It has become a good tradition to host a mystery make-a-long (MAL) annually, and this year is not an exception. We’ve already had Not A Christmas MAL two years ago and Winter Scandi MAL last year. But this year’s project is a special one! We have teamed up with Martin Up North to bring you six brand-new and exclusive patterns. Please, welcome a Geometry & Texture make-a-long.
What is this MAL about
As you can already understand from the name, all projects are themed with geometry and texture, and you will get a chance to try your hand in mosaic, overlay, embossed and slip stitch crochet techniques. The patterns will include wearable accessories and home decorations, but you can easily adjust stitch patterns for a variety of other projects.
Who are the designers
Geometry & Texture MAL will be hosted by me (Lilla Bjorn Crochet) and Martin Up North. If you are not familiar with his work, make sure to check out his website HERE. Martin lives up north in Sweden, and he is a huge nature lover. His pictures of the Northern Lights and wild animals are breathtaking, as well as his crochet designs.
We have a little different crochet styles, but similar aesthetics and vision. And we are both very excited about this make-a-long. A lot of work has been secretly done behind the scenes, and we can't wait to share our patterns with you.
Where to find the patterns
Geometry & Texture MAL has not started yet, and a pre-order is running right now. To get access to all 6 patterns, you will need to purchase MAL listings on Ravelry from both designers separately (links below). Martin and I have created 3 patterns each. And you can either purchase both listings with 6 patterns in total, or choose just one designer, receiving 3 mystery patterns.
Lilla Bjorn's patterns are HERE
Martin’s Up North patterns are HERE
What you will need
Martin and I used specific Scheepjes yarns for our projects, but you can absolutely use up your stash. You can either pick the yarns in similar weigh, or experiment and use heavier or lighter yarns. There are no strict rules and yarns quantities. Of course, if you decide to make exactly the same projects as we did, you will receive a complete list of colors and yardages. But as already mentioned above, the stitch patterns from each project can be also used for something else.
EDIT: because of many requests about yarn information, I decided to reveal yarn amounts used for my mystery projects.
Project 1: Scheepjes Terrazzo*. Yarn A x 3 balls, Yarn B x 2 balls
Project 2: Scheepjes Scrumptious*. One color x 3 balls
Project 3:
Scheepjes Catona*. Leftovers in different colors
When does the MAL begin
The first pattern will be added to your Ravelry library on November 11th, 2022. And then a new pattern will be revealed every Friday. The patterns will be offered at a reduced price during the time of the MAL through December 31st, 2022. You do not need any codes, as the price is discounted already and will be updated to a full price after the end of the MAL.
Official support for the MAL
Official support for this MAL will be offered in my Facebook group HERE where we will be happy to see all your pictures! Join now our friendly community with 33K+ members. Please, be aware that you will have to answer a simple question upon a sing up. Without answering, your request will not be approved.
Hope you join! And enjoy!
I have been experimenting with different crochet techniques all my life. My kind of designing career started in early childhood when I was making weird clothes and accessories for my dolls, and also myself. And when I decided to start designing professionally and turn it into my daily job, I took overlay and mosaic crochet techniques onboard. But you live, you learn. There are still a lot of things and tricks you can learn. And today I would like to introduce you something I have never done before. Please, welcome – For Them Sweater.
You can find the pattern on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE and enjoy a 20% introductory discount through Monday, October 10th, 2022. No codes needed; the price has been discounted already.
For Them Sweater is a top-down garment, and I always opt for this version because it is very easy to adjust as-you-go for your own body shape, and length for the lower body and sleeves. But if all my previous garments were worked from top in rows or rounds, the yoke for this sweater is done horizontally, from side to side using slip stitch crochet technique.
As you can see in the pictures, and what is hopefully clear from the name, For Them Sweater is a unisex garment perfect both for men and women. I also designed two yoke options which you can choose from. One is curly with leaves and another one is more graphical with “arrows” as I called them. In my opinion, both yoke designs are both male and female, but it is always nice to have a choice.
I made three samples myself: two with Scheepjes Terrazzo yarn, and one more short-sleeved sweater with Scheepjes Bamboo Soft. These yarns are different in weight (DK and Sport/Fingering), but as you can see, both worked just fine.
You can find all yarn mentioned in this blog post in your local
Scheepjes shop, or via
online retailers which ship internationally (affiliate links):
Wool Warehouse
(UK & worldwide),
Caro's Atelier
(NL & Europe), Taemombo (US &
Canada).
The pattern is written specifically for DK yarn with an exact gauge in mind, but you can absolutely use a smaller yarn and hook (like I did, and some of my testers). You will just need to follow the pattern’s recommendations carefully, make accurate measurements and adjust stitch counts for your own gauge (with a smaller hook you will obviously get more stitches in 10cm/4in). And if you do not want to do any additional maths, just choose the DK yarn and follow the pattern exactly as written.
If you make a search for slip stitch crochet, you will find quite a few wonderful examples done by other designers. This, in fact, simple way of crochet is very effective and resembles brioche knitting. And you would probably agree with me that it is always nice to achieve something like knit fabric but using just a normal crochet hook.
I have studied the patterns of other designers, but in the end decided to simplify everything and make my own pattern as easy as possible. So, if you are familiar with the slip stitch crochet already, my interpretation might seem a bit different from what you are used to. I am using only general slip stitches and single crochet stitches (all in US terms) and work them in back loops only.
I do not introduce any complicated additional stitches, and instructions for every row are amazingly short. You only need to follow them carefully and maybe mark already done rows in the pattern, as it is very easy to overlook something.
Because this technique is new to me, I have recorded several short video tutorials to accompany For Them Sweater pattern. In these videos I explain the sweater’s construction, how to choose the correct size, how to do slip stitch crochet (in my way and showing first rows of the pattern), how to adjust the yoke for your own body, how to make measurements and keep the gauge under control and give more helpful tips to make sure the sweater will fit you just fine.
My testers team did an amazing job for this pattern. Their notes and comments helped me to improve the pattern and clear up all tiny spots which could otherwise confuse you. Usually, I make a collage with testers’ work, but all their sweaters are so wonderful, that I decided to showcase them all here, on by one.
Esther Schippers chose Scheepjes Terrazzo yarn and made a lovely
sweater for her husband.
Elizabeth Garcia Kalka used Scheepjes Bamboo Soft yarn in purple shade and made a sweater for her son (in his favourite color).
For Sandra Veneman this sweater became a real “for them” garment as it perfectly fits herself and her husband. She also chose Scheepjes Terrazzo yarn in same color as Esther did but using Yoke 1 option.
Taylor O’Shea went for a short-sleeved top using Scheepjes Bamboo Soft yarn.
Loele van den Bergh made an oversized sweater for herself with Scheepjes Terrazzo and Yoke 1 option.
Laura Jackson picked a wonderful cream shade of Scheepjes Metropolis yarn and created a gentle sweater for herself.
Jenna Bowers also decided in favour of Scheepjes Metropolis and made a slightly oversized sweater for her husband.
Lisa Marlow was using Scheepjes Terrazzo and made a fantastic outdoor garment for her husband.
How cool are all those sweaters? I can’t stop looking at them. If you would like to know more details about the yarns our testers team did and sizing, please check their project pages on Ravelry.
You can find For Them Sweater pattern on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE and enjoy a 20% introductory discount through Monday, October 10th, 2022. No codes needed; the price has been discounted already.
Hope you enjoy.
