Tips for Getting the Most Out of a Mystery Knitalong

By Meg Dedolph

Every so often we like to host these little voyages into the knitting unknown that we call “Mystery Knitalongs.” They might be for socks, they might be for something else, but no matter what it is, we want it to be interesting and challenging for the knitters who join us.

If you’re about to embark on your first “MKAL” with us, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your experience.

• Trust the pattern. We all edit and read and re-read the patterns extensively. With decades of knitting experience among the staff, you can bet that if there’s a way to misunderstand a pattern or make a mistake — one of us has done it. Preparing for a MKAL is a big job, so we all work to make sure the pattern is as clear and error-free as it can be.
• Expect to be challenged. Even the simplest pattern is made harder if you don’t know what you’re knitting. It’s OK to feel confused or unsure. We’ve got you … and we want you to learn something new and become a better knitter.
• Use the Zoom calls to ask questions, doublecheck your hunches and see what the project looks like from knitters who might be further along than you. It may be that the pattern is tricky enough that it’s not the right fit for social knitting, and that’s OK too. 
• It’s also OK if you aren’t “keeping up” with the clues. The pattern is yours after the knitalong ends, and you can take as much - or as little - time to knit it as you want. Not everyone knits at the same speed and not everyone has the same amount of free time in a week. Besides, comparison is the thief of joy.
• Learning what you don’t like is as important as learning what you do like. If one part of the knitalong is not your cup of tea, stick with us and see what else we've got for you to learn. We had a knitter in the mystery sock knitalong recently who wasn’t digging the cables-and-lace pattern on the leg. She said she was thinking about quitting - but lots of other knitters on the call encouraged her to knit a simpler leg, so she could try the new type of heel. 

Think about joining us for a mystery knitalong one of these days - and we guarantee you'll stretch your knitting brain.