Handpicked Shawl
Inspired by a wildflower meadow walk, Handpicked is a top-down triangular shawl featuring decorative drop-stitch floral stitches sprinkled into a soothing stockinette base. The organic motifs are further emphasized with a colorful speckled yarn, which pops from the solid ground. For optional embellishment, you can choose to add beads to the center of the flower stitches for added decoration and dimension. An easy-to-remember yet engaging knit, Handpicked is the perfect accessory to celebrate Summer in bloom.
Yarn
Sample used:
Main Color (MC)
Skinny Singles: 652 yards/596 meters of “Cinder” (2 skeins)
Contrast Color (CC)
Sock Yarn: 393 yards/359 meters of “Daydream” (1 skein)
Please note that nearly the whole skein is used, so it is advisable to weigh the yarn towards the end and complete one less pattern repeat if necessary.
Tools & Materials
US 5 (3.75mm) 40”/100cm circular needle.
Approximately 380 beads in an assortment of shapes, sizes and colors. The beads must be large enough so that they may comfortably be strung onto the yarn prior to casting on. I used a mix of the following sizes: size 8 demi-round and round Japanese seed beads, size 6 round Japanese seed beads, 3.8mm O-Bead seed beads, 4mm round glass beads.
Sewing needle (fine enough to pass easily through the hole of the beads) and thread.
Four stitch markers.
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends.
Notes
Shawl is worked from the neck edge down to the point.
Edge and center increases are made every other row.
If you choose to add beads to the shawl, they need to be strung onto the CC yarn prior to casting on. I chose a mix of colors and shapes that were complementary to my yarn and strung them in a non-repeating order to achieve an organic arrangement. You can use as many or as few beads as you like.
Not every flower motif within the stitch pattern has the same number of beads: some motifs are left without beads, some have 1 bead added and others have 2-3 beads added. The placement of this is also organic – adds beads as you like throughout the pattern row and leave some flower motifs plain!
PDF pattern download. Written instructions.