Look at what blocking does!  It's a must for knitted lace.  If you're going to take the time to knit lace, you gotta block it.  And, let me tell you, knitting is slow and knitting complicated lace is SLOWER than slow.  When I was first starting out, I think I was going so slowly that time started running backwards.

Oh, but all that is forgotten when I'm holding this beautiful scarf in my hands.  Looking at the photos now, this is one of those projects where I think, "I made that?!  Really?"  I'm stunned.

The funny thing is, it's not really all that complicated.  No more skill is needed than would be required to do a paint by number.  It's all planned for you.  You get a lace chart, knit each row, repeat until it's long enough, and you're done.  In this case, the magic was sticking with it long enough to finish.

In this case, I used the free Tiger Eye Lace Scarf pattern that I found on Ravelry.  The chart doesn't use the normal knitted lace chart symbols, which wasn't an issue for me since this was my first lace chart.  

I actually liked the symbols she picked, they made sense to me.  For instance, "slip stitch, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over" was represented by &.  In my brain, that makes total sense.  I asked a seasoned knitter a question when I first started out and showed her the chart and seemed less than pleased with the symbol anarchy, so those of a similar mind may want to find a proper chart.  Apparently it's a common lace pattern.

I used Paton Grace for this, which is what my Peacock Sweater is made from.  It's a bright shiny cotton yarn that has great stitch definition.  And with use it gets very very soft.  This will become quite a cuddly scarf over time.

The scarf is a gift that was given to someone who was there when I needed her.  Perhaps thinking of the recipient as I knit each stitch is what gave me the patience to keep going.  Isn't it funny how sometimes when you're making things for other people you are inspired to do greater things?  Well, that's the way it is with me.

I'm so glad I remembered to take the back-lit-lace shot!  I see this type of shot on Ravelry a lot, and I always love it.  Knit lace is oh-so-delicate.