Noordzee is the perfect little tidbit to whet your knitting appetite: beads along the border, a bit of lace, some mindless stockinette with short rows to shape the body, and ta da! In very little time you’ve got a lovely scarf to throw over your shoulders on those slightly chilly spring and summer evenings (aka all of them in the UK).

Noordzee is a fairly simple knit, but the beaded edging and changing short row intervals give it a bit of interest along the border and a somewhat unexpected shape. The short rows first draw the border up in a curve towards the shoulders, but then swing outwards and down, flaring into a shape that looks almost like wings. The piece can be worn as a shawlette (particularly if you block it somewhat aggressively to get the most coverage) or as a scarf for a bit of warmth around the throat.

SKILLS NEEDED
Knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing, adding beads with a crochet hook.

SIZES
One, approximately 13 in/33 cm deep (from back of neck) and 72 in/183 cm long along the top (longest) edge after gentle blocking.

YARN
4ply/fingering, 437 yd/400 m per 100 gr, 1 skein. Ideally you want a yarn with silk, rayon or bamboo for drape.

NEEDLES
US 6/4.0 mm circular needle, 40 in/100 cm long. Adjust needle size as needed to get gauge.

NOTIONS
12 stitch markers to indicate lace repeats in the border (if needed), approximately 200 6/0 seed beads, US 12/1.0 mm crochet hook.

GAUGE
24 sts/34 rows per 4 in/10 cm in stockinette after gentle blocking. Can be blocked more aggressively to 19.5 sts/33.5 rows per 4 in/10 cm for a larger shawl.