Mad Blood

Mad Blood Crescent Shawl by Mary-Anne Mace

What is Being Made

Mad Blood is a dramatic crescent-shaped shawl designed by Mary-Anne Mace. This intermediate-level knitting project features a generous finished size of 188 cm (74 inches) wide around the top or neck edge and 44 cm (17 inches) deep at the centre. The shawl is inspired by the rich, ruby-red colouring of Knitsch Sock yarn—a blue-based red with subtle pink undertones that creates a luxurious visual impact.

Techniques and Construction

Mad Blood employs multiple advanced knitting techniques to create its dramatic appearance. The shawl features lace motifs worked on both right-side and wrong-side rows, which adds complexity and visual interest to the fabric. Cables shift the fabric in unexpected directions, creating dynamic texture and movement throughout the piece.

The design incorporates nupp flowers—decorative bobble-like stitches—and strategic lines of decreases that pick out lily motifs within the lace pattern. The shawl's construction begins with a stretch cast-on, allowing for the characteristic crescent shape to develop as the knitter progresses through the pattern.

Beadwork is optional, allowing knitters to customize their finished shawl. Beads can be added throughout the lace sections to enhance the "dripping" effect that gives the shawl its name, or omitted entirely depending on personal preference and desired aesthetic.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch) as the base gauge fabric
• Lace stitches worked bidirectionally (on knit and purl rows)
• Cable stitches for textural shifts and directional changes
• Nupps (decorative bobble stitches) forming flower motifs
• Decrease stitches creating linear patterns and shaping

Materials and Specifications

This pattern is designed for 4-ply yarn weight and uses 4mm knitting needles. The recommended yarn is Knitsch Yarns 100% Merino Sock, which provides 167 metres per 50 gram ball. The gauge is 20 stitches and 30 rows per 10 cm (4 inches) measured over stocking stitch.

The 4-ply weight and merino fibre content create a fabric with excellent stitch definition, allowing the intricate lace, cable, and nupp details to display beautifully. The merino provides softness and drape suitable for a shawl worn close to the neck and shoulders.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty. Knitters should be comfortable with cable techniques, lace knitting on multiple row types, and reading complex stitch patterns before beginning Mad Blood. The combination of bidirectional lace, cables, nupps, and optional beading requires attention to detail and pattern comprehension.