Arcuata is lovely beaded design by Sivia Harding that has as its special feature, a parade of beads in different shapes, sizes, and colors.
The Design
Sivia writes:
Arcuato is a half-circle shawl with a wide lace center panel and garter stitch panels at the sides.
The beautiful stitch pattern in the center panel sweeps and curls and is magnificently accented with an array of up to four different beads for dimensional and decorative effect.
The Yarn
We did not put together kits using the same yarn or colorway or beads as Sivia used. We selected Tosh Merino Light. You can see our yarn in the lower right-hand corner of the top photo on this page and again below that.
The photos of the finished shawl show Sivia's original wrap and are used, with her permission, to show you the design.
TML is a 100% Superwash Merino Wool, fingering weight | single-ply with 420 yards | 384 meters per 100g skein.
Our colorway is a gorgeous neutral (following Sivia's lead): Astrid Grey, an almost-solid in a medium gray.
One skein will be enough for the smaller size of the shawl (roughly 48" wingspan x 19" at center back).
(If you want the larger shawl, the simplest thing is to go for two kits; alternatively contact me and if I have stock I will set you up with a special kit.)
The Beads
The beads are where this design really shines (no pun intended but it fits).
(Btw, the beads are placed with the crochet hook add-as-you-go method. This kit does not include the thin crochet hook needed for this. If you need help finging something that will work well for you, just email me.)
Altogether for this shawl, one would need a total of 495 (770) seed beads. Sivia says that one might choose a combination of size 6 rounds, 3 mm cubes, size 8 triangles, or any other equivalent size beads in a combination that pleases you.
The original shawl you see as knit by Sivia used four beads, Bead A1, Bead B1, Bead A2, and Bead B2 . Here are the ones she used and the amounts of each:
Bead A1 - 89 (137) (size 6 metallic orange rounds)
Bead B1 - 160 (248) (size 8 metallic bronze triangles)
Bead A2 - 90 (134) (size 6 metallic silver rounds)
Bead B2 - 156 (236) (size 8 matte metallic silver triangles)
She alternated columns of Bead A1 and B1 with columns of Bead A2 and B2 in the shawl. Sivia says that this is only one of many potential arrays of beads.
*****
Our kits will include enough beads for the smaller size shawl.
You notice that Sivia used a mix of cool and warm colors in varying shapes and sizes. We can give you that in your kit, similar though not exactly the same as what Sivia used.
We can also give you a kit with all cool colors, multiple sizes and shapes.
Or one with all warm colors, again multiple sizes and shape.
Make your selection via the drop-down menu under the top photo, the one labeled Bead Color.
*****
The Pattern
Again, the kit will not automatically include the pattern.
I know some knitters might already have this or prefer to get it directly as a PDF file of the pattern from Sivia via her Ravelry web page. In that case, make sure the drop-down menu is set to "No Pattern Needed." This will save the pattern in your Ravelry library and ensure you get any updates right away.
If you would like a printed copy, please make sure the "Pattern" drop-down menu is set to that.
We also can set you up with a pdf file -- your pattern will be downloadable from your account section on this EarthFaire website.
