Shawlography Westknits 2021 MKAL Kits

The Westknits Mystery Knit A Long (or MKAL) is an annual mystery shawl where knitters all over the world knit a new shawl together as each section is revealed as a surprise over the course of four weeks in October.

The 2021 Shawl is called SHAWLOGRAPHY and so far we have very few clues about what it will involve. Don't worry if you're a relative newbie, the shawl is good for "adventurous beginners" - Stephen's videos are always brilliant, and there's so much help available on the Shawlography Ravelry Group.

What is an MKAL?
MKAL stands for Mystery Knit A Long! Knit Alongs (KALs) are fun, social activity in which a group of knitters all make the same project in a specified timeframe.

A Mystery Knit Along adds an extra level of spice, because you won’t know what the thing you’re knitting is when you start. A section of the pattern (clue) is released each week, and at the end of the Knit Along, the final design is revealed.

The Westknits MKAL is always a shawl design, and always incorporates interesting techniques (shaping, stitch patterns, and other design features), but beyond that, it’s a mystery!

When does the MKAL start?

Clue one is released on 8 October 2021.

How do I sign up?
Purchase the MKAL pattern with your kit below (it will be sent digitally to your email address, and give us your Ravelry name too if you want us to add it to your library);

OR buy it yourself on Ravelry.

OR Gumroad.com/westknits.

There will be lots of fun chat in the Ravelry group, on Instagram, and Stephen will be hosting Zoom and Instagram Live events throughout the MKAL.

How do I get the clues?
The clues are released every Friday. If you purchase the pattern through us or on Ravelry, you will receive an email and be able to update your pattern in your Library. If you purchase the pattern through Gumroad you will receive an email when the update is available for download.

How many clues are there?
There are four clues, released on these dates:

Clue 1 - October 8 
Clue 2 - October 15
Clue 3 - October 22 
Clue 4 - October 29

For Shawlography you need 5 x 100g of fingering weight yarn. We have compiled kits that we think will work best given all the clues we have received from Stephen about this pattern.

You will receive an introductory PDF when you purchase Shawlography. 

The PDF contains introductory information for the MKAL. You will receive the first instructions for the pattern Friday, October 8. Then, you will receive a section of the mystery shawl pattern each week until the final design is revealed on October 29.

Size: 
The overall shape and dimensions are part of the mystery! Shawlography will be a large shawl, but there will be options to make it smaller.

What's included in my "Kit"?
All kits include 500g of fingering weight yarn: 5 x 100g in 5 different colourways

We have created combos based on everything we know about the mystery pattern. Some are superwash yarns, some are non-superwash and a few are a mixture of the two, which will add even more interests and texture!

What else will I need?

• 3.5mm (US 4) 100cm (40") circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge, or desired fabric. We recommend one size smaller than you'd normally use for the yarn.
• 1 stitch markers
• tapestry needle

Gauge guideline: 
22 sts & 46 rows = 4” / 10cm in garter stitch (un-blocked).

Try to get close to the recommended stitch gauge to ensure you don’t run out of yarn. A similar stitch gauge is more important than getting an exact row gauge.