Fun
Here We Go: The Lopi Knitalong Starts Now!
Hello knitting fans and friends,
Happy Monday! Today is the day: the official rope drop on several weeks of knitting fun project together, in jolly company. This post will give an overview of what’s ahead, and where to find the fun.
The Patterns
Pick a project: any pattern in MDK Field Guide No. 17: Lopi—big or small—will be your ticket to knitalong fun. The yarn specified for all of these patterns is the versatile worsted-weight Icelandic yarn, Léttlopi, or your yarn of choice.
Let’s review the possibilities.
Daytripper Cardigan
Quick to make, full of color, this is a lightweight sweater because it’s knitted on US size 10 (6 mm) needles.
It includes a steek for the front opening, which is such a great new technique to try if you haven’t had the chance.
Destination Pullover
Pockets! A sweet touch on this simple, cozy sweater.
Blocks of color are connected by brief moments of stranded colorwork. Knit on a size US 10 (6 mm) needle, the Léttlopi yarn becomes a fabric that is lofty and light—just the thing for a cool day.
Destination Scarf
A design that lets colors shift as quietly or dramatically as you like.
Mix your colors and choose among the five stitch motifs to cook up your own unique fluffer.
Jaunty Beanie
This is serious multiples territory. A hat that lets you fool around with your color pairings and stranded color pattern? You’ll finish one and already be scheming up the next one.
The pom pom is just the cherry on top and the way to use up all those oddments.
Trinket Mittens
These mittens are a traditional style that Mary Jane discovered years ago during her time in Sweden.
Choose your cuff motif from the five motifs included in the Field Guide
C’mon! It’ll Be Fun!
Will you join us? With such fast, fun projects, and such a variety of color, pattern, we’ll have a lot to talk about, and heaping helpings of instant gratification. One thing’s certain, knitting these projects will be even more fun if we do it together.
The Details
The knitalong will officially end on Friday, April 30—although everybody knows that a good knitalong just keeps going and going. There is no time pressure. (Ann will still be knitting Jaunty Beanies, well into May.)
The Instagram hashtag is #LopiKalMDK. Go on ahead and follow it on Instagram. Or if you prefer, post your progress photos in the MDK Lounge. We are keeping our eyes on both places.
Posting a photo, either on the Instagram hashtag or in the MDK Lounge, will put you in the running for juicy prizes, with winners to be announced shortly after the knitalong officially ends.
You do not have to finish your project to be eligible for prizes. Like we said: no time pressure. It’s about inspiration, learning, and fun, and sharing that with each other. Prizes are awarded for photos that inspire and/or amuse, and we also draw a few winners at random, to mix things up while keeping the pressure low and the mood high.
Any project from MDK Field Guide No. 17 is eligible, and you are welcome to make it your own by using Mary Jane’s marvelous motifs in combination or modify your projects to suit your whim.
As with all MDK knitalongs, all yarns are welcome. You do not have to knit your project in Léttlopi, although it’s been a classic yarn for so long that we suspect there’s fair amount of it marinating in stashes out there.
No lopi in your stash cupboard? We’d be thrilled for this knitalong to be your introduction to this distinctive yarn, with its luminous colors and its astonishing gauge-shifting trick. If you need Léttlopi supplies, the MDK shop has 38 colors, speedy shipping, and excellent customer service. Shopping with us supports all the daily fun on MDK, and we’re very appreciative.
Resources
As with all MDK knitalongs, there will be cheerleading and technical support, in equal measure and in a variety of ways.
For starters, we recommend Jen Arnall-Culliford’s video tutorial on the magic loop technique for knitting in the round. That will come in handy for the beanies, scarves, mitts, and sleeves of Field Guide No. 17. And if you’re knitting the Daytripper Cardigan, coloring in Jen Geigley’s handy sketch is super helpful for choosing and placing your yoke colors.
We’ve got more fun and support in the works—we’re just getting started—so be sure to open your Snippets email every Saturday, and keep an eye on the MDK Lounge, where links will be posted for easy reference.
Now let’s get out there and get this lopi party started!
Love,
Ann and Kay
I’m ready!! Going to try felting some Trinket mittens;)
I am lining up all the Lopi ready to cast on for even more beautiful knits… Such fun!
I love following the hashtag on Instagram – great for seeing everyone’s color choices and cheering each other on!
Missing the March Madness of knitting/crocheting designs. We all could participate in that….even those crafters who don’t have Facebook or Instagram.
Cannot wait!! Daytripper is definitely happening and some mittens too. (I keep collecting more lopi and cannot be stopped.) 😉
I’m excited!! I don’t do Instagram or Facebook but I LOVE the MDK Lounge!!!
I saw the Léttlopi pink and it was all over. Ordered Field Guide 17, yarn and needles yesterday. I think I can manage the Destination scarf.
I just started my Destination Scarf. I’ve never worked with Lopi yarn. I like it. My knitting group said it was itchy but I have not found that to be the case. I’m knitting to the Icelandic I have murder mystery, Trapped. It’s a very well crafted series of 10 episodes that leaves the viewer very satisfied. This series is not murder mystery light. If you want something lighter that touches Icelandic superstitions, try, The Cliff, and the second season, The Lava Field. These are also murder mysteries. All these murder mysteries are in Icelandic with English subtitles. I think Trapped.is on Netflix and The Cliff plus Lava Field on Prime. Happy viewing. Viewing these mysteries is a way to travel with out leaving home.
Cheers Sue
So I have never made anything to gauge. I am making the scarf to prep for the destination pullover. It says 13 st and 18 rounds. I am getting 15 in 4 inches. Should I go up to get gauge? I would not worry but want to make sweater next.
I’m playing with all the gorgeous colors while making the scarf. I do find the wool quite scratchy against my neck. Any suggestions on softening it up a bit?
Gah! I need more needles — I have too many interesting MDK things going – – Destination scarf is on deck – using that to perfect my floats then onto the Stopover sweater – but I am eyeballing the daytripper and destination pullover. Did I mention I have two date driven baby blankets and a 5 year old birthday gift sweater in the works??? #knittingstressstillbeatsworkstress 🙂
It’s the Daytripper Cardigan for me, although Alicia Plummer’s Garnered Cardi is currently in the works! Ordered the field guide and a basket full of Lopi yarn for the Daytripper yesterday. I wanted a light to medium gray for the body, but didn’t see anything close to that among the colors, so I’m going with Ash for the body, charcoal for the trim, blues and greens in various shades for designs and a pop of yellow (Mimosa) for the tiny bits. Can’t wait! I facilitate a weekly Zoom knitting group and two of us are planning to knit the Daytripper. It promises to be great fun.
I am having so much fun with my destination pullover!! I would never make fuchsia…so thanks for the inspiration I’m going with exactly that! plus secrete pocket motif…just for me…and if this goes as fast as I think it will I may just jump in on the daytripper card as well.
Starting the trinket mittens! I have never done colorwork before and thought this might be a great place to start. I bought yarn for the daytripper cardigan too. Living in Minnesota, the mittens are a necessity and plan to wear them under choppers when it gets really cold.
I’m just wondering how you timed the Icelandic knit along to correspond closely with the new volcanic eruption……hmmmm 🙂
So I am not sure how I got to the Lounge before. I am doing the destination scarf and I have done very little color work. I have done some in flat work. I am trying to change colors and wanted to do mountains. I am having trouble with the color I am not using getting tight on the inside. How do you fix this?