I thought on it some more.

The lace + locally produced alpaca thing.  What I've gone and done is bought myself a copy of the Ishbel shawl.  It seems all the time someone in one of my Ravelry groups is sharing one they've done, and I click on their thumbnail going "ooh, pretty, what's that?" and it's the Ishbel.  My 540 yards should be more than enough to make a nice triangular scarf.  Because it starts with a good chunk of stockinette stitch, by the time the growth function gets intimidating I'll be well committed, and even on the big size the last row isn't that big.  As an extra bonus 80% of the purchase price goes to Doctors Without Borders to help in Haiti. :)