Westknits MKAL 2023 Kits: Geogradient - Balayage

It’s MKAL Time again! Geogradient is the 14th annual Westknits MKAL.

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. 

This year, Steven says to expect a geometric explosion of colour and a gradient sequence. And we are SO EXCITED to have some incredible kits for you!!
(Feel free to create your own kits too - we're happy to send you photos of your ideas!)

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 2023 MKAL 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 5 October 2023.

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 westknits.com.

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. 

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

Clue 1 - October 5 
Clue 2 - October 12
Clue 3 - October 19
Clue 4 - October 26

We have compiled kits that we think will work best given all the clues we have received from Stephen about this pattern.

Size: 
The overall shape and dimensions are part of the mystery! Geogradient Shawl will be a large shawl, similar in size to Starflake or Winter Lights Shawl. It won’t be quite as massive as some previous MKAL shawls that used 5 colours like Texture time or Slipstravaganza. There will be an option at the end of the MKAL to customise the size as well if you have extra yarn to make the shawl larger or if you want to stop a bit early for a smaller shawl. ;)

What's included in my "Kit"?

• All kits include 400g (8 balls) of dreamy soft, drapy Balayage (the ultimate shawl yarn) in 4 colours which have been expertly curated by us! (We also have kids in gorgeous, super-luxurious Merino Cloud here.)
  
  
• Optional Ravelry PDF Pattern (delivered by email via Ravelry)

What else will I need?

• 3.5mm (US 4) circular needles in 40″ / 100cm length or size needed to obtain gauge
  
• Spare needle or waste yarn for holding stitches
• 4 stitch markers
• tapestry needle

Gauge guideline: 
24 sts & 48 rows = 4″ / 10cm in garter stitch before blocking