As the first gales of the autumn roll in off the Atlantic, the Hebridean islands of the west coast of Scotland become awash with colour. The fast-moving clouds allow shafts of sunlight to illuminate the sea: an ever-shifting palette of turquoise, teal and blue.

A walk along one of the astonishingly beautiful Hebridean beaches is a treat for the soul. Having time just to be in the moment and to experience the peace and tranquillity of these beaches is something that will stay with you. Why not take the Hebridean Sea home – wrap yourself in a memory or in a dream of such a place, such a beach, where you can escape the stresses and duties of life?

The inspiration for this asymmetric, slightly curved shawl is the transition from beach to sea. The blocks of colour reflect the rhythm of waves rolling over the beach, changing in colour during incoming or ebbing tides, slightly lighter close to the shore and darker in deeper waters. The diagonal lines are inspired by the criss-cross pattern sometimes left behind by the receding sea and the braids resemble the white sea foam, dancing like white horses on top of the waves.

I-cord cast on, I-cord edges simultaneously knitted with the main fabric and I-cord bind off give the shawl a professional, polished look.

Finished measurements:
Wingspan:
• 125 cm (49”) along the curved wing
• 105 cm (41 ⅓”) from wing to wing across (ignoring the line of the curve)
Centre depth: 56 cm (22”)

Yarn: Four different colours of Iolair Yarn Easdale
(70 % baby alpaca, 20 % silk, 10 % cashmere;
225 m/437 yds/100 g) or use any DK yarn as a substitute.

The shawl used 120 g of the MC (light grey-AJ1) and 50 g of each CC1 (light teal-AK3), CC2 (dark teal-AK3) and CC3 (dark blue-AL5).

A yarn kit is available from www.iolairyarn.com.

Gauge: 18 stitches and 32 rows = 10 cm/4” in pattern stitch, blocked.

Needles and Notions: Scissors, tapestry needle.

A 4 mm/US 6 size circular needle (80 cm/32” length) was used to knit the shawl. Use the needle size that achieves the best gauge.

Construction notes: The shawl is worked flat, beginning at one end of the shawl with an I-cord cast on and knitted with increasing width and length to the other end. The combination of working decreases and increases at different rows creates an asymmetric, slightly curved shawl.

The main body of the shawl is knitted in four sections. Each section repeats the same 18 rows, combining slip-cross stitches and braids in different coloured stripes.

An I-cord edge is knitted simultaneously with the main fabric and the shawl is finished with an I-cord bind-off. The last stiches of the I-cord are grafted (kitchener stitch) to make a seamless I-cord edge.

Written and chartered instructions are provided.