A Set back

There I was, happily knitting away on my Swallowtail Shawl - really starting to make progress and get into the lace swing..

I was cruising along a purl row, popping the stitches off the left needle, zipping along.

And then...

A SET BACK!

One stitch popped a little too enthusiastically and in a sudden PING a couple of other stitches on the left needle popped off too! OH NOES!

The set back appears to have reached down two rows of lace at least, and I have NO idea how to remedy the situation by remaking the stitches and placing them back on the needles. But that's not for lack of trying - oh no! I looked at it purl-side on, then I checked it out from the knit side, tried putting the stitches back on where and how I thought they should be, gauging from the other lace sections that hadn't kamikaze'ed - but no.

Sadly I think the only thing to do is to unknit the last few rows til I know where I'm at again. A set back indeed, yes? But at least I've put in a couple of life lines - so even if the unknitting goes pear shaped i can always just rip back (gently!) to the latest lifeline. *sigh* all that WORK! Nevermind, for now I shall un-knit and see where I get to!