MKAL FAQ

Every year Stephen West does a Mystery Knit Along.  This year will be his 12th year!  Past MKALs have resulted in some of the most loved and treasured Westknits shawl patterns  including Exploration Station, The Doodler and Slipstravaganza. 
 
Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the MKAL. If you have read all of these and you still don't have an answer to your question, contact hello@westknits.com.
 
If you have questions about your MKAL kit, they should be directed to info@stephenandpenelope.com

 

MKAL

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 on Ravelry or Gumroad.com/Westknits and cast on! There will be lots of fun chat in the Ravelry group, on Instagram, and Stephen will be hosting Instagram Live events throughout the MKAL.

How do I get the clues?
The clues are released every Friday. If you purchase the pattern through 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 8 October, 15 October, 22 October and 29 October. 

What skill level is the MKAL designed for?
The pattern will be suitable for adventurous beginners (you should already know how to knit, purl, increase, decrease, and read a pattern), and it will be enjoyable for seasoned knitters too. There is so much support throughout the KAL so you will find a lot of help and tips on completing each section in this Ravelry group. There will be photo tutorials and videos to assist you with visualising the techniques and construction.

Will there be brioche in this pattern?
If there is brioche, there will also be a non-brioche option ;)

Can I use yarn from my stash?
Yes of course! The Mystery Knit Along is open to everyone, it's not necessary to buy a kit to participate. We're offering kits at a range of price points, and our customer service team are always happy to help you match yarn to skeins in your stash.  

ABOUT THE KITS

When are the kits on sale?
Wednesday, September 1

Is the pattern included in the kits?
The pattern is not included with the yarn kit. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry or gumroad.com/wesktnits.

Will you help me pick yarn for a custom kit?
If you are looking for a special color palette, email us at info@stephenandpenelope.com. We ship worldwide!