MDK March Mayhem Preview: Mini Skeins

Dear Kay,

Mini skeins! We love ’em, we are constantly looking for new ways to use them.

The 16 patterns in the Mini Skeins category of MDK March Mayhem all share one of the most delightful things about knitting: the opportunity to play with color. Think of these designs as a canvas onto which you can apply your own color dreams and wishes. There’s room here for subtlety and exuberance—even within one pattern.

Remember that MDK March Mayhem voting begins Thursday, March 15.

Here is the full MDK March Mayhem bracket. Get your voting plan ready!

Spruce by Ella Austin (UK)

There’s something very dear about Ella Austin’s designs. This hat is winsome and a perfect pattern to try out colorwork.

Photo: Loop London.

True Colors by Melanie Berg (Bonn, Germany)

Such a great pattern to keep the variety rolling: change colors, work lace, throw in an eyelet stripe. The result can be wild or mild depending on your color choices.

Lineate by Elizabeth Doherty (Sierra Nevada, California)

Three colors here, but we can imagine this sleek design as a canvas for all sorts of color experiments.

Lead the Way by Megan Doherty

A single seam down the middle makes this scarf dramatic and graphic. And tassels! 

Dionisio Point by Elizabeth Elliott (Alabama)

Gutsy, modern colorwork in a worsted weight snuggler.

Weaver’s Square by Kieran Foley (Dublin, Ireland)

Inspired by weaving, this scarf allows for extraordinary play with a lot of colors at once. This is the brilliant Kieran Foley on an easy day.

Smoke and Bubble Gum by Holly K

A simple texture pattern makes a great canvas for stripes using gradients or ombre mini skeins. Super wearable!

Party of Five by Kelene Kinnersly (Ontario, Canada)

Elegant, airy—a cowl that will look completely different depending on how you play with your colors.

Luminosity by Tanis Lavalee (Montreal, Canada)

Use all your scraps in this Fair Isle party—ten colors? Absolutely. Want it a few elegant colors? That’s allowed, too. Lovely Fair Isle, either way.

Xandra by Ambah O’Brien (Australia)

Panels of lace keep the fun going in this wrap from the ever-inventive Ambah O’Brien.

Marabou Chocolate by Mary O’Shea (Maine)

Knitting plaid is one of the great tricks to try—these fingerless mitts are so cleverly constructed.

Doodle Stitch by Meaghan Schmaltz (Portland, Oregon)

A cool little doodle stitch makes this beanie totally adorable.

Toni by Orlane Sucche

Mesmerzing spirals make this hat a beautiful puzzle: how does it do that?

Randomize by Dieuwke Schack-Mulligan (Copenhagen, Denmark)

Wide bands of color–then those thin vertical lines! The opportunity to improvise with color is endless here.

Braid-o-rama by Ann Weaver (Baltimore, Maryland)

Braids! Exuberant textures make this cowl a ton of fun for your color experiments.

Joyce by Woolly Wormhead (UK)

Slipped stitches on a garter stitch background—this unusual set of textures allows plenty of room to play with color.

Love,

Ann