Prickly Pear Pastures

Prickly Pear Pastures Knit Shawl by Carissa Browning

Project Overview

Prickly Pear Pastures is an intermediate-level knit shawl designed by Carissa Browning. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a stunning triangular shawl with beaded embellishments, finished measurements of 46 inches in span and 22 inches in height at center. The design combines traditional knitting techniques with decorative beading for an elegant, wearable accessory.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single-size triangular shawl featuring integrated glass bead work. The shawl is designed to be worn as a wrap or shoulder piece, with generous dimensions suitable for layering or draping. The beaded details add visual interest and a touch of sophistication to the finished garment.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Prickly Pear Pastures shawl employs several key knitting techniques appropriate for intermediate crafters:

• Stockinette stitch forms the foundation fabric, providing a smooth, classic base for the design
• Decrease stitches including ssk (slip, slip, knit), k2tog (knit two together), sssk (slip, slip, slip, knit), and k3tog (knit three together) are used to shape the triangular silhouette and create stitch decreases
• Beading techniques using the abbreviation "B" indicate placement of glass beads directly onto stitches during knitting, creating integrated embellishment
• Circular needle knitting allows for seamless construction and easy stitch marker placement

Materials and Yarn

The pattern calls for Yarnies of Texas D'Lish Silky yarn in the colorway Desert Rose. This yarn is a luxury blend of 70% merino wool and 30% silk, providing both warmth and lustrous drape. The yarn is a 4-ply weight with yardage of 438 yards per 100-gram skein. Two skeins are required to complete the shawl, providing approximately 876 yards of working yarn.

Tools and Notions

Construction requires a US #2.5/3mm circular needle to accommodate the fine 4-ply yarn and achieve the specified gauge of 24 stitches and 38 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch after blocking. Additional supplies include six stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a tiny crochet hook (1mm or smaller) or specialized beading tool to assist with placing beads onto stitches during knitting.

Beading Details

The shawl incorporates 80 grams of size 6/0 Miyuki glass beads in Silverlined Crystal, totaling approximately 810 individual beads. These beads are integrated into the knit fabric using a specialized beading abbreviation and technique that requires the crochet hook or beading tool to manipulate stitches as beads are placed. This creates a cohesive, professional-looking beaded design throughout the shawl.

Skill Level

Rated as intermediate difficulty, this pattern is suitable for knitters with experience in basic techniques who are ready to expand their skills. The combination of shaping decreases, stitch marker management, and integrated beading techniques makes this an engaging project for developing crafters seeking a more complex design.