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!
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| photo credit: Practical Publishing |
Celestia blanket is about hexagon motifs, each with a new mosaic stitch pattern. I’ve been experimenting with different shapes and hexies is one of my favourite, too. So, Celestia is a mix of several loves of mine which met together in one blanket.
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| photo credit: @evakobz |
We decided to bring the blanket in two colourways – both with Scheepjes yarns. The original version was designed with 100% premium acrylic Colour Crafter yarn, and we used gentle pastel shades together with bright icy white.
To be honest, in the beginning I was a bit sceptical about this color scheme, as pinks and baby blues are absolutely out of my comfort designing zone. But when all motifs were finished and joined together, I fell in love! And so fell in love ALL my friends who saw the blanket before it was shipped to a publisher. It looks very soft, and gentle, and fragile. A true Celestia look, whatever it means :)
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| photo credit: @evakobz |
For the second colorway I was asked me to pick yarn and colors myself, and because I am a big fan of Scheepjes Metropolis, I chose this yarn. In dramatic graphite gray for the main color and rainbow splash for a contrast.
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| photo credit: @evakobz |
This sample was a bit of a challenge, as I didn’t make it myself. Several lovely ladies kindly agreed to help me test the pattern, each of them made motifs with one contrast color, and Jenny joined them and added a tiny lace border. So I haven’t seen the finished blanket until the very end. I was hoping the colors would play together nicely, but the final result turned out even better than I expected! Love it, too.
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| photo credit: @evakobz |
Despite difference in weight (DK for Colour Crafter and fingering for Metropolis), I decided to use the same hook size (4 mm) and gauge for both blankets. And they are exactly the same size – approx. 125 cm x 165 cm.
Mosaic crochet uses very basic crochet stitches, but sometimes their placement might be tricky. Celestia blanket pattern comes with full row-by-row written instructions and charts. If you want additional support while working on Celestia, be sure to join my Facebook group.
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| photo credit: @evakobz |
As already mentioned, Celestia blanket was exclusively designed for Crochet Now magazine, and now it is also available as a stand-alone pattern via website HERE and Ravelry HERE!
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| Photo credit: Practical Publishing |
There are still some ready kits available for the Celestia Blanket. If you want to purchase on, I would be very grateful if you use one of the links below. They are affiliate and I might be compensated with a tiny amount from each sale while you will not pay anything extra: Wool Warehouse (UK, international shipping), Taemombo (US & Canada).
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| photo credit: @evakobz |
Because international shipping is still limited at the moment with COVID restrictions, please, also check with your local Scheepjes stockists to see if they carry yarns and colors. Find a complete list of materials below.
Colour Crafter* version:
7x Barneveld (1005)
2x Texel (1019)
2x Den Bosch (1241)
2x Coevorden (1823)
1x Assen (1065)
1x Wolvega (1099)
Metropolis* version:
11x Miami (069)
3x Marseille (019)
3x Lima (055)
3x Abu Dhabi (032)
2x Quebec (077)
2x Tehran (036)
Can’t wait to see your beautiful creations! If you share them online, please use hashtag #Celestiablanket and #designedbylillabjorn.
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| Photo credit: Scheepjes |
So what’s Hygge CAL (crochet-a-long) about? As Kirsten explains on her blog, the word “Hygge” is Danish and it’s translated to English as “cosiness”. It’s about a rectangle shawl (or wrap). And I have never seen anything like this before! Hygge CAL is about mixture of yarns and techniques. Together with classical crochet you will do lots of embroidery, a little bit of tapestry and surface crochet, and you can line your finished shawl with fabric, if you like.
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| Photo credit: Scheepjes |
The size is approx. 36cm/14in wide and 180-190cm/75in long, depending on your gauge of course. I was very lucky to see this masterpiece for real back in November in the Netherlands, on Scheepjes Days. And I even tried it around my neck! It’s so soft, and warm, and truly cozy! And the length is very generous. I could easily wrap it around my neck (and I even had a thought to steal it…) and Christa of The Curio Crafts Room made a picture of me (thank you very much!).
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| Photo credit: The Curio Crafts Room |
Kits are now on sale and you can choose from several colour ways: Rainbow, Pastel, Jewel and the Limited editon Simy's choice kit. They are available for purchase at your local Scheepjes shops as well as from large retailers who ship orders internationally: Wool Warehouse*, Deramores* and Loveknitting* (for US customers).
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| Photo credit: Scheepjes |
Starting date for Hygge CAL is February 15. A week earlier Tips&Tricks will be released to give you necessary information to complete this gorgeous shawl successfully. CAL will last for 13 weeks, and every week a new part will be released. Written instructions and charts will be accompanied by high-quality video’s made by Esther of It’s All In A Nutshell. So you will be carefully guided through every step, and you should feel safe!
For a true CAL spirit you can join one of 2 groups on Facebook (very active and friendly): Dutch (here) or International for English speaking people (here). If you would like to share wips and finished shawls on social media, please, use hashtag #ScheepjesHyggeCAL so that we all could find your masterpiece and admire!
UPDATE: the kits are sold very fast! In case you are not lucky to order your own - here is a complete list of yarns and shades used for each colour way. You can purchase them on Wool Warehouse (Catona* and Stone Washed*), Deramores (Catona*and Stone Washed*) and Paradise Fibers (US) (Catona* and Stone Washed*).
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* thank you for using my affiliate links. It costs you nothing and helps to support my blog.
