Mystery KAL: Start your engines!
Some of you have heard me mention that I'm writing a "Mystery Colorwork Pattern" for this KAL. Well, the time has come to start getting ready! For those of you who don't know, a "mystery kal" is where knitters all are knitting blind without knowing the end result, and the designer releases the pattern a bit at a time. I've seen them for socks and lace, so I thought it would be fun to do one for colorwork.
Here's how my Mystery KAL will work: Starting September 11 (2 weeks from now, which gives you enough time for shipping if you need to order your yarn), I will release the first part of the pattern. I will then release the next piece of the pattern every Friday until it's complete (before Christmas). The pattern is a free one of my own devising using Palette. I will be knitting it in weekly chunks along with you (Alison & Tina are test knitting ahead for me).
The Scoop on the Pattern:
The pattern itself is for a useful item that is not worn, so no need to worry about flattering colors or sizing. It is fairly small, so each week's increment will be small enough that even the slowest, busiest knitter (like myself) can easily complete it within the week, while also working on their regular projects. The pattern is perfect for those new to stranded colorwork who would like to learn, or for those wanting to brush up on some skills before embarking on a bigger project. The pattern involves stranding, steeking, and a small amount of sewing with fabric at the end. Beginners encouraged!
The gauge for the pattern is 8 sts & 9 rows/inch. You'll need 1 16" circular needle in the size you need to get this gauge. Keep in mind, that for many people (myself included) colorwork tends to turn out a smaller gauge than you might normally get. The needle size I used to get gauge is 3.25mm.
The Scoop on the Colors
I encourage everyone to recolor to their heart's delight, but I've listed out a few good options, since you aren't able to see the project ahead of time, which makes color picking challenging.
Option A (15 colors - less than 10 grams of each): Knit with the exact colors I'm using. The swatch shown is my color selection (the chart looks nothing like this one--the swatch was just to test the colors).
Option B (11 colors - less than 10 grams of each background color, 1 ball of foreground color): Knit with 10 different background colors and one dark foreground color on top. Tina is doing this method using all the oranges/peaches in the background with dark red on top.
Option C (10 colors - less than 10 grams of each color): Knit with only 5 background colors & 5 foreground colors.
Option D (2 colors - 1 ball of each color): Knit with only 1 background color and 1 foreground color.
Here's a convenient link to Palette, if you need to order some. I just noticed that Turmeric is out of stock until November (d'oh!). If you don't happen to have any Turmeric in your yarn stash already, Semolina or Golden Heather both work as well.
Time to chose your colors! Post in the comments here your color selections and any questions. When the time comes to post the pattern bits, I will do that in a separate discussion thread.
Here's how my Mystery KAL will work: Starting September 11 (2 weeks from now, which gives you enough time for shipping if you need to order your yarn), I will release the first part of the pattern. I will then release the next piece of the pattern every Friday until it's complete (before Christmas). The pattern is a free one of my own devising using Palette. I will be knitting it in weekly chunks along with you (Alison & Tina are test knitting ahead for me).
The Scoop on the Pattern:
The pattern itself is for a useful item that is not worn, so no need to worry about flattering colors or sizing. It is fairly small, so each week's increment will be small enough that even the slowest, busiest knitter (like myself) can easily complete it within the week, while also working on their regular projects. The pattern is perfect for those new to stranded colorwork who would like to learn, or for those wanting to brush up on some skills before embarking on a bigger project. The pattern involves stranding, steeking, and a small amount of sewing with fabric at the end. Beginners encouraged!
The gauge for the pattern is 8 sts & 9 rows/inch. You'll need 1 16" circular needle in the size you need to get this gauge. Keep in mind, that for many people (myself included) colorwork tends to turn out a smaller gauge than you might normally get. The needle size I used to get gauge is 3.25mm.
The Scoop on the ColorsI encourage everyone to recolor to their heart's delight, but I've listed out a few good options, since you aren't able to see the project ahead of time, which makes color picking challenging.
Option A (15 colors - less than 10 grams of each): Knit with the exact colors I'm using. The swatch shown is my color selection (the chart looks nothing like this one--the swatch was just to test the colors).
Option B (11 colors - less than 10 grams of each background color, 1 ball of foreground color): Knit with 10 different background colors and one dark foreground color on top. Tina is doing this method using all the oranges/peaches in the background with dark red on top.
Option C (10 colors - less than 10 grams of each color): Knit with only 5 background colors & 5 foreground colors.
Option D (2 colors - 1 ball of each color): Knit with only 1 background color and 1 foreground color.
Here's a convenient link to Palette, if you need to order some. I just noticed that Turmeric is out of stock until November (d'oh!). If you don't happen to have any Turmeric in your yarn stash already, Semolina or Golden Heather both work as well.
Time to chose your colors! Post in the comments here your color selections and any questions. When the time comes to post the pattern bits, I will do that in a separate discussion thread.
Tags: colorwork, kal, mystery, palette
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on -
What a good idea! I would so love to do this with everyone, but my thumb surgery will will be coming up during the knitting time, and I have a lot of stuff to finish first. Will non-participants have access to the pattern? I have a lot of Palette, and maybe I could do it later. I certainly will be happy to cheer everyone along from the sidelines. After surgery, I will be able to post one-handed. I just know this is going to be fun. --P
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Permalink Reply by Melissa on -
Aw, bummer. Yes, the pattern will be available free after the KAL is over.
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Permalink Reply by Clarice Warkentin on -
Hi Peggy, I understand your pain. I had hand surgery 10 days ago and will have step 2 in Nov.Can use my fingers now on the one hand and use my left. The key board is the pits. I am trying to finisfh my lace project, but that is very slow and hurts. Theropy is what the Dr called it. Maybe I need a small project like this. Clarice
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Permalink Reply by Sunshine on -
This looks SO FUN! I am definitely going to do it. Do you need background colors and a dark color on top? What about having background colors and white or cream on top?
Also, can you give us an idea of how much of each color we will need? Do we need a full ball of each color? More? Less? I'd love to try and do this with what I already have here at home.
Thank you so much! -
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Permalink Reply by Melissa on
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Yay! You could definitely do background colors with a white or cream on top.
I'm not sure about exact amounts yet, because Tina & Alison aren't finished with their test samples. If you were doing 15 colors like me, you'd need much less than a ball of each--much less than 25 grams even. If you're doing just one color on top though, you'll need more for it, obviously. 1 ball should be enough though. -
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Permalink Reply by Dusti Gomery on -
Melissa, I don't know if you can answer this or if it would give too much away, but is this something that would make a suitable Christmas gift for a couple of nieces, aged 11 and 9? I only ask this because it would determine my color choices. I'm still going to join and knit along anyways! This is going to be a lot of fun!
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Permalink Reply by Melissa on
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ABSOLUTELY. The project is versatile enough that it can be made for kids or grownups. I was going to mention that it makes a great gift, but I totally forgot. Great question!
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Permalink Reply by Kaye Hardy on
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Melissa, straight, circular or double point needles ? Since I am a beginner at stranded knitting, how many colors would you suggest I start with or does it matter ?
Kaye -
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Permalink Reply by Melissa on
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Oops, needles would help, huh? I'll ad that info to the top. You need 1 16" circular needle to get a gauge of 8sts & 9 rows/inch. (For me that's a size 2-3 needle.)
For a beginner, the number of colors doesn't matter. If you're on a small budget, you can do less, or if you want to build your stash of Palette, you can do more. If you do all 15 colors, you'll have a bunch leftover to play with for other projects. -
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Permalink Reply by Kaye Hardy on
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I was hoping you would say that. Any excuse to buy more yarn. I am on a tight budget (as most of us are now) but this yarn is affortable so I'm going for it. Thanks, I can't wait to get started !!
Kaye -
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Permalink Reply by kwonset on -
I just got out my bag of Palette--a very large bag-- and chose colors, much like the rainbow colors of Melissa's swatch, but with different choices. What fun! I've only ever done a tiny swatch in color work; maybe I'll get confidence enough to try a sweater some day...
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Permalink Reply by cherylbwaters on -
I'm game! But I may have to just use the colors you are using. No time to think right now.
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