It Never SOUNDS That Big
The magic of the Pi shawl is in its simplicity. You start with a certain number of stitches, which can actually be any number though single digits make the most sense. Then after one row, you double the number of stitches. Then after after a couple rows, you double it again, doubling the number of rows each time as well. It always sounds so simple...... ....... and I always forget how freakin' many stitches that last increase turns out to be!