This one is totally awesome. 

A beaded beauty by Nim Teasdale, Radiata is a striking beaded shawl that just sings of summer.  

The Design

This is what Nim writes:

Radiata is inspired by the spiraling form in the centre of a sunflower, and by an absurdly cheerful cake of yarn which was a gift from a friend, like a sunbeam in the grey depths of winter.

The design uses a spiraling wedge shape which increases in gradually expanding leaves that radiate sideways out from the centre to form a generous crescent.

*The pattern can be worked in 4 sizes, and the edging continued to any size to use up any remaining yarn.

*Pattern rows on the right side only.

*Optional beading

*The pattern can be worked entirely from either the written pattern or charts.

*Adaptable to a range of yarn weights from lace to DK.

The Yarn

Nim writes that the pattern can be easily worked with a variety of yarn weights, from the light lace up to DK weight, anywhere between 437 and 880 yards (400 - 800 m).  Nim knit hers (photos of which you see on this page) of a lace weight yarn, about 440 yards.  

The Beads

As I mentioned above, there are a lot of options for this shawl.  I've been emailing back and forth to Nim about this. 

What we worked out is that the smallest size (which used 400m) would need about 150 beads, or closer to 200 beads if one choses to bead the edge as well.  The next to largest size (using aobut 845m) would use about 199 beads without the extra beading on the edge. And I found a number of knitters who made real beauties using up to 500 beads!

It is truly up to you.