Lace Eater Mashup

Lace Eater Mashup Crescent Shawl by Mary-Anne Mace

What Is Being Made

The Lace Eater Mashup is a delicate, laceweight crescent shawl designed by Mary-Anne Mace. This knitted shawl measures 50 cm deep by 220 cm wide at the top neck edge, making it an elegant accessory piece. The design represents a unique mashup of lace motifs drawn from the designer's previous collections, including patterns from Biophilia, Herbfield, Seaward, and Ribbonwood. This approach allows beloved lace stitches to be reimagined and given new life within a single cohesive garment.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques to create visual depth and structure. The shawl begins with a stretchy garter tab, which provides a secure foundation and comfortable starting point. Throughout the body of the shawl, strategic increases are worked to shape the crescent form. On right-side rows, 2 stitches are increased at each edge (4 stitches total per right-side row), while on wrong-side rows, 1 stitch is increased at each edge (2 stitches total per wrong-side row). This creates a gradual expansion that produces the characteristic crescent silhouette.

The interplay between lace and cable work forms the visual centerpiece of the design. Open lace stitches create delicate, airy sections that allow light to pass through the fabric, while cable stitches draw together stitches in sweeping lines of denser fabric. This contrast between openwork and solid elements generates significant visual interest and dimension. A simple border featuring a sequence of single buds completes the piece with a delicate scalloped edge.

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates multiple stitch types to achieve its sophisticated appearance:

• Garter stitch – used for the stretchy foundation tab at the beginning of the shawl
• Lace stitches – open motifs drawn from previous Mary-Anne Mace designs (Biophilia, Herbfield, Seaward, and Ribbonwood collections) that create the airy, delicate sections
• Cable stitches – worked in sweeping lines to create denser fabric passages that contrast with the lace openwork
• Bud stitch sequence – a simple motif repeated along the border to create the scalloped edge finish

Materials

This pattern is designed to be worked in Malabrigo Silkpaca, a laceweight yarn composed of 70% alpaca and 30% silk. This fiber blend provides the perfect weight and drape for a lace shawl, offering the softness and warmth of alpaca combined with the lustrous sheen and smooth texture of silk. The laceweight classification ensures that the delicate stitchwork and open lace motifs will create an appropriately ethereal fabric with excellent stitch definition.

Pattern Format

This design is available as a downloadable PDF pattern, making it accessible for immediate use once purchased. The intermediate difficulty level indicates that knitters should have solid foundational skills including comfort with lace knitting, cable work, and shaping techniques before beginning this project.