Summer MKALs

I love a Mystery Knit Along (MKAL) and there are some great ones coming out this summer.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, a MKAL is a project where you cast-on on a specified date, and the pattern is released in sections (usually once a week). You have a list of supplies you need ahead of time, but don’t actually know what the pattern will look like until you’ve finished knitting it.

MKALs are best when you have a designer you already like so you know you’ll probably enjoy the finished pattern. They’re fun because it’s a group project (there are often chat threads where knitters can meet up and discuss) and because they often revolve around a theme, like the release of a new season of a popular TV show. In the past I’ve done MKALs for The Great British Baking Show as well as Outlander.

[Ed note: Elyse did some Outlander-inspired knitting projects, too: Outlandish Arm Warmers, and an Outlandish Cowl.]

This summer I’m doing the Road Trip Mystery Knit Along themed for the Great Lakes. The MKAL casts-on July 1st and runs through October, and the project will be a shawl shaped in between a crescent and half circle.

Each section of the MKAL is a segment of a “road trip” around The Great Lakes. The designers of this MKAL partnered with Manos del Uruguay to come up with different color combinations. Kits can be purchased at these supporting Local Yarn Stores.

I purchased my kit from my local yarn store, Fibre. I went with the color combination Glacial because it reminds me of Lake Superior in winter.

Fibre also went ahead and had these cool bags and coozies made up for those who pre-ordered.

If you want to stash bust for this pattern, you’ll need two skeins of a main color, plus two  more skeins, each a separate alternating color. One can be variegated. The pattern is written for 445 yd skeins of fingering weight yarn. That’s enough yarn to make the pattern in one of two sizes.  You’ll also need size 5 needles.

If you so choose, the pattern also includes 700 beads which…is a lot of beads. I bought the beads, but honestly my mood will determine if I use them or not. I’ve found, in the past, that beading my knitting is just to tedious for me.

Lastly I picked up some fun extras for myself. I got these adorable Upper Midwest stitch markers and a pair of summery flip-flop needle point protectors.

If you want to join this MKAL, you can get the pattern here at this Ravelry link.

The other MKAL I’m doing is a Farmer’s Market themed monthly sock pattern release by Twin Stitches Designs. These will be four color work socks, released at the first of every month, starting in July.

Here’s the pattern (again Ravelry, sorry).

For this MKAL I’m going to stash-bust as I have a lot of assorted sock yarn. The first pattern will be strawberry themed and I’ve got plenty of pinks and greens.

Camp Fiber Yarns will be selling sock sets for either individual patterns or the entire four pattern set if you need yarn.

This is the strawberry sock set.

Charmed and Dangerous is also going to be releasing some super cute strawberry stitch markers, although they haven’t announced just when yet.

If you’re curious to see what the designs might look like, these are some watermelon socks from the same designer from last year.

I’ll be casting on both MKALs (oof!) July 1st. You can check out my work on Instagram under ElyseIndeed if you’re interested.

What will you be knitting this summer?