It is probably dangerous to name a design after a color, but I couldn’t help myself. Stark but beautiful winter in Alaska, brings the dark green of spruce to the fore, with dominant icy white, silvery blue, and gray. A yearning builds for a bright splash of color. This time of year, I need to see some Red! A desire for something that is bright and bold is fulfilled with this design, and is perfect for a last minute knit. Of course, this shawl will be beautiful anytime of the year, in whatever hue or yarn you pick; have fun naming your shawl to match your choice!

The crescent shape is created by using rapid near edge increases. Although the shawl is worked flat, a circular cast on is used which prevents the “hump” at the neck that results when a provisional cast on is combined with this kind of shaping. The shawl is adjustable and easily modified to make larger or smaller.

Skill Level: Easy to Moderate, Emily Oker circular cast on, but worked flat, dropped stitches, beads (placed individually with a crochet hook, no pre-stringing).
Materials: Needles - US 7 (4.5mm) straights and/or circulars in size appropriate for holding stitches; Yarn – solid or semi-solid color works best for this pattern; worsted weight yarn 500-550 yards; shawl shown used less than 3 skeins (with plenty left over) Cascade Pure Alpaca, Color 3003, 100 g/3.5 oz, 220 yds/200 m; you are encouraged to use different yarn weights/needles to achieve fabric you desire. Misc - stitch markers, row counter, tapestry needle, crochet hook for cast on size F/5 (3.75mm), crochet hook for beading size 8 (1.50mm) – adjust crochet hook if needed to fit your yarn choice and beads. Beads - shawl shown used < 7 tubes of Beader’s Paradise 2/0 Czech Glass E. Beads, Ruby S/L (LT2EMIX46), 22Gr. tubes (again plenty left over, obtained from JoAnn’s Fabric & Craft Store); they can of course be omitted, or just do one row.

Gauge: can be flexible with this, but if helpful is: Elongated GS ~ 16 st x 24 rows =4” (4 st and one 6 row repeat = adds ~1 inch in width). Adjust needles to obtain desired gauge.
Dimensions (Unblocked): crescent shaped, inside curve 48”/122cm, outside curve 105”/267cm, mid back width 15”/38cm.

Tutorial available at http://youtu.be/TMScu8XOzng for a different bind off, but also shows how to place beads individually.

Tip for placing beads - tuck crochet hook in Left hand with knitting needles, pick up bead with R hand, slip bead on to hook (instead of trying to stab a loose bead), and transfer hook back to right hand to snag and drop y/o loops and to snag next knit st and proceed, it will be more efficient, and you can sit on the couch, still watch TV, and do this as long as you have a little cup to hold your beads next to you :)

Jebby, our black lab, helped in the production of this shawl (well he ate the beads that fell on the floor anyway)