The Eye of Day

The Eye of Day Knitted Shawl by Mary-Anne Mace

Design Inspiration and Concept

The Eye of Day is a knitted shawl inspired by the common lawn daisy, scientifically known as bellis perennis. The design draws from the flower's natural behavior of opening at dawn and tracking the sun's movement across the sky before closing at dusk. Designer Mary-Anne Mace chose this name to emphasize the animacy and intentional movement of the plant, creating a stronger conceptual connection between the maker, wearer, and the natural world.

What Is Being Made

The Eye of Day is a large circular knitted shawl suitable for use as both a decorative throw and a wearable wrap. This intermediate-level knitting project produces a finished piece measuring approximately 160 centimeters (63 inches) from point to point, making it a substantial garment or home textile.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This pattern employs lace knitting techniques to create an open, delicate fabric. The primary stitch structure featured in the design is horseshoe lace, which is worked from charted instructions. Horseshoe lace is a classic openwork pattern that creates decorative motifs through strategic yarn overs and decreases, resulting in the characteristic repeating arch or horseshoe shapes that define the fabric's visual interest.

The shawl is constructed using chart-based instructions, requiring knitters to read and follow detailed stitch diagrams. This charted approach is typical of lace shawl patterns and allows for precise placement of the lace motifs throughout the piece.

Yarn and Materials

The Eye of Day is designed to be worked in Ashford Tekapo 3 ply yarn, a light fingering weight wool yarn composed of 100% wool. Each 100-gram skein contains 454 meters or 496 yards of yarn, providing adequate yardage for the full 160-centimeter finished diameter.

The 3 ply weight classification indicates a fine yarn suitable for creating delicate lace fabrics with excellent stitch definition. The light fingering weight allows the horseshoe lace pattern to drape beautifully while maintaining the openwork's visibility.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of approximately 20 stitches and 24 rows per 10 centimeters (4 inches) when measured over the horseshoe lace charted sections. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the intended finished dimensions of 160 centimeters point to point.

Skill Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty, indicating it is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to work with lace patterns, chart reading, and more complex stitch techniques. The combination of horseshoe lace and the shawl's substantial size requires attention to detail and familiarity with lace knitting principles.

Project Categories

The Eye of Day is classified as both a blanket/throw and a shawl, reflecting its versatility as either a decorative home textile or a wearable accessory depending on the maker's preference and intended use.