Because I'm (half) Danish

My mother's parents emigrated to the US from Denmark, which in my eyes makes me half Danish.  When my mother's brother converted to Catholicism, I went around telling people I was "half Catholic" (I was about ten at the time).  While I was told that was not accurate, no one really explained why.

Because of my Danish "heritage" I always chose Denmark as the subject of history reports, lorded over my friends the fact we opened our xmas gifts on xmas eve, and periodically bugged my mother to teach me to speak Danish.  As an adult, I am drawn to Danish films and knitting.  So when I stumbled across the

Kællingesjal shawl, I had to knit it.

Starting out the border

The shawl dates from the late 1800's.  Mette Rørbech created her "recipe" for this shawl based on one she saw in a museum.  The yarn I am using is some alpaca I purchased at a fiber arts festival from Weavers Loft, yarn I now realize was designed for weaving and not for knitting.  It comes in 8-oz. hanks and is single ply with little twist, which makes it split easily.  The k2tog's are particularly vexing.  But the good news is only the borders are lace; the body of the shawl is garter with stockinette and reverse stockinette bands.  And I like to think the yarn is similar to yarn used 100 years ago - a little roughly spun.  At least, that is what I tell myself each time I have to rework a k2tog, which is almost every one.