This shawl is a combination of some of my favorite techniques:

• It starts by treating the slip knot as a chain stitch – this gives a really smooth beginning point.

• The main body is worked side-to-side, allowing the rows to be relatively short and giving a vertical stripe texture to the piece.

• It contrasts solid and openwork areas. The main body is a simple ground allowing the openwork edging to pop. I particularly like how it looks using a simple solid color yarn.

• Putting a single bead on each point adds just a touch of weight and interest.

At the time I was developing this shawl, I was reminded of the phrase “points of light” as a description of volunteers and the help – the “light” – they bring to communities. I wanted this shawl to emphasize that positive part of the world around us.

I love adding beads to the shawls I design. On this piece, the beads along the lower edge of this piece are little ‘points of light’.