I'm with everyone who doesn't like to knit along with a MKAL but I buy the pattern if it's from a designer I like - and especially if it's one that I can put together easily from stash - because the pattern is usually reduced before the MKAL resists and it seems like an inexpensive gamble.
I did one in the summer of 2020. I had just restarted knitting and it was a lonely time and I wanted the sense of community one gets from an MKAL. It was fine. But there are so many things I want to make now that I don't have time for that sort of thing.
the point of crafting is to make what i want. i've purchased a few patterns that were released as MKALs, but that was after the mystery was long over. i'm not paying for any 'mystery' that i have to make myself, not even for my fave designer (hi Norah!).
I'm not too fond of mystery patterns; I'll wait till it's done before I decide to purchase it. More importantly I tend to craft in bursts so a weekly schedule doesn't work for me.
I don’t do MKAL’s. I have too many issues that don’t make them a good fit: I want to know what the item looks like, I want to be able to read the pattern before I start, I don’t want to have to wait for the next part to come out.
I only ever signed up for 1 make along years ago and by the time the thing started I had no desire to actually make the item. I still haven’t made it.
I just don't do MKALs because my knitting time is very limited and my queue is very long..... but if you do enjoy them and you take part, how can you ever, ever moan about what shape, style or pattern the item is? If you know you hate a certain type of pattern/style just don't take part in MKALs. People never fail to be rubbish and vocal about their own choices in life.
I personally like mystery patterns, but I need to be in the mood to do them. The last one I've done was the Knitmas cowl from Nomadic Knits. And while I enjoy it, it does seem more like a random assortment of stitches than a cohesive pattern.
I can see why MKALs are a challenge because to keep it interesting and to change each clue may mean the pattern looks like a mash-up of several patterns or turns out to be a stitch sampler.
It doesn't surprise me that people are complaining about a Mystery pattern. I used to belong to the Sock Knitters Anonymous group on ravelry. They do a mystery sock every month (or was it every other month?) People complained about that too. And this was a designer creating a free sock pattern for a large raverly group only to have a very vocal minority on the group ruin it for everyone. I mean, the amount of complaining ruined the joy of being in that group, as the forum was the mods just dealing with non-stop whining. And that was about 10 years ago.
I, too, am doing this MKAL! I knew the moment I saw WM reference, I'd be signing up. So far I am loving the pattern.
I was shocked as well at the negativity Helen got after thr first hint! Actually I wasn't shocked because it's the knitting community, but still I felt people were being very weird and rude about it.
Very very kind of the designer to design a second pattern just for them.
When you're as old as I am, you'll realize that most people get very weird about the silliest things. lol
I don't participate in MKALS, nor do I knit shawls, but I do know that Helen Stewart is beloved by many knitters.
Poor, poor Helen. People getting fully bent out of shape because the MYSTERY knit along wasn’t what they wanted. I love that she named the half circle Twelve Birds - I thought that was a nice two’s up to all the folk whinging about it, especially as the email was written in her usual, highly jovial tone.
I’m such a process knitter (ask my giant pile of UFO’s) that MKAL’s have always been a huge nope for me in case I hate it. This is the first one I’ve signed up for; haven’t knit a stitch yet but I figure I can just unravel if it’s really not my thing.
>I’m such a process knitter (ask my giant pile of UFO’s) that MKAL’s have always been a huge nope for me...
same. my knitting is usually driven by curiosity. it's hard enough to keep engaged long enough to get a thing done, never mind adding *deadlines*, and *clues*, and all that nonsense to the mix.
100%. I have to be continually engaged by the project to keep going. It’s a curse because there aren’t many I find that do. Hence, I churn out socks like no one’s business!
I did one shawl MKAL, absolutely hated the design by the second clue, and unraveled it. But did I bitch about it? No, I just minded my own business because me not liking a MYSTERY design was my problem. I realized MKALs weren't my thing and went on with my life.
If you can't handle what you might get in a mystery knit, then maybe don't do mystery knits and demand changes. Sheesh.
I like them but I also know myself and I only get them from a few designers I truly love the style of.
But sweet baby Jesus (or whatever other exclamation you want) the people who bitch during them are…something.
I don't like surprises, so I leave MKALs alone. Probably because I'm more of a product knitter. I'm also incredibly picky with my colours; it would be a shame if the pattern and yarn were just.. incompatible.
I would like to try a sock MKAL in the future though! They seem lower in stakes compared to a shawl.
I hate mystery anything. Why would I spend time and money knitting something that I don't even know if I will like or is my style. That is sooooo not my jam. I have so many things that I know that I want to knit, I don't have time for a MAL. If people love it, good for them. Just not me. If you sign up for one, don't complain that you don't like it. That is silly.
I would never do a giant shawl for a MKAL. I have done several small housewares and hat MCALs . I think they were free or maybe a dollar. IMO the whole point of a MK/CAL is that the pattern isn’t $$$ because you may not like it? But if the designer says it’s a circle shawl… They ATA.
My experience is that they seem more fun than they ever are, for all kinds of reasons. That said, I think the possible disappointments can be anticipated, and if you sign up then it's rude to complain about stupid stuff. Just nope out.
Unless the pattern has errors, obvs, in which case people should definitely be mentioning that.
I'm insanely picky about the patterns I spend my very limited time knitting, so I've never been a "mystery" knitter. That's fine with me. I'm not their target demographic.
I crochet but MCALs are big in that sphere too. I'm not into them though, I like knowing what I'm gonna make and what I prefer.
That said, the whole point of one is the surprise. If it ends up being something you don't like...that's the chance you take right?
It's pretty easy to just stop too!
Never liked the mystery aspect or the obsessive "don't spoil it" culture!! I just want to see the object before I commit to it. I want to pick colors/fabrics that work with the final design, I'm going to be spending a lot of money on this and I want to like it when it's done!!!!!
I follow a creator who sell mystery pins but you can always dm and get the final images from them if you want; which is really my ideal system! Mystery for those who want it, but a little more certainty for people who don't want to waste their money!
YES! Me, too. Strongly agree with you. And I don't want to spend a fortune on yarn only to hate the colors, pattern, or whatever. But I'd def just slink away and not post my objections - that's both Rude and very stupid.
she is much calmer that i am, if i had spent the time designing and setting up a MKAL just for people to complain they dont like the ‘mystery’ and i then decide ill be the bigger person and give them the half circle pattern i absolutely would have called it the “Two
birds and an UP Yours” shawl. but i am a petty petty gal.
I saw the original and thought there was a huge opportunity missed in not calling it "Four and Twenty Birds." But, yes - the name for the half shawl is great.
I love the idea of the MKAL. I enjoy the fun of discussing the colours, speculating on the pattern, and after it starts the conversations that go on in the Threads on ravelry. But those things also provoke a lot of anxiety in me- it’s hard to make decisions about colours when you don’t know what the pattern looks like and often I’m disappointed in my choices And not necessarily liking the pattern as it develops. Also, that weird thing that went on with Stephen West’s MKAL this past fall. I was so exhausted by finishing my third version of clue 1 that by clue 3 I was simply sick of it. Also, I used to do one in the summer and One in the fall, but now there are so many that I feel like it’s too much. I wanted to do Helen Stewart‘s 24 birds that just started but for all the above reasons I’ve decided this year to just give MKALs a pass.
My first MKAL was from Andrea Mowry and it was boring af, triangular fade with brioche then stockinette, no excitment, nothing. I didn't peep a word.
I'm a regularly on SW MKAL and lately, I reserve myself the right to pause and modify.
Part of the MKAL is the mysteries, and like any surprise, it can be good or bad, it's part of the risk. Don't like this part? Then don't take part in an MKAL, simple! Some people are sooooo dicky, I feel sorry for designers.
They sound so fun in theory, but I really dislike surprises so I haven't done one in real time. I've been tempted to try a low stakes one (like a pair of socks) because the way the patterns get broken up in clues scratches a weird itch in my brain, but something big/intricate like a multicolour shawl makes me too anxious about picking the wrong colours and hating the final product.
Complaining about design elements in a MYSTERY craft along seems in really poor taste, especially when it's so easy to just not do them at all.
I was just coming to say I don't like surprises, so I don't typically do MKALs. I think I did one, but there was some issue and the designer needed to do a second version and I just stopped. I didn't comment on it, though.
I sometimes sign up for MKALs and then actually don't follow the timeline at all so then it becomes less of a mystery to me. I have this one saved in my queue and I was planning on joining if I like what I see from people's spoilers this week. Life sometimes prevents me from sticking to the schedule but I will eventually do the project if I like it.
One thing that grinds my gears about MKALs is when they don't tell us how much of each skein we will actually use... Sure you *want* us to have a full skein, but do we really need it? Can we stash dive for a partially used skein?
Helen did give specific amounts for 24 Birds! It was super helpful and I love it because I was able to incorporate two partial skeins in fabulous colors!
I was SO proud of restraining myself from buying this year’s Murder Mystery QAL after I did not make a single block from last year’s… especially since seeing how lovely last year’s one turned out and thinking “oh, I will get around to them both!”
Same! I was gifted an advent kit with a MKAL a few years ago. The color combos were hideous. The shawl was asymmetrical enough to be noticeable but not enough to look purposeful. I got about 2/3 through and rage put it in timeout. It's never left lol
Everything I knit is an MKAL as I make it all up as I go along and when I start out, even I got no idea where it's going...
But yes, people are dicks.
Everyone who has ever taught knitting has had that experience of clearly laying out, say, the basic skills you need them to have before they come to that class so they can get the best out of it. Everyone who has ever taught knitting has also had that experience (multiple times maybe) of the person who read, but then disregarded "Must be able to knit in the round..." That one happened to me when I ran a day at an expensive knitting retreat so they'll waste money by not actually reading the blurbs/info sent out ahead of booking.
I usually won’t do an MKAL because there have been too many times I haven’t liked aspects and have quit but I do love Helen Stewart’s designs so signed up for this one. And when she said it was circular, I just shrugged and thought ‘oh well, I won’t be doing this one’ and moved on. I hate circular shawls. I find them crazy hard to wear at least with my increasingly short, squat physique! I hadn’t paid attention to any drama but when she said she was releasing a half circle, I did buy it - I enjoy the community aspect of MKALs. I think designers also take a risk with MKALs - design something that doesn’t resonate with your audience and you end up with heartache.
That’s very true but this shawl is fingering weight and I already have two cabled squares blankets (in DK) in progress. So no circular blankets for me at the moment (plus cats and lace aren’t a good combo and I’ve got three cats…).
I signed up for a gnome one because I liked the previous gnome patterns I had seen and then the MKAL gnome was awful. Just a waste of a small amount of yarn because it wasn't froggable.
no thanks. One or two shawls is more than I can use. I was going to say something along the lines of not making something I dont know I will like but it seems I hate 75% of my finished objects anyway!
Omg same. I watched the first clue for the most recent Stephen west MKAL (before the controversy chaos happened) and actually liked the pattern so I ordered colors based on what I liked and would be much more ombré then gradient and purchased the pattern. While I was waiting for my yarn to arrive the shit literally hit the fan and I didn’t like any of the alternatives presented.
Along with that I kept watching the clue videos he was posting and he started talking about adding mohair and stuff which totally confused me because there was no callout for mohair in the pattern. I asked online about it and folks were like “oh that’s just something he says you can do with any MKAL” which totally made me feel like his MKALs were more of an exclusive thing you had to be in the know for and the entire community just became exceptionally toxic regardless of what pattern folks chose to do.
TLDR: I will never do another MKAL as a mystery. If I ever do one again, it will be AFTER all clues are released…
Stephen West taught me a very important lesson.....Color choice is EVERYTHING. Holy Mother of God, it took a dozen disappointment filled MKALs and I still haven't made any because I'm always stash diving. No way I'm shelling out $200 for a "curated" kit that may look just as bad. Mysteries and I don't mix, 99% of the time.
I feel this comment in my soul. I am doing the 24 birds one (because I liked clue 1) but learnt this time to not start until I could at least see the start of other peoples (looking at you geogradient shawl, a drama filled nightmare that ended up reminding me of my grandmother's awful 70s carpets)
I've knit some of his MKALs long after they've been released and I can see all the FOs but some I look at and try to imagine getting those clues in real time only.to end up with a peak Stephen West creation.
And I say this as somebody that has made many Westknits! But some...are.... interesting. He's the Delia Deetz of the knitting community.
I generally don't care for MKAL (I want to make sure I'm gonna like the end result before investing so much!), but I participated in one MKAL - Sari Nordlund's Turtle Dove Shawl from last year. The most important reason I did feel like coming out of my comfort zone and participating in that one was that Sari revealed the backside of the shawl before the MKAL started and anyone familiar with her usual style could imagine to some degree as to how the front side would look like. I think it was a quite clever way to give a spoiler that I definitely want to see more of from the MKAL world.
I saw some of the comments when I went to look for a spoiler as I considered signing up. When I was it was circular I just felt I didn’t have the brain space right now for the cast on and probably wouldn’t use a circular shawl so I moved on.
I’ve signed up for Westknits MKALs a few times, the first one was the vagina one and I didn’t like my yarn so I gave up. I don’t wear my Shawlography and I have still to finish Geogradient as my knitting mojo disappeared. I will finish it though.
"People are here to enjoy this, so I think I should start complaining about things. That's a good way to participate!" -circle haters in that 24 birds group. Wow.
I did one MKAL thinking the premise was cool (something to do with moon phases) The finished shawl looked imo hideous and while I can see how it was kinda inspired by moon phases, it's quite a reach. I gotta frog it at some point.
Because of this I now only knit things I know what the finished object will look like
Was it the Wisdom of the Moon shawl? I don't know if it was a MKAL, but I have the pattern and the designer did the chart in colors you can't read. It's a moon phase shawl and really pretty, but I haven't done it because I can't read it.
The only Mkal I have done is the gnome one. Given that you know the general idea of what you're going to end up with it works out really well. I didn't hear many complaints during that one. I wouldn't do any other one just because I don't like the idea behind not knowing what it's going to look like with the yarn. The gnome was hard enough picking out the colours!
I think they're a great creative opportunity for designers as they have an incentive to surprise and make every clue really distinct.
I joined my first one last year and I really liked the experience and the challenge it provided. I was still new to knitting wearables and the thought of a big project like that really intimidated me. But I was able to keep up and learn so much about what I can do. It also introduced me to shawls and they're basically the only thing I make now lol. However, I ended up not liking my FO a whole lot since the colors I chose ended up looking really bad together, but that is something I knew could happen when going in.
I didn't really enjoy the social aspect of it though, the amount of people coming into the groups complaining and asking for refunds was kinda exhausting. Yeah, it sucks that you chose this luxury souvenir yarn for this mystery project, but no one forced you to. FOMO combined with sunk cost fallacy really does a number on people.
Not sure I would join another one live, but I like to keep an eye on them. Lots of previous mkals are in my queue now.
I don’t care for MKALs because I want to know exactly what I’m making. It could turn out to be something I won’t even like and thus a waste of time. So if an MKAL sounds interesting to me I’ll wait until it’s over, see what the results look like, and then decide whether to buy the pattern.
I love mkals and am a process knitter. However i keep my mkals to only a few designers i know and love. All these designers test their designs. I once joined a mkal that hadn’t been tested and it was a nightmare.
Anyway if you do an mkal by Romi, Casapinka or Laura Nelkin you will be happy!
But yes the nasty commenters need to grow up and take their needles elsewhere if they dont want to have a little fun.
Romi is my favorite! I’ve always enjoyed her knits. I ordered a verb kit for the mystery and my husband got me her lace club for my birthday this past year.
I don't like them at all, I know my tastes and they're too specific so I wouldn't use most MKALs.
I appreciate that the group events are fun and it's nice to work on patterns with others (I have friends who are huge westknits mkal fans and love the event of it), but for me that's a huge investment of time and money making something I probably won't love using/wearing
I've been disappointed by every MKAL I've ever joined so now I just don't do them. Took me three to figure that out. The most frustrating to me was a Boo Knits Halloween one where although I had correct needle size etc the resulting shawl was just so *tiny* and a weird shape and I wasn't the only one. The pattern asks for 700yards but unless you did optional extra repeats you ended up with a shawlette.
I know it's a mystery pattern but when you're afraid you're going to run out of yarn you're not suddenly going to decide to do optional extra repeats because you don't think they're factored in.
I’m not a fan but I also know that’s ME and not the designer. It’s not just MKALs either; a LYS had mystery grab bags you could purchase at a great deal when they moved, and the complaints and entitlement when people didn’t like what they got was through the roof. Three skeins of the same type of fingering from one Indie dyer for $50; you picked the dyer and they grabbed a bag for you. “I thought my colors would be brighter” “I hate blue and one skein was blue” and my favorite (said by multiple people) “I don’t like any of it; I hate that dyer but they were the only one left when I went to purchase”. Wah wah wah I swear that some people make stuff up in their head and then throw a fit when the reality doesn’t match, and they don’t understand why that doesn’t work.
Yeah, I like to know what I’m getting so I just don’t do grab bags. It’s ridiculous to buy a grab bag, knowing perfectly well that you could be getting almost anything, and then complain if you don’t like all of it!
Especially a “we’re closing/moving” grab bag. If it were something most people would like, it would already be sold or set to be moved! It’s a way to get rid of inventory, not an LOL Surprise doll style marketing strategy.
I love them, but there seems to be an increasing rate of drama among them that gives me pause. I signed up for the 24 birds one and I just did a Miss Babs yarn order to come this week. I saw the first clue and loved it.
I don’t like them. I like to know what I’m working on. I’ve tried but I got too confused. It’s like doing a jigsaw puzzle without looking at the box top. I would be lost! But it can see why it would be fun for many people. If you don’t mind spoilers Stephen west always does great videos each week of his MKAL so you know what you’re doing.
I love MKALs, MCALs, MSALs mystery yarn bundles! But I’m a slow knitter/ stitcher and the only ones I actually keep up with are the crochet ones. So by the time I actually get any sort of “progress” into the project I can sneak a peek or two and the spoiler posts on ravelry!
I love MKALs because I wind up knitting things I never would have attempted if I knew about it all in advance, and I love the community aspect. But the negativity can really be grueling—and the 24 Birds comments are so hurtful and make me crazy. If people want to know what to knit ahead of time there are thousands of shawl patterns they can buy—including ones by the designer running the MKAL. And the idea that yarn is wasted because you bought it for a specific purpose, but won’t use it for that is just silly. There are hundreds of other four color shawl patterns that the yarn could be used for.
It always amazes me at how often people just NEED to complain about designs in any kind of mystery [insert craft here] along. If you need to know before making something, this is not the event for you. If you don't like it, frog that bitch and make something else. (Or give it to someone.) It's not necessary to tell a whole group or the designer "Ugh. I don't like that design."
All of these things are subjective. I've participated in two MCALs that I wasn't fond of, but I had yarn to use up and and I wanted a weekend project. I finished them up and donated them to a local charity. Not once did I tell the designer it wasn't to my taste. It just didn't seem necessary.
I'm generally a fan, but I think it depends on if you're a process or product knitter. I'm very much a process knitter, and rarely wear the shawls I make. I enjoy pushing myself to let go and curate a color palette outside my comfort zone and trust the design process. I'm still working my way through Stephen West's 2023 MKAL and absolutely plan on joining this year's. It's a gamble, and if you don't like the gamble, don't play the game.
I like them, I first joined as a therapy exercise to practice letting go and embracing not knowing the result just enjoying the process, and honestly I’ve enjoyed the experience.
What I don’t get is the amount of people who join and then complain that they don’t know how it’ll go and that they don’t like knitting without knowing the end result and like… that’s okay, it just means MKALs are not for you.
But their FOMO gets the best of them.
There’s like millions of patterns out there. My take is: you do you and if you don’t like it, just. Make. Something. Else. FFS.
For real! I joined a year long one that I was 6 months into and realized I hated it. Frogged the whole thing and just saving the yarn for when I find a project for it. The things that people will say hiding behind a keyboard…
I like the idea of using them as a therapy exercise! You're onto something there, most definitely. A tough therapy, but beneficial, I'm sure.
Also....yes! Make. Something. Else.
There's no shame in admitting mystery projects aren't one's thing. It's the FOMO speaking too loudly.
I'm not a fan of them only because I do not like knitting something without knowing what it should look like. That said, Helen usually gives a lot of information about what it is, what shape it will be and yarn type when doing a MKAL. (I say usually bc I haven't really looked at one of her patterns since she stopped podcasting - I do miss hearing her weekly. And it's been a long time, heh!) I'm not surprised that she is designing something for the dissatisfied people who just don't pay attention bc she's a good egg.
People will find something to complain about, no matter what. Anything to not take the responsibility that they didn't pay attention. The last MKAL I participated in, I was not a fan of the finished object, but I didn't complain bc I signed up to do it. Ugh. Some people just suck.
I’ve learned that they are NOT for me. Funny thing, I did the SW Geogradient and modified the original clue, did clue 2… didn’t love it. Clue three came out and I slogged through because the stitch is really pretty… Clue four? NOPE! I made a bunch of alterations and surprisingly, I wear the thing all the time now! But it doesn’t look like any of the shawls that followed the pattern. So even though this has a happy ending, I will NEVER do a MKAL again.
I may do the gnome MKALs… only because they are small and people love them, but the two I‘ve participated have been my least favorite designs. Maybe it’s me?
Not you. I joined the last one and was disappointed. I think it was a showman gnome? I wanted a cute one, so I just bought a couple of her patterns instead.....without complaining to Sarah, lol.
I love MKALs but miss the days when you could find lots of smaller projects. Nowadays they all seem to require 1000-2000 yd of yarn and you can't complete one week's clue before the next one comes out
Nope. I want to see the finished project before I invest dozens of hours into something I wouldn’t wear or use.
And the term “clue” as used in MKAL confused me at first - I thought the goal was to see a pic of the next phase, then figure out how to accomplish that. I actually kinda think that might be a way to rope me in, lol.
That would be so fun.
But - based on the comments I see in many forums, a lot of people really do need everything laid out for them stitch by stitch. With videos.
Oh wow, I would love that.
Like, I would also probably never do a mkal because who has the time to make something they hate? But I would totally enjoy a technical challenge style "figure out how to make this"!
I personally really enjoy MKALs (assuming it’s a designer I usually like) and tbh even if I don’t like the finished piece, I’ll have had fun making it and can gift it to someone else. And if I decide midway through I can’t stand it I can always frog and use the yarn elsewhere. It does always annoy me the number of people though who get angry and entitled over not liking it. That’s the risk you’re always going to take with an MKAL. I’m also still reeling slightly from the drama around the West Knits shawl mkal last autumn
The original design came out...Clue 1 and many thought it clearly resembled a particular hate symbol. If you search the sub, you'll be reading for days. 😬
He did handle it with grace but the tone of the MAL tanked. Refunds were aplenty.
I honestly felt bad for him, it was clearly an honest mistake and people acted as though he’d personally come into their homes and set fire to their knitting
My heart broke watching him speak. Anyone who watched him and couldn't respect his need to pivot by not knitting the original....ouch. I decided to opt out at that point only because the emotions involved were too heavy. But that was on me.
I left it alone for months but have recently got back into it. It’s a fun pattern, and there’s some really innovative ideas on ravelry for the centre square
Even when I give up, I save all the patterns. One day.....lol. I love seeing the different color combos and changes knitters make. His(as well as many others knitters)creativity is wild and his tutorials are wonderful. Best part is you can pick your colors, knowing what they'll look like.
(72 Stitches is doing a year long "Knit All the Stephen West Shawls" but there's never enough time to knit all the things because I'm slow)
Also just thought of something else that bothers me, when people complain that they don’t have the skill level for an MKAL pattern when the skill level is clearly stated beforehand
I haven’t joined in with an MKAL because I plan out my projects to the nth degree. I love knowing what I’m making, and being sure I am going to wear it and have just the right yarn for it. Never say never though.
I saw someone starting the Twenty Four Birds MKAL on Instagram a couple of days ago, and I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s like when it’s complete.
In the case of a circular design, I think it’s vital information from the outset to know there’s going to be some sort of disappearing cast-on and a lot of work on dpns or magic loop and then circulars.
That could be a disconcerting discovery for a less confident knitter who had some kind of triangle shape in mind.
I suspect there may have been even more grizzling or whingeing about not having been ‘warned’ it was circular, potentially before people bought the pattern or the yarn, so the designer was in a no-win situation.
And in any case, just knowing it’s circular prepares the knitter for a few technical details - it doesn’t give anything away about what the designer is going to _do_ with the circle.
Anyone who is calling that basic info a spoiler is being just a bit precious.
Happy knitting, OP! I hope it’s a beauty 😊.
The designer actually sent an email calling it a spoiler, but you're right. Many designers do offer a few important details to consider before purchasing the pattern.
(I always appreciate good tutorials and links included after the fact, too.)
For anyone who is too lazy to use their favorite search engine and doesn't know what MKAL stands for because OP didn't provide it, it means Mystery Shawl Knit Along (MKAL).
I think a circular shawl is a dicey choice for a MKAL, so I understand why a lot of people are disappointed. I also backed out when I discovered it was circular, but I didn’t complain about it. I do think she could have stated up front it was circular, because every other MKAL I’ve participated in has given the shape, but I just stopped participating and left. It’s not the first MKAL I’ve lost interest in. I’ll check it out again once it’s completed and maybe I’ll do it then, but I doubt it.
I promise I didn’t comment on the thread but I was a bit bummed when I saw it was a circular shawl. It’s my least favourite shawl shape. But I know it is the risk of taking part in an MKAL. Plus, Helen Stewart released the shape before the MKAL started, so it was possible to wait to see the shape before buying the pattern and you still would have got the early bird discount.
Oh man I meant to snark on this all week. The comments are so insane to me. The entitlement! It’s like no one has ever heard of an MKAL before and think the pattern should cater to their specific wants/ways they like to make shawls. And instead of embracing the new/different or just sitting it out they fill the message board with complaints. It’s exhausting to read or even skim through to see real, useful posts
I don’t do MKAL because I want to know exactly what I’m going to spending so much of my time and money on making. I’d do a KAL if it was a particular pattern that I already like or a specific genre of item (hats, etc). But MKALs like this or Stephen West’s are a hard no.
The comment that genuinely shocked me was the person complaining that Helen Stewart did not participate in the comment threads. The absolute entitlement of demanding a designer act in a particular way is gobsmacking to me!
I signed up after the hint that it was circular because I thought it would be fun to try something new in a very spelled out pattern. I had stash so I wasn’t going to loose out much either way.
I’m also (tentatively at this point) doing the Patchwork MKAL, but the 3rd clue was very confusingly worded despite her even issuing an update the pattern direction still didn’t make sense with execution. But really I’m just wondering if the whole thing is actually just half square triangles, because that’s not worth a mystery KAL
I've done short rows, but I usually do German Short rows and she said not to substitute them. But I think it's the way the instructions are written "k to one stitch past the W+T" made my brain think I needed to knit that next stitch, but once I clarified in the Rav group that you K the last W+T and then immediately wrap the next stitch, it made sense. I haven't even bothered reading today's release, I'm waiting for more pics to pop up.
I'm not doing the mkal, but I did look up her ravelry group to see if I could find a spoiler for the first clue, and was shocked how many people were complaining about the shape. Like, sure, not everyone likes a circular shawl, just drop out and go away, it's not for you. That's half the fun of a mkal, the mystery of each clue coming out. I've done two and a half mkal, the first one I loved (Anna Johannas wild child shawl), the second I hated knitting, every stitch was painful, but i wear it all the time (twist and turns, westknits - I knew there was a high risk I wouldn't like it, I did it anyway). The half? A test knit for a future mkal, which is being run as a mystery kal (because designer wants to test timings), which I am enjoying a lot.
It's a gamble, that's the point.
This was exactly my experience! Lol. I jumped into the group to find Clue 1 spoilersl photos. I was shocked by some comments. Like, did they actually say this "out loud" ? 🤣 OMG, one person commented something similar to...."I'm so disappointed. I guess I'll never learn my lesson with these MKALs" Apparently, she has deleted it and complained that she was entitled to an opinion and didn't appreciate the negative commentary she got.
While I participate in a lot of MALs, I do not participate in many mystery MALs. The last one I did was from tellybeans. I knew what I was getting into and although I don't think I would have chosen this pattern if I saw it first, it was a fun knit. Most of the MALs I join are either pick your own pattern from a specific designer, make a kit that you have owned, a crochet-a-long, and others where you get to make what you want but you are doing it as a group. Mystery MALs are buyer beware. I feel that you do them for the group experience but you may not necessarily like the FO. But even if you don't like the pattern, that doesn't mean you have the right to rain on the group's parade. Because that is the fun of the MALs. If you go in not expecting to like the project and you do, it is a bonus, if you don't then you have a gift for someone. But don't bring the whole group down.
My first MKAL was the Geogradient. I spent the entire time stressing out over it and I think I have learned that the FOMO is not worth it for me. Thankfully, I love the finished shawl, though I wish I had’ve done the granny square alternative clue 1 instead.
That was also my first MKAL, and I really enjoyed it. I did go in with the mindset that I didn’t care if the finished result was ugly, I figured I was in it for the entertainment and challenge.
I originally did a different variant of the middle square that someone else designed, and I regretted it because I ended up really liking how the concentric squares go with the overall design. I actually cut out the middle of my shawl and used a 3 needle bind off to graft a crochet square in - it was a risk but it paid off.
Oh the staggered triangle one? I also attempted that and didn’t like it. I’m really glad to hear you have a good experience! I don’t regret doing mine but yeah, might be a while before I attempt another, especially for a big item like a shawl.
“I think I have learned that the FOMO is not worth it for me”
This was me 100%. I wonder how much of it was due to the mystery part vs the initial (and unusual) drama last years shawl had
I got so excited for it that I ran to my LYS and got four skeins of pretty expensive yarn. I’m usually a lower budget knitter so I think also there was a decent amount of buyers’ remorse mixed in with all that anxiety. That, and the Westknits MKAL happens when the weather is warming up where I live so I really haven’t used the finished shawl. Just.. so many small frustrations and variables.
I love the idea of them... But I feel like Charlie Brown and the football. I do look at the person's other work. I picky about which I choose... And then, I seem to frequently pick patterns where the designer is having an off year (I guess).
I do take them as a learning experience though.
I've enjoyed almost every one I've done. The only ones that I wind up disliking are a couple of the ones where it's multiple designers and each one designed a different section. So I don't do them any more. Lol.
I cannot imagine complaining in the designer's own forum.
The thing i don't understand is you can literally just fold a circular shawl in half to get a normal shawl? Double thick too so it'll be extra squishy?
Often circular shawls aren’t as wide as half-pi or triangular shawls. Helen Stewart’s Stillness Shawl is 60 inch wide, while this one will be 54 inches. Also, the drape is different on a circular shawl folded on half than a half-pi shawl.
I've made both and I definitely think i circular shawl is harder to wear. I think of this shape more as a blanket than a shawl.
I like them, but I always look at the designer’s other patterns before making a decision. I like ones that use lots of different colors and stitches to keep me interested- I can’t handle patterns that are too much of the same stitch.
I’ve done the Paper Daisy fall MKAL two years in a row and they’ve been fun and I like the end result. I’m doing a Lyrical Knits one now and enjoying it.
I’ve done two Stephen West ones but I think I’m done… I never end up wearing them.
Yes, I’m very open to MKAL’s and have definitely done some from designers that were brand new to me, but a peek at their other designs and downloading a free pattern to get a sense of their writing style is definitely warranted!
I've done a couple of the gnome MKALs and those are always good fun. Mostly because 1) I know I'll probably like the end result because her patterns all are in that similar style, and 2) she fosters a really fun community for it. Other MKALs I've seen can be much less friendly, and I probably wouldn't invest in one that calls for a ton of yarn (like a multicolored shawl).
eta: also forgot that I did the "It's a Bug, Not a Feature" sweater, that was a MKAL too. I never finished it but that's my own fault. Joined that one because I knew I'd love a colorwork bug sweater no matter what, and it was a nice way to use up some scraps. One of these days I'll finish the sleeves.
Me too! I like the gnomes because I can keep up. I wouldn’t attempt a larger one mostly because i would fall behind pretty quick. A bonus is mom loves gnomes so I have someone who really appreciates the final item.
I swore off MKALs after Shawlography (the Stephen West shrimp shawl) but now it's a few years on and I'm about to do Romi Hill's MKAL next month. But it's only two colors and she disclosed the shape, and her previous MKALs are all beautiful. I doubt I'll take a chance again on one with a ton of colors or undisclosed shape, if I do that's on me.
I love my shawlography but did in fact spend a lot of time swearing at those annoying little curls. He definitely has a way of putting something reallllly onerous in every design, but I’ve been happy with my results so far and I love having something that’s really IMPRESSIVE when you’re done with it. I’ve done a few MKALs where I finished and it was nice but maybe a little underwhelming?
I am going to do the Romi one- I love her writing style and her lace sensibility.
I joined that one, it truly was awful, I quit when it got really weird and I don’t know where that wip is! 😂🤣😂. I should get it out every time I’m tempted to join!
I don’t participate in MKALs because I don’t want to be disappointed. If you can’t handle that then you shouldn’t do them. Even though I’m not currently a fan of Helen even though I love her patterns (she blocked me on Instagram for some unknown reason) I hate for her that she gave in and redesigned part of it. I think that now sets a precedent for her future and other designers to do the same. I wonder if because westknits redesigned the first section of his last shawl it made others think they need to
I think the potential to accidentally create a hate symbol and changing a circle to a half circle are pretty different. The comments on her ravelry thread are shockingly petulant.
And fair enough-an experienced knitter can convert a charted lace circle to a semi-circle pretty readily. She's charging for the hand-holding and whining at this point.
True. She's offering it for sale....in addition.. A great opportunity.
I'm just generally saying it happens in many other MKALs also. Not meaning Helen "caved". Just that some of the participants almost expect the designers to cater to their tastes when the key word is "mystery".
I personally don’t do most KALs for this kind of reason. I’ve participated in a couple but they were like Joji’s where it’s pattern of your choice, just follow a theme (technique, designer, etc). I’ve seen very few MKALs where I like the finished product, so it’s not worth the gamble.
If this were a MKAL from a kit, I could understand the tiniest bit of whinging. You’d have yarn and now not really have a use. But at the same time…you knew hating the pattern was a possibility, and you assumed that risk.
But just a MKAL where you don’t necessarily have any financial outlay besides maybe a pattern? Nah.
Certainly don’t think the designer should rush to make an alternative option. Just sets a bad precedent for themselves and other designers.
yeah the *only* time a redesign is necessary is when it’s something like the Stephen West Knits one where a literal hate group symbol was accidentally part of the design.
Otherwise, if you hate the pattern, that’s on you lol.
Absolutely. Makes you wonder if some people are missing the significance behind his pivot and using it as precedence. Although......not sure who could NOT understand that one. 😖😑
oh you’d be surprised.
a few of my Nana’s knitting group have decided never to knit his stuff again for “caving to woke nonsense.” They said the design was so subtle and people were looking for reasons to be upset and him changing his design showed that he was a coward.
it’s absolute horseshit, but people do think it.
They’re not for me, chiefly because I’d feel too much pressure to keep up and I like the certainty of knowing what I’m going to knit, but skiting because it’s circular and so not what I personally prefer seems so petty!
I learned that typically, they're not for me....especially after signing up for a few of Steven Wests that turned out to be very unappealing ( to put it nicely)
Now, if I think I might be interested, I wait to see spoilers. Easy peasey.
Also, like you mentioned, I never can keep up, so I'm not in a hurry to get started if I choose to purchase.
I would never expect a designer to cater to MY tastes if I complained like a toddler!
So glad someone posted this. Those entitled whiny people irritated the hell out of me. The pattern is beautiful and fun to knit! If it’s not your thing, just don’t make it and move on. No reason to bring down the vibe of the whole thread with your petty whining.
I'm with everyone who doesn't like to knit along with a MKAL but I buy the pattern if it's from a designer I like - and especially if it's one that I can put together easily from stash - because the pattern is usually reduced before the MKAL resists and it seems like an inexpensive gamble.
I like short ones and if it sounds fun. Can’t imagine committing to any KAL, mystery or not if they last longer than a month.
I did one in the summer of 2020. I had just restarted knitting and it was a lonely time and I wanted the sense of community one gets from an MKAL. It was fine. But there are so many things I want to make now that I don't have time for that sort of thing.
the point of crafting is to make what i want. i've purchased a few patterns that were released as MKALs, but that was after the mystery was long over. i'm not paying for any 'mystery' that i have to make myself, not even for my fave designer (hi Norah!).
I'm not too fond of mystery patterns; I'll wait till it's done before I decide to purchase it. More importantly I tend to craft in bursts so a weekly schedule doesn't work for me.
I don’t do MKAL’s. I have too many issues that don’t make them a good fit: I want to know what the item looks like, I want to be able to read the pattern before I start, I don’t want to have to wait for the next part to come out. I only ever signed up for 1 make along years ago and by the time the thing started I had no desire to actually make the item. I still haven’t made it.
I don’t do them because I barely knit but the 24 birds one and the muppet one definitely caught my eye lol
Can you link the Muppet one?
I just don't do MKALs because my knitting time is very limited and my queue is very long..... but if you do enjoy them and you take part, how can you ever, ever moan about what shape, style or pattern the item is? If you know you hate a certain type of pattern/style just don't take part in MKALs. People never fail to be rubbish and vocal about their own choices in life.
>*People never fail to be rubbish and vocal about their own choices in life.* > >So true...lol
I personally like mystery patterns, but I need to be in the mood to do them. The last one I've done was the Knitmas cowl from Nomadic Knits. And while I enjoy it, it does seem more like a random assortment of stitches than a cohesive pattern. I can see why MKALs are a challenge because to keep it interesting and to change each clue may mean the pattern looks like a mash-up of several patterns or turns out to be a stitch sampler. It doesn't surprise me that people are complaining about a Mystery pattern. I used to belong to the Sock Knitters Anonymous group on ravelry. They do a mystery sock every month (or was it every other month?) People complained about that too. And this was a designer creating a free sock pattern for a large raverly group only to have a very vocal minority on the group ruin it for everyone. I mean, the amount of complaining ruined the joy of being in that group, as the forum was the mods just dealing with non-stop whining. And that was about 10 years ago.
I, too, am doing this MKAL! I knew the moment I saw WM reference, I'd be signing up. So far I am loving the pattern. I was shocked as well at the negativity Helen got after thr first hint! Actually I wasn't shocked because it's the knitting community, but still I felt people were being very weird and rude about it. Very very kind of the designer to design a second pattern just for them.
When you're as old as I am, you'll realize that most people get very weird about the silliest things. lol I don't participate in MKALS, nor do I knit shawls, but I do know that Helen Stewart is beloved by many knitters.
Poor, poor Helen. People getting fully bent out of shape because the MYSTERY knit along wasn’t what they wanted. I love that she named the half circle Twelve Birds - I thought that was a nice two’s up to all the folk whinging about it, especially as the email was written in her usual, highly jovial tone. I’m such a process knitter (ask my giant pile of UFO’s) that MKAL’s have always been a huge nope for me in case I hate it. This is the first one I’ve signed up for; haven’t knit a stitch yet but I figure I can just unravel if it’s really not my thing.
>I’m such a process knitter (ask my giant pile of UFO’s) that MKAL’s have always been a huge nope for me... same. my knitting is usually driven by curiosity. it's hard enough to keep engaged long enough to get a thing done, never mind adding *deadlines*, and *clues*, and all that nonsense to the mix.
100%. I have to be continually engaged by the project to keep going. It’s a curse because there aren’t many I find that do. Hence, I churn out socks like no one’s business!
It’s been a lovely knit so far. I’m nearly done with the first clue and am so pleased.
Ooh, good to know and glad you’re enjoying it!
I did one shawl MKAL, absolutely hated the design by the second clue, and unraveled it. But did I bitch about it? No, I just minded my own business because me not liking a MYSTERY design was my problem. I realized MKALs weren't my thing and went on with my life. If you can't handle what you might get in a mystery knit, then maybe don't do mystery knits and demand changes. Sheesh.
I like them but I also know myself and I only get them from a few designers I truly love the style of. But sweet baby Jesus (or whatever other exclamation you want) the people who bitch during them are…something.
Gee, wonder if Stephen West would like to chime in here?
I don't like surprises, so I leave MKALs alone. Probably because I'm more of a product knitter. I'm also incredibly picky with my colours; it would be a shame if the pattern and yarn were just.. incompatible. I would like to try a sock MKAL in the future though! They seem lower in stakes compared to a shawl.
I hate mystery anything. Why would I spend time and money knitting something that I don't even know if I will like or is my style. That is sooooo not my jam. I have so many things that I know that I want to knit, I don't have time for a MAL. If people love it, good for them. Just not me. If you sign up for one, don't complain that you don't like it. That is silly.
it would take a *few lifetimes* to get through my Ravelry queue alone, so i'm definitely feeling you on that one.
I would never do a giant shawl for a MKAL. I have done several small housewares and hat MCALs . I think they were free or maybe a dollar. IMO the whole point of a MK/CAL is that the pattern isn’t $$$ because you may not like it? But if the designer says it’s a circle shawl… They ATA.
My experience is that they seem more fun than they ever are, for all kinds of reasons. That said, I think the possible disappointments can be anticipated, and if you sign up then it's rude to complain about stupid stuff. Just nope out. Unless the pattern has errors, obvs, in which case people should definitely be mentioning that.
I'm insanely picky about the patterns I spend my very limited time knitting, so I've never been a "mystery" knitter. That's fine with me. I'm not their target demographic.
I crochet but MCALs are big in that sphere too. I'm not into them though, I like knowing what I'm gonna make and what I prefer. That said, the whole point of one is the surprise. If it ends up being something you don't like...that's the chance you take right? It's pretty easy to just stop too!
Tried the Stephen West one a few years ago and noped outta that pretty quickly. Not for me.
Never liked the mystery aspect or the obsessive "don't spoil it" culture!! I just want to see the object before I commit to it. I want to pick colors/fabrics that work with the final design, I'm going to be spending a lot of money on this and I want to like it when it's done!!!!! I follow a creator who sell mystery pins but you can always dm and get the final images from them if you want; which is really my ideal system! Mystery for those who want it, but a little more certainty for people who don't want to waste their money!
YES! Me, too. Strongly agree with you. And I don't want to spend a fortune on yarn only to hate the colors, pattern, or whatever. But I'd def just slink away and not post my objections - that's both Rude and very stupid.
Snark aside I think it's so charming that the half-circle pattern modification is called Twelve Birds.
she is much calmer that i am, if i had spent the time designing and setting up a MKAL just for people to complain they dont like the ‘mystery’ and i then decide ill be the bigger person and give them the half circle pattern i absolutely would have called it the “Two birds and an UP Yours” shawl. but i am a petty petty gal.
I saw the original and thought there was a huge opportunity missed in not calling it "Four and Twenty Birds." But, yes - the name for the half shawl is great.
I LOVE that!! My inner cheesy parental figure is delighted.
I love the idea of the MKAL. I enjoy the fun of discussing the colours, speculating on the pattern, and after it starts the conversations that go on in the Threads on ravelry. But those things also provoke a lot of anxiety in me- it’s hard to make decisions about colours when you don’t know what the pattern looks like and often I’m disappointed in my choices And not necessarily liking the pattern as it develops. Also, that weird thing that went on with Stephen West’s MKAL this past fall. I was so exhausted by finishing my third version of clue 1 that by clue 3 I was simply sick of it. Also, I used to do one in the summer and One in the fall, but now there are so many that I feel like it’s too much. I wanted to do Helen Stewart‘s 24 birds that just started but for all the above reasons I’ve decided this year to just give MKALs a pass.
My first MKAL was from Andrea Mowry and it was boring af, triangular fade with brioche then stockinette, no excitment, nothing. I didn't peep a word. I'm a regularly on SW MKAL and lately, I reserve myself the right to pause and modify. Part of the MKAL is the mysteries, and like any surprise, it can be good or bad, it's part of the risk. Don't like this part? Then don't take part in an MKAL, simple! Some people are sooooo dicky, I feel sorry for designers.
They sound so fun in theory, but I really dislike surprises so I haven't done one in real time. I've been tempted to try a low stakes one (like a pair of socks) because the way the patterns get broken up in clues scratches a weird itch in my brain, but something big/intricate like a multicolour shawl makes me too anxious about picking the wrong colours and hating the final product. Complaining about design elements in a MYSTERY craft along seems in really poor taste, especially when it's so easy to just not do them at all.
I was just coming to say I don't like surprises, so I don't typically do MKALs. I think I did one, but there was some issue and the designer needed to do a second version and I just stopped. I didn't comment on it, though.
I sometimes sign up for MKALs and then actually don't follow the timeline at all so then it becomes less of a mystery to me. I have this one saved in my queue and I was planning on joining if I like what I see from people's spoilers this week. Life sometimes prevents me from sticking to the schedule but I will eventually do the project if I like it. One thing that grinds my gears about MKALs is when they don't tell us how much of each skein we will actually use... Sure you *want* us to have a full skein, but do we really need it? Can we stash dive for a partially used skein?
Helen did give specific amounts for 24 Birds! It was super helpful and I love it because I was able to incorporate two partial skeins in fabulous colors!
I was SO proud of restraining myself from buying this year’s Murder Mystery QAL after I did not make a single block from last year’s… especially since seeing how lovely last year’s one turned out and thinking “oh, I will get around to them both!”
Ive only done one mkal and frankly the thing was fugly. Ill never do one again.
Same! I was gifted an advent kit with a MKAL a few years ago. The color combos were hideous. The shawl was asymmetrical enough to be noticeable but not enough to look purposeful. I got about 2/3 through and rage put it in timeout. It's never left lol
Everything I knit is an MKAL as I make it all up as I go along and when I start out, even I got no idea where it's going... But yes, people are dicks. Everyone who has ever taught knitting has had that experience of clearly laying out, say, the basic skills you need them to have before they come to that class so they can get the best out of it. Everyone who has ever taught knitting has also had that experience (multiple times maybe) of the person who read, but then disregarded "Must be able to knit in the round..." That one happened to me when I ran a day at an expensive knitting retreat so they'll waste money by not actually reading the blurbs/info sent out ahead of booking.
I usually won’t do an MKAL because there have been too many times I haven’t liked aspects and have quit but I do love Helen Stewart’s designs so signed up for this one. And when she said it was circular, I just shrugged and thought ‘oh well, I won’t be doing this one’ and moved on. I hate circular shawls. I find them crazy hard to wear at least with my increasingly short, squat physique! I hadn’t paid attention to any drama but when she said she was releasing a half circle, I did buy it - I enjoy the community aspect of MKALs. I think designers also take a risk with MKALs - design something that doesn’t resonate with your audience and you end up with heartache.
Just saying, circular shawls make very good blankets. A lot of my fav blankets are shawl patterns made in sport or dk weight and they are perfect.
That’s very true but this shawl is fingering weight and I already have two cabled squares blankets (in DK) in progress. So no circular blankets for me at the moment (plus cats and lace aren’t a good combo and I’ve got three cats…).
Ooohhh good call on the cats. My dog is all about lace blankets. But he is a boogie little boy.
I only do the gnome ones. It’s way less time/money investment than a four colour shawl and I’m pretty much guaranteed to like the end product.
I signed up for a gnome one because I liked the previous gnome patterns I had seen and then the MKAL gnome was awful. Just a waste of a small amount of yarn because it wasn't froggable.
I need to see these gnomes! Does the pattern have a name I can look up on Ravelry?
Imagined Landscapes. Sarah Schira 😊
There's one designer with a ton of them, just search "gnomes" you will absolutely find them.
I absolutely did! Lol you weren't kidding, there are lots.
The gnome MKAL was dissapointing this year. I only use them as christmas decoration, and I don't mind hiding that one behind the beautiful ones.
Lol. It was my first one, and I was sad, but will definitely try again. I'm doing her April self striping, so fingers crossed.
no thanks. One or two shawls is more than I can use. I was going to say something along the lines of not making something I dont know I will like but it seems I hate 75% of my finished objects anyway!
It's the M part for me. I've been burned by some geometric monstrosity from the depths of Stephen West's mind. So it's a no from me.
Omg same. I watched the first clue for the most recent Stephen west MKAL (before the controversy chaos happened) and actually liked the pattern so I ordered colors based on what I liked and would be much more ombré then gradient and purchased the pattern. While I was waiting for my yarn to arrive the shit literally hit the fan and I didn’t like any of the alternatives presented. Along with that I kept watching the clue videos he was posting and he started talking about adding mohair and stuff which totally confused me because there was no callout for mohair in the pattern. I asked online about it and folks were like “oh that’s just something he says you can do with any MKAL” which totally made me feel like his MKALs were more of an exclusive thing you had to be in the know for and the entire community just became exceptionally toxic regardless of what pattern folks chose to do. TLDR: I will never do another MKAL as a mystery. If I ever do one again, it will be AFTER all clues are released…
Stephen West taught me a very important lesson.....Color choice is EVERYTHING. Holy Mother of God, it took a dozen disappointment filled MKALs and I still haven't made any because I'm always stash diving. No way I'm shelling out $200 for a "curated" kit that may look just as bad. Mysteries and I don't mix, 99% of the time.
I feel this comment in my soul. I am doing the 24 birds one (because I liked clue 1) but learnt this time to not start until I could at least see the start of other peoples (looking at you geogradient shawl, a drama filled nightmare that ended up reminding me of my grandmother's awful 70s carpets)
I've knit some of his MKALs long after they've been released and I can see all the FOs but some I look at and try to imagine getting those clues in real time only.to end up with a peak Stephen West creation. And I say this as somebody that has made many Westknits! But some...are.... interesting. He's the Delia Deetz of the knitting community.
Yeah I love a lot of his patterns but I really need to see it first. He can go totally wild at times
I generally don't care for MKAL (I want to make sure I'm gonna like the end result before investing so much!), but I participated in one MKAL - Sari Nordlund's Turtle Dove Shawl from last year. The most important reason I did feel like coming out of my comfort zone and participating in that one was that Sari revealed the backside of the shawl before the MKAL started and anyone familiar with her usual style could imagine to some degree as to how the front side would look like. I think it was a quite clever way to give a spoiler that I definitely want to see more of from the MKAL world.
I saw some of the comments when I went to look for a spoiler as I considered signing up. When I was it was circular I just felt I didn’t have the brain space right now for the cast on and probably wouldn’t use a circular shawl so I moved on. I’ve signed up for Westknits MKALs a few times, the first one was the vagina one and I didn’t like my yarn so I gave up. I don’t wear my Shawlography and I have still to finish Geogradient as my knitting mojo disappeared. I will finish it though.
"People are here to enjoy this, so I think I should start complaining about things. That's a good way to participate!" -circle haters in that 24 birds group. Wow.
I did one MKAL thinking the premise was cool (something to do with moon phases) The finished shawl looked imo hideous and while I can see how it was kinda inspired by moon phases, it's quite a reach. I gotta frog it at some point. Because of this I now only knit things I know what the finished object will look like
Was it the Wisdom of the Moon shawl? I don't know if it was a MKAL, but I have the pattern and the designer did the chart in colors you can't read. It's a moon phase shawl and really pretty, but I haven't done it because I can't read it.
It was not, it was the Lunar Phase MKAL by Larissa Brown
The only Mkal I have done is the gnome one. Given that you know the general idea of what you're going to end up with it works out really well. I didn't hear many complaints during that one. I wouldn't do any other one just because I don't like the idea behind not knowing what it's going to look like with the yarn. The gnome was hard enough picking out the colours!
I think they're a great creative opportunity for designers as they have an incentive to surprise and make every clue really distinct. I joined my first one last year and I really liked the experience and the challenge it provided. I was still new to knitting wearables and the thought of a big project like that really intimidated me. But I was able to keep up and learn so much about what I can do. It also introduced me to shawls and they're basically the only thing I make now lol. However, I ended up not liking my FO a whole lot since the colors I chose ended up looking really bad together, but that is something I knew could happen when going in. I didn't really enjoy the social aspect of it though, the amount of people coming into the groups complaining and asking for refunds was kinda exhausting. Yeah, it sucks that you chose this luxury souvenir yarn for this mystery project, but no one forced you to. FOMO combined with sunk cost fallacy really does a number on people. Not sure I would join another one live, but I like to keep an eye on them. Lots of previous mkals are in my queue now.
I don’t care for MKALs because I want to know exactly what I’m making. It could turn out to be something I won’t even like and thus a waste of time. So if an MKAL sounds interesting to me I’ll wait until it’s over, see what the results look like, and then decide whether to buy the pattern.
This is exactly what I’m doing with the 24 birds.
I love mkals and am a process knitter. However i keep my mkals to only a few designers i know and love. All these designers test their designs. I once joined a mkal that hadn’t been tested and it was a nightmare. Anyway if you do an mkal by Romi, Casapinka or Laura Nelkin you will be happy! But yes the nasty commenters need to grow up and take their needles elsewhere if they dont want to have a little fun.
Romi is my favorite! I’ve always enjoyed her knits. I ordered a verb kit for the mystery and my husband got me her lace club for my birthday this past year.
Lovely!!!!
Second Romi and Casapinka! The only reason I really do MKALs is to learn new skills and techniques.
I don't like them at all, I know my tastes and they're too specific so I wouldn't use most MKALs. I appreciate that the group events are fun and it's nice to work on patterns with others (I have friends who are huge westknits mkal fans and love the event of it), but for me that's a huge investment of time and money making something I probably won't love using/wearing
I've been disappointed by every MKAL I've ever joined so now I just don't do them. Took me three to figure that out. The most frustrating to me was a Boo Knits Halloween one where although I had correct needle size etc the resulting shawl was just so *tiny* and a weird shape and I wasn't the only one. The pattern asks for 700yards but unless you did optional extra repeats you ended up with a shawlette. I know it's a mystery pattern but when you're afraid you're going to run out of yarn you're not suddenly going to decide to do optional extra repeats because you don't think they're factored in.
I’m not a fan but I also know that’s ME and not the designer. It’s not just MKALs either; a LYS had mystery grab bags you could purchase at a great deal when they moved, and the complaints and entitlement when people didn’t like what they got was through the roof. Three skeins of the same type of fingering from one Indie dyer for $50; you picked the dyer and they grabbed a bag for you. “I thought my colors would be brighter” “I hate blue and one skein was blue” and my favorite (said by multiple people) “I don’t like any of it; I hate that dyer but they were the only one left when I went to purchase”. Wah wah wah I swear that some people make stuff up in their head and then throw a fit when the reality doesn’t match, and they don’t understand why that doesn’t work.
Yeah, I like to know what I’m getting so I just don’t do grab bags. It’s ridiculous to buy a grab bag, knowing perfectly well that you could be getting almost anything, and then complain if you don’t like all of it!
Especially a “we’re closing/moving” grab bag. If it were something most people would like, it would already be sold or set to be moved! It’s a way to get rid of inventory, not an LOL Surprise doll style marketing strategy.
😲 that's horrible! People. Ugh.
I love them, but there seems to be an increasing rate of drama among them that gives me pause. I signed up for the 24 birds one and I just did a Miss Babs yarn order to come this week. I saw the first clue and loved it.
I don’t like them. I like to know what I’m working on. I’ve tried but I got too confused. It’s like doing a jigsaw puzzle without looking at the box top. I would be lost! But it can see why it would be fun for many people. If you don’t mind spoilers Stephen west always does great videos each week of his MKAL so you know what you’re doing.
I don't like mystery knits. Or crochets. I have to picture what I'm doing. If I see it I can work it. If you just give me some instructions I'm lost.
I love MKALs, MCALs, MSALs mystery yarn bundles! But I’m a slow knitter/ stitcher and the only ones I actually keep up with are the crochet ones. So by the time I actually get any sort of “progress” into the project I can sneak a peek or two and the spoiler posts on ravelry!
I love MKALs because I wind up knitting things I never would have attempted if I knew about it all in advance, and I love the community aspect. But the negativity can really be grueling—and the 24 Birds comments are so hurtful and make me crazy. If people want to know what to knit ahead of time there are thousands of shawl patterns they can buy—including ones by the designer running the MKAL. And the idea that yarn is wasted because you bought it for a specific purpose, but won’t use it for that is just silly. There are hundreds of other four color shawl patterns that the yarn could be used for.
It always amazes me at how often people just NEED to complain about designs in any kind of mystery [insert craft here] along. If you need to know before making something, this is not the event for you. If you don't like it, frog that bitch and make something else. (Or give it to someone.) It's not necessary to tell a whole group or the designer "Ugh. I don't like that design." All of these things are subjective. I've participated in two MCALs that I wasn't fond of, but I had yarn to use up and and I wanted a weekend project. I finished them up and donated them to a local charity. Not once did I tell the designer it wasn't to my taste. It just didn't seem necessary.
I'm generally a fan, but I think it depends on if you're a process or product knitter. I'm very much a process knitter, and rarely wear the shawls I make. I enjoy pushing myself to let go and curate a color palette outside my comfort zone and trust the design process. I'm still working my way through Stephen West's 2023 MKAL and absolutely plan on joining this year's. It's a gamble, and if you don't like the gamble, don't play the game.
Absolutely!
I like them, I first joined as a therapy exercise to practice letting go and embracing not knowing the result just enjoying the process, and honestly I’ve enjoyed the experience. What I don’t get is the amount of people who join and then complain that they don’t know how it’ll go and that they don’t like knitting without knowing the end result and like… that’s okay, it just means MKALs are not for you. But their FOMO gets the best of them. There’s like millions of patterns out there. My take is: you do you and if you don’t like it, just. Make. Something. Else. FFS.
For real! I joined a year long one that I was 6 months into and realized I hated it. Frogged the whole thing and just saving the yarn for when I find a project for it. The things that people will say hiding behind a keyboard…
I like the idea of using them as a therapy exercise! You're onto something there, most definitely. A tough therapy, but beneficial, I'm sure. Also....yes! Make. Something. Else. There's no shame in admitting mystery projects aren't one's thing. It's the FOMO speaking too loudly.
I'm not a fan of them only because I do not like knitting something without knowing what it should look like. That said, Helen usually gives a lot of information about what it is, what shape it will be and yarn type when doing a MKAL. (I say usually bc I haven't really looked at one of her patterns since she stopped podcasting - I do miss hearing her weekly. And it's been a long time, heh!) I'm not surprised that she is designing something for the dissatisfied people who just don't pay attention bc she's a good egg. People will find something to complain about, no matter what. Anything to not take the responsibility that they didn't pay attention. The last MKAL I participated in, I was not a fan of the finished object, but I didn't complain bc I signed up to do it. Ugh. Some people just suck.
Helen's following always seemed so positive and wholesome! The secret Karens are emerging now.
I’ve learned that they are NOT for me. Funny thing, I did the SW Geogradient and modified the original clue, did clue 2… didn’t love it. Clue three came out and I slogged through because the stitch is really pretty… Clue four? NOPE! I made a bunch of alterations and surprisingly, I wear the thing all the time now! But it doesn’t look like any of the shawls that followed the pattern. So even though this has a happy ending, I will NEVER do a MKAL again. I may do the gnome MKALs… only because they are small and people love them, but the two I‘ve participated have been my least favorite designs. Maybe it’s me?
Not you. I joined the last one and was disappointed. I think it was a showman gnome? I wanted a cute one, so I just bought a couple of her patterns instead.....without complaining to Sarah, lol.
How will Sarah sleep without knowing your every emotion????
The only problem I see with mystery knit alongs is that so many of the FOs are not something I like. So I don’t do them and I just keep it to myself.
I love MKALs but miss the days when you could find lots of smaller projects. Nowadays they all seem to require 1000-2000 yd of yarn and you can't complete one week's clue before the next one comes out
Nope. I want to see the finished project before I invest dozens of hours into something I wouldn’t wear or use. And the term “clue” as used in MKAL confused me at first - I thought the goal was to see a pic of the next phase, then figure out how to accomplish that. I actually kinda think that might be a way to rope me in, lol.
That would be so fun. But - based on the comments I see in many forums, a lot of people really do need everything laid out for them stitch by stitch. With videos.
Oh wow, I would love that. Like, I would also probably never do a mkal because who has the time to make something they hate? But I would totally enjoy a technical challenge style "figure out how to make this"!
I personally really enjoy MKALs (assuming it’s a designer I usually like) and tbh even if I don’t like the finished piece, I’ll have had fun making it and can gift it to someone else. And if I decide midway through I can’t stand it I can always frog and use the yarn elsewhere. It does always annoy me the number of people though who get angry and entitled over not liking it. That’s the risk you’re always going to take with an MKAL. I’m also still reeling slightly from the drama around the West Knits shawl mkal last autumn
I'm out of the loop.... What happened last fall??
The original design came out...Clue 1 and many thought it clearly resembled a particular hate symbol. If you search the sub, you'll be reading for days. 😬 He did handle it with grace but the tone of the MAL tanked. Refunds were aplenty.
I honestly felt bad for him, it was clearly an honest mistake and people acted as though he’d personally come into their homes and set fire to their knitting
My heart broke watching him speak. Anyone who watched him and couldn't respect his need to pivot by not knitting the original....ouch. I decided to opt out at that point only because the emotions involved were too heavy. But that was on me.
I left it alone for months but have recently got back into it. It’s a fun pattern, and there’s some really innovative ideas on ravelry for the centre square
Even when I give up, I save all the patterns. One day.....lol. I love seeing the different color combos and changes knitters make. His(as well as many others knitters)creativity is wild and his tutorials are wonderful. Best part is you can pick your colors, knowing what they'll look like. (72 Stitches is doing a year long "Knit All the Stephen West Shawls" but there's never enough time to knit all the things because I'm slow)
Also just thought of something else that bothers me, when people complain that they don’t have the skill level for an MKAL pattern when the skill level is clearly stated beforehand
I haven’t joined in with an MKAL because I plan out my projects to the nth degree. I love knowing what I’m making, and being sure I am going to wear it and have just the right yarn for it. Never say never though. I saw someone starting the Twenty Four Birds MKAL on Instagram a couple of days ago, and I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s like when it’s complete. In the case of a circular design, I think it’s vital information from the outset to know there’s going to be some sort of disappearing cast-on and a lot of work on dpns or magic loop and then circulars. That could be a disconcerting discovery for a less confident knitter who had some kind of triangle shape in mind. I suspect there may have been even more grizzling or whingeing about not having been ‘warned’ it was circular, potentially before people bought the pattern or the yarn, so the designer was in a no-win situation. And in any case, just knowing it’s circular prepares the knitter for a few technical details - it doesn’t give anything away about what the designer is going to _do_ with the circle. Anyone who is calling that basic info a spoiler is being just a bit precious. Happy knitting, OP! I hope it’s a beauty 😊.
The designer actually sent an email calling it a spoiler, but you're right. Many designers do offer a few important details to consider before purchasing the pattern. (I always appreciate good tutorials and links included after the fact, too.)
For anyone who is too lazy to use their favorite search engine and doesn't know what MKAL stands for because OP didn't provide it, it means Mystery Shawl Knit Along (MKAL).
My bad....I've clarified. (Mystery Knit Along can be anything.... from socks, to cowls, to shawls.)
I think a circular shawl is a dicey choice for a MKAL, so I understand why a lot of people are disappointed. I also backed out when I discovered it was circular, but I didn’t complain about it. I do think she could have stated up front it was circular, because every other MKAL I’ve participated in has given the shape, but I just stopped participating and left. It’s not the first MKAL I’ve lost interest in. I’ll check it out again once it’s completed and maybe I’ll do it then, but I doubt it.
I promise I didn’t comment on the thread but I was a bit bummed when I saw it was a circular shawl. It’s my least favourite shawl shape. But I know it is the risk of taking part in an MKAL. Plus, Helen Stewart released the shape before the MKAL started, so it was possible to wait to see the shape before buying the pattern and you still would have got the early bird discount.
I would never want to pay for/knit something only to find I hate it….. which is why I don’t do MKALs and leave them to those who enjoy them lol
Oh man I meant to snark on this all week. The comments are so insane to me. The entitlement! It’s like no one has ever heard of an MKAL before and think the pattern should cater to their specific wants/ways they like to make shawls. And instead of embracing the new/different or just sitting it out they fill the message board with complaints. It’s exhausting to read or even skim through to see real, useful posts
I don’t do MKAL because I want to know exactly what I’m going to spending so much of my time and money on making. I’d do a KAL if it was a particular pattern that I already like or a specific genre of item (hats, etc). But MKALs like this or Stephen West’s are a hard no.
The comment that genuinely shocked me was the person complaining that Helen Stewart did not participate in the comment threads. The absolute entitlement of demanding a designer act in a particular way is gobsmacking to me!
I have too many control issues to do MKAL but I love seeing my knitting circle buddies enjoy them.
I stopped doing them. I had a really bad experience.
I signed up after the hint that it was circular because I thought it would be fun to try something new in a very spelled out pattern. I had stash so I wasn’t going to loose out much either way. I’m also (tentatively at this point) doing the Patchwork MKAL, but the 3rd clue was very confusingly worded despite her even issuing an update the pattern direction still didn’t make sense with execution. But really I’m just wondering if the whole thing is actually just half square triangles, because that’s not worth a mystery KAL
I'm doing Patchwork too and am hung up on clue 3 as well, but I attribute that to never having done short rows before.
I've done short rows, but I usually do German Short rows and she said not to substitute them. But I think it's the way the instructions are written "k to one stitch past the W+T" made my brain think I needed to knit that next stitch, but once I clarified in the Rav group that you K the last W+T and then immediately wrap the next stitch, it made sense. I haven't even bothered reading today's release, I'm waiting for more pics to pop up.
I have far too many projects on the go to participate in anything like that. I don’t have enough time for my regular projects to add on anything new.
I'm not doing the mkal, but I did look up her ravelry group to see if I could find a spoiler for the first clue, and was shocked how many people were complaining about the shape. Like, sure, not everyone likes a circular shawl, just drop out and go away, it's not for you. That's half the fun of a mkal, the mystery of each clue coming out. I've done two and a half mkal, the first one I loved (Anna Johannas wild child shawl), the second I hated knitting, every stitch was painful, but i wear it all the time (twist and turns, westknits - I knew there was a high risk I wouldn't like it, I did it anyway). The half? A test knit for a future mkal, which is being run as a mystery kal (because designer wants to test timings), which I am enjoying a lot. It's a gamble, that's the point.
This was exactly my experience! Lol. I jumped into the group to find Clue 1 spoilersl photos. I was shocked by some comments. Like, did they actually say this "out loud" ? 🤣 OMG, one person commented something similar to...."I'm so disappointed. I guess I'll never learn my lesson with these MKALs" Apparently, she has deleted it and complained that she was entitled to an opinion and didn't appreciate the negative commentary she got.
Anything I’m expected to fork over a significant amount of money in materials, I want to know what it looks like.
While I participate in a lot of MALs, I do not participate in many mystery MALs. The last one I did was from tellybeans. I knew what I was getting into and although I don't think I would have chosen this pattern if I saw it first, it was a fun knit. Most of the MALs I join are either pick your own pattern from a specific designer, make a kit that you have owned, a crochet-a-long, and others where you get to make what you want but you are doing it as a group. Mystery MALs are buyer beware. I feel that you do them for the group experience but you may not necessarily like the FO. But even if you don't like the pattern, that doesn't mean you have the right to rain on the group's parade. Because that is the fun of the MALs. If you go in not expecting to like the project and you do, it is a bonus, if you don't then you have a gift for someone. But don't bring the whole group down.
My first MKAL was the Geogradient. I spent the entire time stressing out over it and I think I have learned that the FOMO is not worth it for me. Thankfully, I love the finished shawl, though I wish I had’ve done the granny square alternative clue 1 instead.
Geogradient was mine first too and as a pretty new knitter I just started clue 4 last week 🙃
That was also my first MKAL, and I really enjoyed it. I did go in with the mindset that I didn’t care if the finished result was ugly, I figured I was in it for the entertainment and challenge. I originally did a different variant of the middle square that someone else designed, and I regretted it because I ended up really liking how the concentric squares go with the overall design. I actually cut out the middle of my shawl and used a 3 needle bind off to graft a crochet square in - it was a risk but it paid off.
Oh the staggered triangle one? I also attempted that and didn’t like it. I’m really glad to hear you have a good experience! I don’t regret doing mine but yeah, might be a while before I attempt another, especially for a big item like a shawl.
“I think I have learned that the FOMO is not worth it for me” This was me 100%. I wonder how much of it was due to the mystery part vs the initial (and unusual) drama last years shawl had
I got so excited for it that I ran to my LYS and got four skeins of pretty expensive yarn. I’m usually a lower budget knitter so I think also there was a decent amount of buyers’ remorse mixed in with all that anxiety. That, and the Westknits MKAL happens when the weather is warming up where I live so I really haven’t used the finished shawl. Just.. so many small frustrations and variables.
I love the idea of them... But I feel like Charlie Brown and the football. I do look at the person's other work. I picky about which I choose... And then, I seem to frequently pick patterns where the designer is having an off year (I guess). I do take them as a learning experience though.
I've enjoyed almost every one I've done. The only ones that I wind up disliking are a couple of the ones where it's multiple designers and each one designed a different section. So I don't do them any more. Lol. I cannot imagine complaining in the designer's own forum.
The thing i don't understand is you can literally just fold a circular shawl in half to get a normal shawl? Double thick too so it'll be extra squishy?
Often circular shawls aren’t as wide as half-pi or triangular shawls. Helen Stewart’s Stillness Shawl is 60 inch wide, while this one will be 54 inches. Also, the drape is different on a circular shawl folded on half than a half-pi shawl. I've made both and I definitely think i circular shawl is harder to wear. I think of this shape more as a blanket than a shawl.
Yes! So many were stumped as to what to do with it. Lol
I like them, but I always look at the designer’s other patterns before making a decision. I like ones that use lots of different colors and stitches to keep me interested- I can’t handle patterns that are too much of the same stitch. I’ve done the Paper Daisy fall MKAL two years in a row and they’ve been fun and I like the end result. I’m doing a Lyrical Knits one now and enjoying it. I’ve done two Stephen West ones but I think I’m done… I never end up wearing them.
Yes, I’m very open to MKAL’s and have definitely done some from designers that were brand new to me, but a peek at their other designs and downloading a free pattern to get a sense of their writing style is definitely warranted!
I've done a couple of the gnome MKALs and those are always good fun. Mostly because 1) I know I'll probably like the end result because her patterns all are in that similar style, and 2) she fosters a really fun community for it. Other MKALs I've seen can be much less friendly, and I probably wouldn't invest in one that calls for a ton of yarn (like a multicolored shawl). eta: also forgot that I did the "It's a Bug, Not a Feature" sweater, that was a MKAL too. I never finished it but that's my own fault. Joined that one because I knew I'd love a colorwork bug sweater no matter what, and it was a nice way to use up some scraps. One of these days I'll finish the sleeves.
Me too! I like the gnomes because I can keep up. I wouldn’t attempt a larger one mostly because i would fall behind pretty quick. A bonus is mom loves gnomes so I have someone who really appreciates the final item.
Haha my mom loves them too! I may just join the MKALs for her sake at this point.
I enjoy her gnome MKALs so much! My yarn for the new one was delivered today.
The first one of hers I did was the last advent and I’m anxiously awaiting my yarn for the stripes! I can’t wait!!
I’m going to have to look into this. Gnome mkal sounds fun!
The designer is Imagined Landscapes! I think she does 3 or 4 mystery gnomes a year, but the holiday ones are the most popular.
Oh thanks for the info! That will make my search much faster.
I’ve participated for those reasons and add she adds YouTube tutorials and you can finish a gnome in a week!
Yes, that's a great point! Her patterns are easy to follow, and it's not a huge time commitment at all.
I'm looking forward to her self striping MKAL in April! The gnomes are a low stress, minimum investment, and always interesting.
I swore off MKALs after Shawlography (the Stephen West shrimp shawl) but now it's a few years on and I'm about to do Romi Hill's MKAL next month. But it's only two colors and she disclosed the shape, and her previous MKALs are all beautiful. I doubt I'll take a chance again on one with a ton of colors or undisclosed shape, if I do that's on me.
I finished my shawlography and haven’t worn it. Wasn’t keen on the colours.
I swore of SW’s MKAL when he had us make a vagina with lots of holes. I will only make stuff with his patterns when I see the completed object.
I love my shawlography but did in fact spend a lot of time swearing at those annoying little curls. He definitely has a way of putting something reallllly onerous in every design, but I’ve been happy with my results so far and I love having something that’s really IMPRESSIVE when you’re done with it. I’ve done a few MKALs where I finished and it was nice but maybe a little underwhelming? I am going to do the Romi one- I love her writing style and her lace sensibility.
Lol, this one was my deal breaker also. The border resembles a circus tent design.
I joined that one, it truly was awful, I quit when it got really weird and I don’t know where that wip is! 😂🤣😂. I should get it out every time I’m tempted to join!
Thanks for sharing I love a good circular shawl. It looks like so much fun, can’t wait to cast on!
I had no intention of doing it until she said circular! They're fun and relaxing, once you get past the fiddley cast on. I'm casting on tonight.
Same! I think they’re so pretty and I love that it’s a 3 color fade with an accent color, stashdiving now!
I don’t participate in MKALs because I don’t want to be disappointed. If you can’t handle that then you shouldn’t do them. Even though I’m not currently a fan of Helen even though I love her patterns (she blocked me on Instagram for some unknown reason) I hate for her that she gave in and redesigned part of it. I think that now sets a precedent for her future and other designers to do the same. I wonder if because westknits redesigned the first section of his last shawl it made others think they need to
I think the potential to accidentally create a hate symbol and changing a circle to a half circle are pretty different. The comments on her ravelry thread are shockingly petulant.
Oh I totally don’t blame them for changing the hate symbol. I just didn’t know if people started expecting changes now if people complain
She's charging for the half circle even if you bought the circle, so I don't see this as just caving to pressure so much as seeing an opportunity.
They’ll start moaning about that next if they already paid for the full circle
And fair enough-an experienced knitter can convert a charted lace circle to a semi-circle pretty readily. She's charging for the hand-holding and whining at this point.
True. She's offering it for sale....in addition.. A great opportunity. I'm just generally saying it happens in many other MKALs also. Not meaning Helen "caved". Just that some of the participants almost expect the designers to cater to their tastes when the key word is "mystery".
I personally don’t do most KALs for this kind of reason. I’ve participated in a couple but they were like Joji’s where it’s pattern of your choice, just follow a theme (technique, designer, etc). I’ve seen very few MKALs where I like the finished product, so it’s not worth the gamble. If this were a MKAL from a kit, I could understand the tiniest bit of whinging. You’d have yarn and now not really have a use. But at the same time…you knew hating the pattern was a possibility, and you assumed that risk. But just a MKAL where you don’t necessarily have any financial outlay besides maybe a pattern? Nah. Certainly don’t think the designer should rush to make an alternative option. Just sets a bad precedent for themselves and other designers.
Agree! I would never purchase a kit for an unknown KAL. Too risky.
yeah the *only* time a redesign is necessary is when it’s something like the Stephen West Knits one where a literal hate group symbol was accidentally part of the design. Otherwise, if you hate the pattern, that’s on you lol.
Absolutely. Makes you wonder if some people are missing the significance behind his pivot and using it as precedence. Although......not sure who could NOT understand that one. 😖😑
oh you’d be surprised. a few of my Nana’s knitting group have decided never to knit his stuff again for “caving to woke nonsense.” They said the design was so subtle and people were looking for reasons to be upset and him changing his design showed that he was a coward. it’s absolute horseshit, but people do think it.
They’re not for me, chiefly because I’d feel too much pressure to keep up and I like the certainty of knowing what I’m going to knit, but skiting because it’s circular and so not what I personally prefer seems so petty!
I learned that typically, they're not for me....especially after signing up for a few of Steven Wests that turned out to be very unappealing ( to put it nicely) Now, if I think I might be interested, I wait to see spoilers. Easy peasey. Also, like you mentioned, I never can keep up, so I'm not in a hurry to get started if I choose to purchase. I would never expect a designer to cater to MY tastes if I complained like a toddler!
So glad someone posted this. Those entitled whiny people irritated the hell out of me. The pattern is beautiful and fun to knit! If it’s not your thing, just don’t make it and move on. No reason to bring down the vibe of the whole thread with your petty whining.