When I saw this pattern pop up in my feed I knew I HAD TO make this. I knew I had at least one perfect skein. After going through my stash I found another good match and ordered a third to complete the fade. I know the darker one will be a higher contrast to the middle but the colors do work well together and I like the idea of using my stash and finally making something perfect for this Malabrigo yarn!

Regarding beads* You have to pre-string them. It won’t work to bead as you go based on the right and wrong side stitch orientation. Since the purl side is the right side - your bead will fall to the inside of the shawl if not done as per instructions.**

11/9/19: I made a practice piece based on I Am Dragon (with beads) which I also purchased. I tried a few different cast-offs and found the one I liked the best was this:
sl first st, work next stitch in pattern, pass first st on right needle over second repeat from * to end.

12/8: started Color “c” fade section - so about 1/2 through the whole shawl. Really enjoying how the colors play together even if it’s not a perfect gradient fade.

I have already found the beads to be a bit annoying to work with this way But if I push them down and pull up several lengths of yarn at a time it goes a bit easier.

1/21: I misunderstood the directions on row 215 and did another CO 9. This caused row 218 to not work out. Frogged back and took out the CO and it works fine. So do not CO 9 at the end of row 215.

1/24: I mistakenly thought the border was moss stitch before - it is garter. So I will continue in-pattern. My cast-off will not be in moss stitch but should still work as written above.

1/26: Used Icelandic Bind-off. Matches garter stitch very well and gives a little stability to edge. Working on weaving ends and securing edges to back of shawl. I did decide to reintroduce color A&B in garter edge as suggested in pattern.

From a comment by the designer regarding wooden beads: each bead is 3/4” in diameter with 1/4” opening.

The designer has a free pattern with details on how to make the Royal Pom tassels: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/royal-pomtassel-... I just downloaded that and used for instructions along with her video on her YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/6Ob7VT6TzA4

One difference is that I used a business card to wrap my tassels which is 3.5 inches long. But this gives me a little more room to trim just right. I found that wrapping about 100 times was a good thickness (video says to 1 inch but that seemed too much).

2/4/2020: Completed tassels and attached to shawl. Amazing. Simply beautiful. Love this. I can see places where my tension was too loose but I think the outcome is still good. The tassels really give it the weight and drama that it needs. Love this project! Finished photos to come.