Letters
Giftalong 2019: Grand Finale
Dear everyone,
Hope you’re having a lovely Boxing Day, even if that’s not a thing where you are. One of our rules for living: Never Question a Day Off.
All good things must come to an end, and that includes great knitalongs.
The Giftalong has been a special one, in that it helped us sustain motivation for making handknit gifts for friends and family. We were in good company, trying to do impossible things while having fun. The Giftalong kept us ON IT.
Drum Roll, Please
Thanks to our kind friends at Rowan, we’ve been awarding lovely weekly prizes to folks who posted jolly photos of their giftalong progress, either in the MDK Lounge or on Instagram. Today, we have two final prizes to announce. Both of these knitters really smashed the piñata of holiday gift knitting.
The Kaffe-time Achievement Award Goes To . . .
Remember that I promised a Special Prize for a Team Kaffe member? Well, Jan Grimmer, COME ON DOWN.
We love Jan’s earth-tone, two-color version of the Kaffe’s Coins Cowl, and we adore all the colorful potential of her collection of Felted Tweed colors.
Jan, get ready. You are going to get a lovely prize of Rowan yarn and Kaffe fabrics, and also, I hereby promise, a wee project from Field Guide No. 13 knitted by my own two hands. I’ll be in touch—let’s discuss.
And the Grand Prize Winner for Giftalong 2019 Is . . .
Catherine Kallberg, who pinch-hit on several Giftalong teams and piled up a stack of presents that is impressive, indeed.
Catherine did it all: Ballband Dishcloths, a pop-art, Kaffe’s Coins-infused New Ancestral Christmas Stocking, a vibrant X-Factor Cowl, and an assortment of Squad Mitts.
Catherine has been quoted as saying that 90 percent of her knitting is from MDK. We have two responses to that:
- Thank you, Catherine!
- That other 10 percent—where is the love?
Catherine, you’re getting the brass ring: a kit for Kaffe’s amazing Kid Silk Haze masterpiece, a 3,000-yard wrap called Contrast Squares.
It’s been much admired at MDK World Headquarters, where it may have inspired a non-knitter or two to take up the needles and face into the laceweight mohair. Catherine, please make sure to share photos when you complete this magnificent piece.
Our heartfelt thanks to Rowan for their wonderfully generous support of this knitalong. For eight solid weeks, they’ve spoiled us rotten, and we loved every minute of it.
The Highlight Reel
Up top is a walk down memory lane: all of the weekly prize winners from MDK Giftalong 2019: Helen, Juliette, Lisa, Nancy, Rebecca, and Sara. Bravo, everyone! You done good.
Our hearts are with all the brave knitters who, even now, are scurrying to finish gifts for their near and dear ones. We salute you. We love you. We are you.
Love,
Kay and Ann
Congratulations winners. I was a selfish knitter this year. PS those purple and orange squad mitts are gorgeous! Will have to find the yarn.
Thank you, Stephanie! Those Squad Mitts were knit from my MDK Color Work Kit, John Merino mini skeins. The colors were all amazing!
Thank you so much! This was by far my favorite year for Christmas gifting, as there are so many ideas in the Field Guides, especially, for gifts people WANT to receive and will use! I cannot wait to settle by the fire and make a little (well, ok, BIG) something for me. I’m feeling the Boxing Day love ❤️
Was great fun and kept me motivated, i will be back next year … Thank You for all you do!
Congrats to the winners!
Congratulations to all! There are going to be many people wearing your BEAUTIFUL gifts today!
Dear Ann
I have never entered a comment before but felt the need today. Boxing Day in Canada.
I looked up your New vintage Christmas stocking pattern and there it was… MY “vintage” stocking, in red green and white, over 60 years old. Also topped with the name Ann but with an E. I see yours is hung with the year to the back as well! I have never seen another like except my brothers.
Merry Christmas. Hope yours is filled with many good things, for many years.
Ps. Your website is my daily read with my morning coffee. Love it
My mother knit the older pattern Christmas stockings for my 6 siblings, their spouses and her grandchildren. I found the pattern, dated 1945 or ’47, but haven’t tried it yet. I love the newer pattern, thank you, Ann!
The coin-dotted Christmas stocking: genius. Love it!
Thank you! I’ve been waiting for several years for the right inspiration to make a (prettier, new, updated) special stocking for my daughter, and as soon as I saw the Coins, I just knew.
I ordered Melanie Falick’s book “Making a Life” to give to my husband to give to me for Christmas (certainly I’m not the only one who sees the wisdom in this) and it’s WONDERFUL! It’s beautiful cover to cover, celebrating how we use our hands. It especially talks about the desire and satisfaction that comes when we MAKE SOMETHING. Thanks for recommending it and making it available to us all.
I got that book for Christmas, too. Still on the introduction (because a 5-year old is here and needs my attention), which says that “making” is in our DNA from the hunter/gatherer stage of our evolution, and possibly people are depressed and feeling disconnected because they aren’t making things. Wonderful book!
Oh My Goodness!!!! I never expected to win anything!! I am so excited — I squealed with delight!!! And what’s so funny is that I had already made a screen shot of the top photos and sent it to my friend who rec’d the 2/c cowl BEFORE I read my very own name. I ordered more Rowan Seafarer and Clay because the coins scarf I’m making for my husband’s daughter is not quite long enough . . .