Dayspring - a synnonym for the dawn; “the first appearance of light in the morning, followed by the sunrise.”

This pattern was originally designed for the December of Desingers/Cast on Collaborative Advent event put on by yarncafecreations. This collaborative event was put together with the goal of raising awareness and support for suicide prevention organizations.

When Maggie from Yarnaceous and I were chatting about the upcoming collaboration and how her colors work so nicely together, she remarked that pairing the two was like “finding that light you’ve been looking for when everything has been jumbled in your life.”

The phrase stuck with me, and I wanted to create a design based around that concept, intermingled with Advent themes.

Advent is traditionally celebrated with the lighting of a consecutively larger number of candles each week leading up to Christmas; the closer to Christmas, the more light.

Thus, this shawl moves from chaos to clarity. The colors start jumbled together and open up and even out as you get closer to the end.

Shawl Details:

• Finished Measurements:
• Smaller: 45”/112.5 cm wingspan, 19”/47.5 cm deep (not including tassels)
• Larger: 78”/198 cm wingspan, 33”/84 cm deep (without tassels)
• The smaller shawl uses one skein each of Yarnaceous Diplo DK in the colorways: “Amber” (yellow) and “My Dinosaur Ate Your Unicorn” (variegated) - 200g total
• The second sample shawl uses Lion Brand Chainette in the colorways Beige and Olive. It is still the “small” and unmodified shawl, but uses thicker yarn and an L (8mm) hook. A sample of the larger shawl sizing may be seen in pattern testers’ photos.
• The pattern includes written out instructions if you want to add more rows to the shawl.

This pattern has been both tech edited and tested for accuracy and clarity.

Where does the pattern name come from? My conversation with Maggie (as mentioned above) sparked the word “dayspring” in my memory. It’s rarely used, but I love a good old word! It seemed fitting that a verse about the birth of Christ should be used to name an advent pattern.

Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. - Luke 1:78-79

If you’re someone who finds the holiday season sad and difficult instead of joyous, my hope and prayer is that you will look for the Light in the season, and ask for help if you’re feeling hopeless or alone.

You are extremely valuable and so precious.

If you need someone to talk to, or are struggling with suicide,
please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline:
1-800-273-8255
or chat with them online at: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ *