Fun
It’s On! The MDK Giftalong Starts Now
Dear fellow knitters in search of fun and colossal productivity,
Yes, it is October 23. You know what that means: it’s time to get a plan.
Time to dig up some quick and delicious patterns.
Time to get your holiday knitting game on.
We hereby launch the Great MDK Giftalong.
From now through December 24, we invite you to join us as we crank a bunch of beautiful gifts for those we love. This is one of our very favorite group knitting projects, and we hope you’ll join us.
Starting now means that you’ll have enough time to a) knit a bounteous plenitude (or that one hat) and b) not lose sleep worrying about getting it all done.
A Fun Accelerator: Prizes!
Here’s the thing: while we firmly believe that making a gift for somebody is reward enough, we also believe that prizes make a knitalong a lot of fun.
So: The good people at Rowan are contributing a bunch of prizes that we will be giving to knitters who participate in the MDK Giftalong. To be eligible for a prize, simply post a photo of your project, using a pattern from MDK, on Instagram using the hashtag #MDKgiftalong or in the MDK Lounge. We’ll select weekly winners until December 24. And everybody will love seeing what you’re making. (See below for additional team hashtags and Lounge topics. The more hashtags, the more prizes you can enter to win.)
And if you’re not into prizes and decide to knit a pattern that’s not MDK, that’s great—the more, the merrier! Please jump in. As always, all yarns are welcome.
What to Knit?
At this point, we have built a frankly stupendous collection of patterns for you to make. We have made all of these ourselves, and lots of knitters have embraced them, too.
The gallery up top shows you some of the MDK designs that we turn to when time is short.
We decided that it would be a hoot to divide ourselves up into teams based on the projects on our needles.
Important note: you don’t have to pick just one team. You can be on ALL the teams. You can even bring in a ringer MDK pattern not mentioned here, and knit that. It’s about the love, and the joy, and about setting ourselves up for glory in the Warm ‘n’ Cozy Gift Department.
Your 2019 MDK Giftalong Teams
Team Big
Team Big members will be knitting projects from MDK Field Guide No. 12: Big Joy, in which every pattern calls for Rowan’s supersoft star, Big Wool.
Leading the way to big glory will be Team Big leader, Jen Geigley, the featured designer of Field Guide No. 12.
This is the absolute fastest set of designs to make. Rowan Big Wool calls for US size 13 needles. You will complete these projects fast enough to join another team for part of the program.
Team Big Instagram hashtag is #MDKTeamBig. Team Big’s locker room in the MDK Lounge is right here. Stop by for a slice of pie.
Team Merry Makers
The boisterous, generous Merry Makers will be knitting projects from MDK Field Guide No. 8: Merry Making, with designs by Thea Colman.
Team Merry Makers will be led by one of the merriest makers we know: Nell Ziroli, angel of the MDK Lounge. This Field Guide includes five designs for speedy knitting: the juicy Chalice Cowl, Appleseed Mitts, Appleseed Coasters, Slip-Stitch Cap, and Stranded Diamonds Hat. Bonus: Thea’s Merry Sangria recipe.
In case of emergency, Nell will have a virtual batch of it in a virtual barrel on her person at all times.
The Merry Makers’ Instagram hashtag is #MDKTeamMerryMakers, and they can be found carousing in the MDK Lounge right here.
Team Socks
If socks have wandered onto your gift-knitting list, you’ll be in good company with Team Socks, led by America’s sweetheart, Mrs. Ann Shayne of Nashville, Tennessee. Team Socks members will have the full arsenal of 13 stitch patterns and two sock patterns (cuff-down and toe-up) found in MDK Field Guide No. 11: Wanderlust, with designs by Wendy Bernard.
A pair of handmade socks is an emblem of true love. Team Socks members can congregate in the lovers’ lane of the MDK Lounge, which is located right here. Their team’s Instagram hashtag is #MDKTeamSocks.
Our Mystery Team
There will be a fourth team, but it’s on double-secret probation until early November. Stay tuned!
Here we go—fun times and piles of presents ahead!
I wil be in the Revolution team and the sock team. My youngest son needs an Ironworks beret and both my sons need socks
I’m joining the sock team……..I hope it’s ok to gift myself, because I’m the only sockknitworthy (is that a word?) member of my family! I’ll also be knitting other gifts, so we’ll see which team categories I will fall into.
Thanks ladies! As always you are too much fun!
Yaaaay! Welcome to Team Sock! I totally jumped the start with a Hedgehog in a riotous shade of every color under the sun. Will be posting my progress on Instagram.
I’m in—liking some of the hats and mitts. So far uncommitted on team.
I’m planning some gift knitting that are not MDK patterns. I shouldn’t post them in the Lounge, right? Unless it’s under the topic “What I’m Making”?
Team Socks, here goes!
The giftees all want comfort and neutral. I’m thinking sparkle for fun!
Team Merrymaking! I still have the yarn I bought last year to make the hats from this booklet!
Team Merrymaking for me! Going to try each of the patterns in this booklet…at least once 🙂
Hey Ann!! Okay if I gift a washcloth made from a sock pattern??? This gift giving KAL sounds like a ton of fun. I am currently knitting a cowl, well maybe better to call it a neck warmer, for my baby bro who is moving to North Dakota, too. Gonna use some of the wool I received at the Shakerag get together. I’ve already made two Big Joy cowls and this one is a knock off of my own creation, so not fair to enter to win, but I can show what I am doing. Enjoy!!
I’m a newbie to this newsletter and to knitting. How can I look at patterns before committing to a team? Team sock will not be it as knitting on toothpicks is way advanced for me. Tee hee…
You can’t see the full patterns without buying the field guides, but if you go on Ravelry you can check the individual patterns’ pages and see what looks like something you’d like to knit and gift.
Knitting socks is very doable for a beginner as long as you can follow directions— socks were my 4th knitting project ever, after a couple hats and a scarf. But if you’re leery of small needles, it sounds like Team Big would be perfect for you!
Megan, thank you for the reply and the encouragement. I check in here every Saturday and just saw this! I just put Big Joy in my cart and am looking at yarn!! Thank you. This is a fabulous community.
Yes of course!
I’ve joined Team Big, but I may be seen on Team Merry Making at some point. I love all of the hats in that book! I’m also tempted to do an X-factor Cowl and Ironworks Beret as a free agent. (Yes, I’m already way over-committed.)
Can we hashtag REVOLUTION and other Field Guides?
I am definitely going to join the sock team, and knit myself some socks. I’ve knit them for everyone else, it’s now my turn! 🙂
Can the project be inspired by a MDK Field Guide, or must it follow the pattern? I am The Worst at not following the directions. Or, as I prefer to think, The Best at not doing what I’m told.