It’s time!

We’re getting ready for the launch of our annual Mystery Knit-along. This time of year is both exciting and a little terrifying! Mysteries are always enticing.

But,

what happens if you’re worried you won’t like what you make?

That uncertainty can gnaw at you. Knitting is an expensive process, both in the materials you use and in the time you dedicate to it. If you’re unsure about joining a MKAL (mystery knit-along) here are my tips to help you decide:

Tips for Joining a Mystery Knit-along

1. Research. Have a look at the designer’s profile and past works and, if possible, their past MKALs. If you already like their designs, chances are good that you will like the product of a mystery knit-along.
2. Check out reviews from previous knitters. There are lots of places you can find these from Ravelry, social media, Reddit, etc. We knitters love to talk about everything from the yarn, the fun techniques and our experiences from KALs.
3. Do you like the yarns? Knitting is tactile, and the yarns you use make the dreamy fabric you’ll be working on for the next month or more. Take a look at the yarn kits for inspiration; what are the yarn weights and the fibre types?
4. Still unsure – ask questions! We expect them. While we can’t show you the finished item, we can hint towards what you will knit, i.e. size, techniques you’ll use/learn, all while still letting you enjoy the mystery.

While we are talking about techniques…

Sometimes a mystery will allow you to stretch your boundaries and try something new that you thought was beyond you.

Just like Orla last year:

I joined the Quilted Feather MKAL last year – my first KAL, let alone MKAL. If I had seen the pattern before I joined, I would have thought it was beyond my skills. Instead, I learned loads & still look at it and think ‘wow – I knit that!’

Orla_me

When we run a mystery knit-along, we want to give you lots of details so you can feel comfortable jumping in. Yes, the final shawl will be a mystery, but you’ll feel pretty confident that you’re going to enjoy both the final shawl and the journey along the way. Plus, you’ll have all the support you need to get to that finish line!

Ready to find out more?

This year we have a little Venetian vibe coming your way. So, while you dream about Venice and the Venetian Riviera, read on to find out more about the Campo Nights shawl.

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The 2023 Mystery Knit-along Shawl

This shawl is a triangular shawl that is worked from the top down with three colours. It’s generously sized, but not huge, and works well either as shawl or wrapped as a scarf. The combinations of stitch patterns I’ve used in the shawl pattern are not too difficult and should be very accessible for most knitters. It’s all about combining colours with some easy, but pretty stitch patterns. Plus, any new-to-you techniques will have tutorials to help you along.

I’ve opted for two main colours in a fingering weight wool that are on the lighter and darker end of the scale. The third colour I’ve used is a lace weight brushed yarn in a brighter colour. I wanted all colours to look well together but have a good contrast.

I liked the addition of the texture contrast of the brushed yarn. It’s not essential for the design, so if you really don’t want to use a brushed yarn, then a third fingering weight yarn will also work.

The amount of each colour I used is:

C1 (darkest colour): 395 yds /360 m, C2 (lightest colour): 416 yds /380 m, C3 (brushed yarn is brighter contrast): 195 yds / 178 m

Have a question about the yarns? Leave a comment below or pop over here.

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KAL Timing

The mystery knit-along will keep each section of the pattern a secret until the first section is released. After that, each new pattern section will be released on the schedule given below. At the same time, you will get the tutorial videos for the next part of the pattern.

All PDFs will be uploaded here in the resource section when they are released according to the schedule below. If you purchased the pattern on Stolen Stitches or Ravelry, I will also send you a pattern update with the next clue.

Note that the pattern needs to be purchased separately from the yarn kit.

• Yarn Kits on Sale: 26th January, 2023, 8pm Irish time (3pm EST) here (Link is not live until this time.)
• Clue 1: 23th February, 2023–it all kicks off!
• Clue 2: 2nd March, 2023
• Clue 3: 9th March, 2023
• Final Prize: 23rd March, 2023–Raffle drawing for the grand prize from images posted on KnitHub & Facebook

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Free Video Tutorials

One of the huge bonuses of taking part in the KAL is that in the presale pdf, you will get an access code for our Teachable video workshop. In addition, every time a new shawl section or ‘clue’ is released, we will also add a new collection of videos. These work as a companion to the shawl if you want extra help. (Do be warned that it will spoil the mystery, though!!)

These videos will remain yours to access forever, BUT they are only available as part of the KAL as an extra bonus. After the KAL is over, they will be made into a separate workshop and sold separately.

It’s our little thank you for signing up early!

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Chat with our Community

The best part about a KAL is always the chat that buzzes around our community. Come join in with other knitters in KnitHub. We have a section dedicated just to the MKAL and you’ll have a link in your purchase email. If you’d like to share on social media, you can use the hashtag #stolenstitchesMKAL23.

That way, I can always find you and share your progress. Don’t give away too many spoilers, though, until the clue is finished. We would like to keep the surprise for people for as many people as possible as we all knit at a different pace!

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Pattern Details

SIZES

One Size

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Width: 61” / 155 cm

Depth:  33” / 84 cm

YARN

Life In the Long Grass ‘Corriedale Sock’ (100% Corriedale wool; 438 yds / 400 m per 3.6 oz / 100 g); C1: 1 skein; C2: 1 skein

C3: Fyberspates ‘Cumulus’ (74% Baby Suri Alpaca, 26% Mulberry Silk; 164 yds / 150 m per 0.88 oz / 25 g); 2 skeins

Approx Yardage: C1: 395 yds /360 m, C2: 416 yds /380 m, C3: 195 yds / 178 m

NEEDLES & NOTIONS

US size 6 / 4 mm circular needle, 40” / 100 cm long

Always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed, as every knitter’s gauge is unique.

Crochet hook size G / 4 mm, waste yarn, stitch markers, tapestry needle.

GAUGE

20 sts and 32 rows = 4″ / 10 cm in St St blocked

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Yarn Details

We’ve put together several yarn pack options. If you are shopping from a LYS or your stash, these might give you some ideas about what will work together.

We’ve put 12 different kit options together (see the product page for more detail), combining 2 fingering weight yarn colours with a brushed yarn.

Options 1-9 use Life in the Long Grass ‘Corriedale’ as the C1/C2 choice and option 10-12 use Studio Donegal ‘Darnie’.

All options are combined with either 2 Cumulus, 1 Sensai or 1 Cabrito for the C3.

Life In the Long Grass ‘Corriedale Sock’ (100% Corriedale wool; 438 yds / 400 m per 3.6 oz / 100 g)
Fyberspates ‘Cumulus’ (74% Baby Suri Alpaca, 26% Mulberry Silk; 164 yds / 150 m per 0.88 oz / 25 g

Studio Donegal ‘Darnie’ (100% Wool; 448 yds / 410 m per 3.6 oz / 100 g)
Manos Del Uruguay ‘Cabrito’ (80% Kid Mohair, 20% Polyamide; 230 yds / 210 m per 0.88 oz / 25 g)

Ito ‘Sensai’ (60% Mohair, 40% Silk; 262 yds / 240 m per 0.71 oz / 20 g)

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How To Join

Click on THIS LINK at 8pm Irish Time on Thursday January 26th and you can nab the shawl pattern. This link will not be live until this time.

Kits can be purchased HERE after 8pm on Thursday January 26th.

Once you purchase you will receive an email with all the information for this year’s Mystery Knit-along.

Will you be joining us this year?