Oooh, oooh, summertime! Summertime means new, airy sweet nothing knitting projects, like the Flower Basket Shawl from the Fall 2004 IK, using Frog Tree fingering weight alpaca in a tasty persimmon orange. Here's my first attempt: Looks like something the cat hawked up. Round 2: Huzzah! It seems to be working. Huzzah huzzah! I have successfully completed several repeats of the main pattern, and I haven't even had to rely on my lifeline (yet)! I'm very glad I chose this yarn instead of the called-for laceweight alpaca. First, one strand of yarn is easier than 2 strands held together (yuck), especially in a lace pattern. Second, while the camel-colored yarn used in the model is okay, this orange is hot hot hot piquante hot! Which makes perfect sense for summer. Speaking of hot, now that the mercury is edging over 70 degrees, it's time to experiment with my very first batch of two-buck Chuck sangria! Isn't this just the loveliest thing you've ever seen?