What are you starting today?

Today starts the beginning of a new season. The morning air is crisp, fall harvests are plentiful and school is in session for many (even here at the studio). It also marks the time of the fall stitchalongs. One of our favorite designers, Joji Locatelli, is starting one that will last a few months. You can find all about it here in her group on Ravelry.  Lisa Ross of Paper Daisy Creations is starting her Garden Variety MKAL today. I’ve seen it as Susan test knit this lovely wrap. If you are at all interested, do it. You’ll be happy that you did. You can find out more about it here.

Mystery Knitalongs (MKAL), guided knitalongs, Rhinebeck knitalongs (KAL), crochetalongs (CAL) or even weavealongs (WAL) …. What does this all mean and why are there so many? For you newbies to the stitching world, this is a virtual and in-person way to connect by creating together. Kind of like a modern day quilting bee, but you work on your own project. You could all be working on the same pattern. It could be a mystery when the designers release clues to the pattern as you go. Sometimes you are all making a project to wear to an event or commemorate a holiday. There are times we do a guided knitalong with a designated leader, to help the inexperienced. The point of all this communal stitching is we like to create with others. Nothing is better than the Ooo’s and Ahh’s from your group who know what it took for you to make your precious project. We all face different challenges when working on these “alongs”. Sometimes it’s the time constraint, other times it’s the difficulty of the project. Whatever these hurdles we have to face, we face them together, thus making the road to completion that much easier. Bottom line, no matter what “along” you choose, we are doing this together.

I’m hosting a makealong for those of us who are missing our annual pilgrimage to New York Sheep & Wool in Rhinebeck, NY. Whether you make the trip yearly (like me) or you’ve never been and always wanted to go, please join me in a makealong to commemorate this year’s virtual festival that’s lovingly called “Rhinebeck”. I already have one sweater completed and 2 halfway done, but I’ll cast on another later this week to celebrate my most favorite weekend of the year. I haven’t chosen the pattern or yarn yet, but rest assured I’ll be rushing to the last minute to complete mine along with you! If you would like to join me, the kick-off is virtual on Zoom this Thursday at 8.

As you can tell there’s always something going on in the studio. When you visit, don’t forget your current project to sit down a bit and stitch. I can’t wait to see what you are making!