I spent some time working on the rug last weekend, and I do love it...but the linen isn't going to work. While I can see the threads with no problem, I'm running into the same issue I had with the silk gauze in that my knots are covering so well, it's hard to keep track of which thread line I am on. To that point, I am already off a thread across in one area of the pattern.

But, all is not lost.  I decided to go the way of the Persian (another poor project I let lapse). I printed the color photo from the pattern onto cotton and will follow the pattern that way. I had to redo the charted pattern anyway to choose new colors and change the border, so that was not a lost effort, either. Some of the areas will likely be simplified working on the cotton, but it will be easier overall since I won't have to follow thread lines. Should go a little faster, too.  :]

Here's the print after rinsing, before ironing and setting in the hoop.

You can see the tiny squares.

This is two hours of work, and I love it already. I'm still referencing the pattern and symbol chart for the colors, but I am not counting the knots. I use the printed areas as a guide and get the general feel of the pattern using the colors I charted. Much easier this way - working on the details and filling in after.

I like seeing the whole design at once, watching the various parts come to life as I complete the knots. As you can see, it doesn't keep the boxy shape as the knots are made over the pattern.