This pattern is a painting of a peaceful, lazy afternoon at the water’s edge beneath the willow leaves watching the dragonflies flit across the lilly pads and blossoms.

I would recommend size US size 2 needles with lace. You may knit it with beads, with different beads for different elements, or without beads.

The pattern is a little challenging in places. Just make sure you are counting stitches to keep on track, remember to breath, and ask for help if you need. When I want back to knit my 3rd one, I also learned to trust the counts and do what the charts were telling me to do (as long as your count is correct).

This pattern is also nice as you can extend the border as much as you want. The Border has an increase structure built in, and you can just keep going till you snare the yarn chicken. (It also has a contrast at the border where you could change to another yarn to complete the shawl.

Peace by the Water’s Edge

Beneath languishing willow leaves
Down by the water’s edge
Our hearts begin to ease
And our minds begin to calm.
Loss of life, loss of home,
Loss of the world
We have known…
A world gone awry
Truth broken,tossed
Away, forgotten by men
Who have blind hearts.
Amid the dreamy drone
Of darting dragonfly wings
Over pearly waterlily petals
And dozing clumps of grass
We pause, breathing deep…
Our spirits find center,
Filling us with peace.

 -A. Wright