The Finish Line? A Knitalong Ends, Sort Of

When MDK March Mayhem arrived at its glorious conclusion on April 2, we immediately declared a knitalong—pick your favorite from the 64 designs featured, and go to it.

I personally picked four designs, a modest number given that I actually wanted to knit 64.

In the past eight weeks, I’ve managed to finish almost three. It has been pure knitting mania for me, the best kind, while in the company of others online. I did all this knitting, as well as a Shakerag Top (which is another knitalong with a lot of steam behind it) and a Cockleshell Cardigan from MDK Field Guide No. 6, and it has been so crazy fun.

As the MDK March Mayhem KAL comes to an official close today, I’d like to note a few things:

The 64 patterns featured in MDK March Mayhem continue to thrive over on Ravelry—congratulations again to all the designers whose work we all celebrated. Here’s the bracket if you’d like to think about a project. I still have 61 left to make . . .

The projects that emerged on #MDKMarchMayhemKAL over on Instagram are all dreamy, colorful, and surprising. Please go have a look—there’s much to see. I’m especially struck by the way every knitter has an idea, a color, a stash that makes each knitted project unique.

The Lounge has been a fun place to hang out with other knitters working on their Knitalong projects. The MDK March Mayhem KAL topic has shown the triumphs and challenges of knitting. And everybody has been supportive and helpful.

Meanwhile . . .

As for my third project, Isabell Kraemer’s Humulus (the champion of MDK March Mayhem 2018), I’m having a swell time. Two sleeves shy of a pullover.

I’m deep into a Jill Draper Mohonk lovefest. It’s Cormo wool, from those wise sheep of New York State. (We have these colors and some other lovelies in the MDK Shop. We’re finding it hard to keep Mohonk in stock, but we’ll never stop trying!)

The colors are Mourning Dove and Bottle.

Isabell tells us that the yoke alludes to hops flowers. I believe it! Love ’em!

I’m down to the hem ribbing, and I’ve got my DPNs on standby for the sleeves.

Gray is just so lovely when it has a little shift to it the way Jill dyes it.

As with all our knitalongs, we may have handed out all our prizes on Instagram, but the knitting will continue. A knitalong truly ends only when you want it to! Thanks to all who jumped in! More fun ahead this summer: stay tuned.

And Finally . . .

Are you a fan of test knitting? Want an early peek at MDK Field Guide patterns? Well, come sit by us—if you’re game to volunteer and be the first to try our patterns, this will be good fun. In most cases, you’ll use your own yarn. Everyone who completes a project will be among the first to receive the ebook of the relevant Field Guide. The incomparable Nell Ziroli is going to oversee this program, so you can be sure there’s fun ahead. Please write us at mdktesters AT gmail DOT com, with your Instagram name and/or Ravelry name, and we’ll send you details on how to become an MDK test knitter.