Finally, I am at the finishing stages of the Polka Dot Shell.  I have to admit that I was intimidated by the finishing instructions.  The pattern called for a Tubular Bind Off - the opposite of the Tubular Bind-On that I completed at the start.  Basically, you prepare your stitches so that the last row is finished with a kitchener stitch.  It required casting on approx. 390 stitches for the front/neck edging, working in the seed stitch pattern for several rows, then dividing the stitches so that every other is on 2 different needles.  This sets up the process of using kitchener stitch to finish. 

I have to give myself KUDOS for giving up before I started - it sounded too hard!  But I stuck with it, and actually, once you get the hang of it, it is pretty easy.  Although, it takes a bit more time than a regualar bindoff.  The edge it provides you is quite nice. 





Here is a picture.  It is ALMOST DONE.