Two cat vomits and hours of work later, my Exploration Station is finished and ready for its public debut!
It was worth the time investment, though, and believe me when I say it's less daunting to knit than it looks. Each section is written clearly, so it was easy to both understand and memorize after a few rows. Plus, new techniques (like the brioche stitch, for me) are linked to well-explained tutorial videos conducted by the incomparable Stephen West himself. He does move a bit quickly in sections, but that's what the "pause" button is for.
This was my first time knitting an i-cord border and bind-off, and I have to tell you how much I love the final result; however, the bind-off was a bit time consuming, especially since I wanted it done at that point. It was worth it, though. Just anticipate plopping down for a bit while you're finishing the border and weaving in ends.
Now, all I have to do is wait for the temperature to dip below 90 degrees with humidity and I'll be all set. I'm starting to see a few signs of fall around, mostly in grocery stores who have been selling Halloween candy since the beginning of July, so I'm sure the day of wearing my shawl will soon arrive!
Guess I should start on all those Christmas gifts I've been planning...
In the meantime, I'm...
Knitting: Vanilla Latte Socks
Reading: All the Light We Cannot See
Listening: Last Song (feat. Matt Berninger from The National)