Elspeth, I wouldn’t mind writing out the chart for you for “A Good Bias.” It’s not that difficult of a lace pattern just one where you need to know the symbols. I noticed you were thinking of doing “I Do” instead. It’s a beautiful shrug that I want to make too. If you still want me to write out “A Good Bias” for you let me know.

I admired that shrug from IK too, and was equally as put off by the chart. I haven’t really used one yet, except for simple intarsia….but i’m thinking about doing ‘I Do’ also, as I don’t like to have my arms bare (I suffer from lunchlady flop), and it’s such a lovely lacework pattern.

so many choices! I like the Good Bias shrug’s arms better (I think the I Do ones are a bit too wide for me because I don’t want them hanging in anything) but the idea of no (?) finishing is very tempting! I also hate knitting with Mission Falls 1824 Cotton, but it is discontinued so I could use something else, what to do?!

Don’t be scared off by the Good Bias charts–there are really only 3 rows where you have to pay attention to the lace pattern (the WS rows are straight purling except for the garter stitch edges). I made a large-size photocopy of the chart and used different colored crayons (I have a preschooler, lol) to highlight rows 1,3 and 5. This made is much easier to “see” what I was doing.
I promise, once you get through the first few repeats you will do fine. Although if you like the other shrug better, you should, of course, choose that one.

Thanks for the encouragement! Erica already wrote out one sleeve for me so I have something to start on, and hopefully it will be not too difficult when I get started.