer).

YAY KNITTING.

WOOT! It looks great!

You da boss!

YESSSSSSSSSS!!! *high-fives* Keep up the good work, sweetie.

WOOOOHOOOO!!! It looks great. Another project I'll want to add to my already out of control queue. :)

Gorgeous!!!! Worth the rip count rip count......

(I'm sure this isn't an original comment, but...)

Wow!!! Beautiful!

Congratulations!

That lace is not the boss of you!

You whipped dat wool's arse! Well done, and very pretty!!!

One thing to say back... you've got more moxy than I do! I would've buried it all in the back yard and drank the entire bottle of wine!

Oh thank goodness. I have not left the house since your last post. I thought for certain a large meteor was heading right for planet earth...I mean with YOU having such trouble in that last post...I thought for sure the universe was just, well...never mind, all is well now! This Harlot fan is breathing so much better now. It is sooo lovely.

Way to go. I knew you would get it whipped into shape!

Yeah!!!!! If at first ... etc.! I knew you'd get there..

That is the prettiest couple inches of knitting I think I've ever seen! :)

Yay!!! Show that lace who's boss!

WHOO HOOO!!!!!!!!!!! This was an instant pick me up for a bad day. It made me laugh and it's awesome you finally got it going!

Yay! That corner variation after doing close to a hundred stitches of the same pattern - sheesh. I get hypnotized after three repetitions. Congratulations, and it's gorgeous already.

Crap, are you sure you were supposed to knit those 2 rows after the cast-on and before you start the chart?

OH Yeah!
You Are!!!

One word for you - BEAUTIFUL!!!

Hubris. Hubris is your daddy.

Gangsta Knitta! Way to go, Dude.

real pretty!

The knitting gods have moved in to my house. After 45 years of knitting I am having my ARSE kicked by a Dale of Norway baby bootie. A Baby bootie. Any thing I could do to get them to move from you. Now how do I get rid of them?

A very loud GOOD-O!!!! I'm so glad!

Remember thou art mortal, remember thou art mortal...

O frabjous day! I will raise my glass of Dr. Pepper in salute!

I was worried that the knitting karma of the world was askew - now I know that all is well.

Pretty, pretty, pretty. I love it!

Well done, way to show the lace who's boss!

Well done, but where is the lifeline? Really, the knitting gods are just lulling you in to a false sense of security. No, I don't do lifelines either, but....

Wicked!!!!!!

Go Steph! Go Steph! Go Steph!
Looks absolutely terrific.

Lovely!!!! All the past grief was obviously worth it.

Hoo haa!!!

Lovely.

YOU DA (WO)MAN!!!

In our houeshold, you would find me dancing provocatively (meaning, provoking some howls of laughter from my fiance) and talking about some Pwnage. My favorite word for a moment like this? WHAPOW!

New month, successful lace. Congratulations!

Yay!!!! Congratulations!

wow, that was a long break for you. You must have been pretty darn dejected with all things knitting! ;)

OOOOhhhhhhh.....aaaaaaahhhhhhh

Wonderful! It looks so nice.

I have to admit, your previous post had me in tears of (sympathetic) laughter, and even the muggles in my family understood what you were going through. (My sister said it confirmed why she would never take up knitting.)

LOL...gorgeous! Stella's got her grove back.

*lies prostrate on floor, chanting*

I am not worthy! I am not worthy! I am not worthy!

Awesome! I'm itching for my next lace.

You go, girl!

That is proof that perseverance pays off! Take that!

You da MAN! Uh, da WOMAN!

We knew you could! The Blog never lost faith in you.

lol

Very nice! I think there should be a special prize for the really stubborn ones amongst us. Of course, I'm saying that because I want a prize too!

Very lovely! How many more times did you have to frog it before you were able to take the photo?

yay! all that trouble just means that it is that much more satisfying when you finally get it done

YES!!! The Knitting Goddess says, "Go ye forth!!!!" Hooray!

Simply. Gorgeous. Having started a lacy sweater for my daughter-in-law five or six times (I stopped counting!) before getting it right (my first time knitting lace), I was SO impressed with your perseverance. I might have to try that pattern, too. Just stunning.

hmmmm...THAT doesn't look like a garter stitch scarf....

This week’s _Worldwide Words_ had a chuckle I thought people might appreciate:

"While we’re on unfortunate errors not caught by spelling checkers, the Wall Street Journal suffered one in an article on 19 February, in which it wrote about GE 'raising $15 billion in a public sock offering.' John Shore feels this must be a world record."

Oh Steph..you have just called on the knitting Gods. While I give a hearty "Congrats"...I am waiting for the finished object before I truly believe that all is right.

Well, it looks lovely for now, and since we all know you're going to be mellow and use your lifeline and not waggle your tongue at the knitting gods and...

Oh.

Um.

*steps farther from the computer*

Yeah.

The challenge with these patterns will be a) counting and b) not drooling all over them. Right? It's beautiful.

These comments are *too* much! haha.

The shawl is lovely! All it takes is a *real* break sometimes. :)

Yayyy!!! So happy for you!

It has made our week on the Beginning Lace Knitter's board on Ravelry to have it spelled out that even professional knitters have trouble with lace sometimes. You are a fine example of conquering your knitting! The lace looks great!

Whew, the MOJO is BACK! Yeah for you!

Lovely! Hooray!

WOO HOO!!!! knew you could do it! looks beautiful

Pretty!

If you are from Indiana, it's "Hoosier Daddy?"

what is it? It's sooooo pretty.

Lovely!

Ok, I'll keep my lace stash. For now. I'm watching carefully, though.

Wow!
You are a fast knitter!

Steph, I knew you would (eventually) spank that cast on into submission! Now, the trick is to be humble before the Knitting Gods......

Atta girl!!!

You are so, so much more stubborn than I am.

(Which is, apparently, why you accomplish things.)

Well done.

YEA! You! You da Woman! WOOWOOWOO!!! I am so happy for your success! Keep it up,Steph! Carol

Absolutely gorgeous! It's on!

I was going to email you this morning to see what had happened to you. No blog from the Harlot, is not good! Now, I'm glad I waited! Again, WOOWOO! Carol

So glad to see that knitting demons have found someone else to pick on! It is looking really gorgeous.

CONGRATS!!! You did it. Shows all of us what comes of try try try again.

yay!! you did it!! It looks great!

Looking good!

Patience pays well.

Very pretty....and really pretty needles, what kind are they?

I'm so glad that you got it! Your first post was so funny that I sent it to my sister and mother.

Oooooh....pretty! Let me know if you need to know my size...tee, hee!

Way to persevere!!! Well done!

OMG it's beautiful! Your persistence pays off! You're the Dude.

Haha and there's nothing quite as satisfying as defeating frustrating knitting. It's lovely. ^_^

I have a lace project that I've been working on for two months (off and on)...I keep getting to about 1.5", then lose a stitch (or gain one). My solution is to cut the yarn, toss my mistake in the bottom of my knitting bag, and return to an easier project. I now have a bunch of tiny pieces of greenish lace, but nothing near the scarf I've been aiming for.

Bien fait!

Hurray! Looks great.

YAY!!!

I love it!

I love the lace, but I'm curious....what is at the other end of your needle? Bell, spiral?

Wow. Gorgeous. Glad you're finally on track!

Yeah!

...Tenth....time's the charm? Hey, whatever it takes. It is beautiful already.

Congrats. And so is that the reason the stitch count for my incredibly easy lap blanket is all of a sudden all over the place, after four no-problem repetitions of my pattern?

Oh my..it is lovely. Way to go! You sure deserve for it to be easy and perfect from here on out.

You GO, MAMA!

'scuse me for a sec until I stop laughing. That was one of the best descriptive articles I've ever read. I could literally picture everything you did and could feel the frustration. You put into words the way I feel when I make mistake after mistake. Wanting to chew the yarn?..check. Asking myself if I really like knitting all that much?...check. Trust me, you are NOT alone! The beginning part of your shawl is really gorgeous and I truly hope you feel all that starting over was worth it. Thank you, Stephanie, for a funny article and for me to realize that we all make mistakes for God only knows what reason.

The best part is that you can get 147 comments in just a couple hours all over three words! What a crowd you have out there rooting for you! That's gotta be great! Almost as great as this shawl is going to be... love it!

Oh the many vast and varied ways we tempt the fades.

Good luck. It is beautiful.

what did you finally sacrifice to the fates of knitting?

its beautiful btw

Gorgeous. How come your lace edging looks so great and mine looks like tangled string?

Beautiful!

Hahaha. I was totally not ready for that subject line, and it just made me choke on my wine.

The shawl is working up beautifully! Glad you got it sorted out! (Not that there was any doubt.)

Don'cha love it when a problem makes you so damn stubborn you just can't quit and get madder and try harder until you come up with the most beautiful thing in the universe? I swear those objects of our beloved craft and art are the most precious in the world, and a new star is born every time we persevere to that extent. For me it was the dragon...oh never mind, I've told that one over and over. Great going, great knitting.

WELL! I guess that was worth the effort! What a beautiful piece of knitting. Yea you for sticking with it!

That is a thing of beauty, and it isn't even blocked yet! Yeah, Stef.

Ye ha! That's gorgeous. Nancy Bush's book has just gone on my wishlist at amazon :)

Oh man, you are SO in trouble. Taunting the yarn gods is a sure way to cause them to come back and slap you upside the *other* side of your head.

Run that lifeline now...

Holy Cats! I'm so done. I'm overwhelmed (can you say green-eyed with jealousy??) at your skill and speed. The work is ge-or-gous. I wish I could be happy for you, but, really, I want to cry. I have trouble getting through a sock in a month and I try -- I really, really, try. So what's the secret?

sssshhhhh.......the knitting karma gods are everywhere. Do you *want* to invite a smackdown or what? whisper please.

HOT DAMN!!

You are so the Woman!!! (now be good and go thread that lifeline while you still can...)

After dealing with the dickhead of the century it is so refreshing to be able to laugh again. Seriously, sometimes this job just steals pieces of my soul away....

Congrats! That looks so good. I just finished a sweater myself today and sometimes all we need is just a little knitting victory to make everything better. That and chocolate.... =^)

As my high school friend used to respond to that question (honestly), "I DON'T KNOWWWW!"

AWESOME!!

I know that about 84,000 people have said this already, but it is GORGEOUS! Congrats. ^_^

At my house, you would be told you kicked that patterns arse and made it your bitch. You are a mighty, mighty knitting Goddess, I bow to your awesome knitting.
Deb.

Yay, Stephanie!! Woot! Woot!

*smack* Way to make that wool bark like a lovely sheep, Steph! You are clearly the boss!

You show that shawl who's the boss!

Way to go! High fives all around! It is beautiful~keep up the good work.

So the rumor that you've taken up curling for a hobby is false. The lace looks great. Celebrate! It must be beer o'clock somewhere.

Still, too bad about the curling thing, what with all that ice you've got up there and all.

Was there any doubt you'd win in the end...I think not.
Go girl!!!

Hah. I finished the dishcloth too and am reunited with my toddler sweater.

You go!

Ya know that yarn talks, and will tell you what it wants to be when it's marinated in your stash long enough. I thought that by Tuesday afternoon the yarn was seriously telling you that it DID NOT want to become that shawl. You have a special talent for convincing yarn that it really does want to be the project you've picked out for it....even if you have to beat it into submission!

Stephanie,
yesterday evening I was listening to this song http://www.madewellmusic.com/music-22.html
(link to lyrics and mp3 file)
and wanted to share it with you; maybe it would be heartening during those times of "can you even do it".
because of course you can and so far the shawl is quite beautiful.

Elizabeth

Brava!

You are, baby! Way to go :)

How is it possible that human hands can knit such an object, are you sure fairies didn't do it?
So beautiful!

Hurray for getting past the knitting rut! If you ask me, it was worth it--it is absolutely beautiful. Great job!

I hate to bring this up...but is that an extra yarn over, in about the 10th row, just to the right of center?

(Just kidding...It's beautiful so far!)

One thing to say:

whoopee!

That is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen! No, no, it isn't! It is totally ugly, and you would be ashamed to wear it. However, I would not, and I will gladly take the finished product off your hands. Just to spare you from humiliation, you understand!

Pretty, Mama.

You da man! Well done!

Yea, Stephanie!

Seven words + picture = prime entertainment.

I'm not going to point out that you used three words, and a picture speaks a thousand words. But oh wow, you're rocking now! Bravo! Can't wait to see the rest of it.

Wow!!

Are those Signature needles? They look so pretty!

Shouldn't that be, "Who's Your Harlot"?!

Gosh, it looks like it will be as pretty as this one, only whiter...
http://thingssoolikes.blogspot.com/2009/02/snow-day-in-london.html
BTW, thanks for the warning...

Really? Show off... :o)

Pretty, pretty :)

RIGHTEOUS!

Oh, there is hope for mankind. Well done.

Your Back in the Saddle Again! (Did you hear the band as you read it?!)

You is da MAN!

So to speak.

We had faith. If you couldn't conquer this, then what hope would I, as a mere peon, have? I do love watching your progress. You are inspiring in so many ways, even when things are not going your way. It bears repeating, though--The Blog always knew that you would prevail.

WOW,that looks like sea foam or fine as webs in the morning dew...stunning. hmm....Who's Your Momma ?

HOORAY! WTG!

You iz!
BTW, I am embarrassed to say, I didn't read the last blog out loud to my husband and other non-knitting friends, as I am wont to do. (Practicing my dramatic and comedic skills...) I have shared the Joe-stuck-in-the-truck one, and the semi-naked-Harlot-locked-out-of-the-hotel-room one, both classics, to uproarious laughter, but I knew that they just wouldn't undertand the exquisite agony of situation. But my knitting buds were hysterical!
Congrats on conquering the dreaded unintelligible (at least for the moment) cast on!
p.s. Any time you want to warm up from that -16, you are more than welcome to come visit. It was a ridiculously insane 88 degrees (Fahrenheit) here yesterday! ( I have no concept at all of how cold it is there....)

Looks great. I was afraid the great gruesome gansey-curse had finally caught up with you but you're ok now. ;^)

Nothing like a little insanity to bring out the best :)

Wow! Nancy will be so proud! So, did you drink the Dixie Blackened Voodoo Beer to break the curse because it certainly looks like you kicked it's arse! Hurray for Stephanie!

Stephanie - that is just so beautiful- please keep the pictures coming - I too am knitting a lace shawl, and need the encouragement.

Git R Done!

Wonderful start to a beautiful thing.

you are!! you are!! looks beautiful!!

Gorgeous!

Wow, lovely! :)

You are baby!

Hats and Horns!!!

And just think, each row will get a little shorter till you're done!

Whoohoo! Beautiful!
(((hugs)))

Fantastic!

Congratulations!.... it´s beautiful, wow!!!!!

Ooooh, that's purty. Good job, Stephanie. I knew you could do it, even when you had doubts... ;)

Yeah you did.

Whoo-hoo! Yay Stephanie! Gorgeous!

You da man?

It's looking lovely....but I am now filled with trepidation at the thought of starting my own shawl from the same book, because I could not stand a loss of knitting mojo right now! I have so little to begin with....

Totally worth the frustration. :-)

Dude! That's f'g brilliant! Go you! :D

You go girl....show that lace who's BOSS!!!

Woo-hoo! It's gorgeous! And look at all your fans cheering you on :)

Woah, that's gorgeous! Glad the yarn finally decided to stop driving you nuts and cooperate!!

Absolutely beautiful lace. Now did the yarn begin to cooperate, or did you beat it into submission?

Okay, so I am still on your Monday or Tuesday morning stage of my project from this book. (make that before Beer-O'clock too)
Just have to say you give me hope I may be able to accomplish the cast on yet!

Beautiful! And inspirational! (So, what was wrong with it that final time?)

That's beautiful! You must have gotten past the hard stuff! It's so fun when the knitting just works!

Congratulations! If that were me, I don't know if I would have made it that far. I might have given up somewhere around Wednesday...

Then again, as someone who is now re-knitting the front of a cardigan after it was fully complete (with buttons even) because she totally arsed up the cabling the first time around, I can completely understand the need to prove to yourself and your knitting that YES, YOU CAN DO IT!!

Looks Amazing!

Those are definitely Signature Needles.

You inspire me. (...so what else is new?)

Of COURSE you DID IT....

ROCK ON.

You went through a lot of trouble....but then again, it IS grogeous!

awesome! I chose to start lace knitting on the Mystery Stole 3- I frogged so many times I was lucky to have enough yarn left to finish the project (I was working with merino wool)But in the end, I would wear that stinking stole to the beach!

You're an inspriation...I've decided to rip out my (very simple!) Cozy...the laceweight I couldn't resist is just too dainty at the pattern stitch count.

Ribbit! ...cast on again

...and then I'll have the makings of a stole.

Out of curiousity, how many times did Beer o'clock roll around? ;-)

Lovely, and not surprising. I still want to know why double.

Absolutely gorgeous! You are a force to be reckoned with.

Whew! That was too close; I'm not sure I could continue knitting if you were to stop! And ain't that a lovely start for a shawl. Perservere!

Woohoo! It was the Screech, wasn't it? 'Fess up!

HA !!! You are the Daddy , Mother and the CEO of this sucker. You showed it eh ? Good Luck and it looks lovely so far

You're rockin' all over that knit!

You go girl!

YIPPEE!!! And it's a perfect example of why following instructions should be more important to me than it sometimes is: that doubled yarn cast-on looks great!

If you can recover superlatively after a taxing, lengthy exorcism of cursed yarn, then there's hope for me, isn't there? I'm going to pretend there is.

W00T! Way to go!

Gorgeous!

You are a madwoman. I honestly don't know how you knit all that lace. I would be under sedation, counting. I am a rank amatuer compared to you. I bow to your awesomeness.

Happy birthday , Ken!
Thanks for all your work on this blog!

Fabulous!! I was almost crying with you while reading all you'd been through to get there, so I'm delighted it all worked out in the end (and that you didn't ring Nancy Bush after all!!)

Absolutely stunning...

Jaw-dropping. Absolutely jaw-dropping. And pre-blocked, I suppose?

Happy Birthday Ken!! :-)

good for you

Dude. It's freakin' gorgeous. Knew you could do it.

(But thanks for being human, cause sometimes we wonder.)

WOW - you really ARE THE DADDY!

That's the spirit!

Bask in the glory!

**Just don't get too confident or the Estonian lace gods will reach up and bite you again. They're wicked that way.**

now that's just lovely.

O it's beautiful and it's making my fingers itch! And the yarn is?:)

cunaZe eofyyjwe ononocut mucmsagp