Beachsand

Beachsand Crescent Shawl by Mary-Anne Mace

What Is Being Made

Beachsand is an elegant crescent shawl designed by Mary-Anne Mace, featuring a sophisticated combination of overlapping cable and lace motifs. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a finished shawl measuring 216 cm along the neck edge by 48 cm deep, making it a substantial accessory suitable for layering or draping. The design showcases a beautifully speckled yarn worked through two distinct pattern sections that overlap as you progress down the shawl, culminating in an elegant scalloped border that adds visual interest and dimension to the finished piece.

Design Flexibility and Yarn Considerations

Mary-Anne Mace has thoughtfully included pattern variations to accommodate different yarn quantities and characteristics. If you have less yarn available or prefer working with a more variegated yarn, the pattern provides instructions for creating a shawl with only half the depth of lace illustrated in the original design. This variation can be worked to achieve a similar overall size or adapted to create a smaller shawl using less yardage, offering flexibility for crafters with different yarn stashes or preferences.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques to achieve its sophisticated appearance. The shawl combines cable work with lace motifs, requiring knitters to be comfortable reading and executing both stitch types. The pattern utilizes stockinette stitch as a foundational element, with the gauge measured over this section. The overlapping construction method—where the two motifs are worked separately before being combined—adds structural interest and demonstrates intermediate-level pattern complexity. The scalloped border finishing technique provides a professional, polished edge to the completed shawl.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Beachsand is designed to be worked in lace weight yarn, specifically using Miss la Motte lace weight singles composed of 100% merino fiber. The yarn specified provides 620 metres (678 yards) per 100 grams. The pattern requires approximately 600 metres (656 yards) of lace weight yarn, meaning one skein of the recommended yarn weight is sufficient to complete the project. The speckled colorway of the yarn—Beachsand—creates visual texture and depth throughout the cable and lace sections.

Needles and Gauge

This project is worked on 3.75 mm (US 5) circular needles, with a minimum length of 100 cm (40 inches) recommended to accommodate the width of the shawl as it grows. The working gauge is 23 stitches and 28 rows per 10 cm measured over the stockinette stitch sections, which serves as the reference for proper sizing and drape. Using the correct needle size and maintaining consistent gauge throughout the project ensures the shawl achieves its intended finished dimensions and elegant drape.

Difficulty Level

Rated as an intermediate knitting project, Beachsand is suitable for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are comfortable working with lace patterns and cable stitches. The pattern's construction method—working motifs separately before overlapping them—requires attention to detail and the ability to follow multi-section instructions, making it an engaging project for advancing knitters seeking to develop their skills with combined stitch techniques.