Summer 2021 Mystery Knit Along

Join us every week in May for a mysterious knit along that results in an exciting trendy project!

By: Marie Segares for AllFreeKnitting.com

It's no secret that crochet alongs (KALs) are incredibly popular. Like a book club, working up a project in parts is exciting and less stressful than doing it all at once. Adding to the excitement is the mystery factor of our May 2021 Mystery Knit Along.

We've joined forces with the incredibly talented Marie Segares from Underground Crafter to bring you this knit along, so you know the end result will be as gorgeous as it is fun to knit.

But here's the twist: you won't know what you're knitting right away! Looking for a hint? It's a piece that you're going to love for summer but want to keep around long after the sun and heat fades.

Our mystery knit along is not one to miss. Join us every Wednesday in May for each exciting new installment of an exclusive pattern by the wonderfully skilled Marie Segares.

How do I join? In order to be updated with the latest set of instructions every week, make sure that you're subscribed to the Knit Picky Patterns newsletter from AllFreeKnitting, and keep an eye on your inbox! We'll be sure to send you an email each week to bring you the next step in the knit along.

PLUS! Don't forget to share with us your progress every week in the comments down below. We can't wait to see how yours turn out!

Week 1: Welcome, Supplies, and Gauge Swatch

I’m Marie from Underground Crafter and I’m excited to be joining you for another mystery knit along! In this post, I’m including a complete supply list and schedule for the knit along, with instructions for checking your gauge.

At the end of our knit along, you will have a beautiful and practical project that you can use right away, no matter what the weather outside!

This is a beginner-friendly project, or a relaxing knit for a more experienced knitter. To complete this project, you’ll need to know:

·How to cast on. I used the Long-Tail Cast On, but you can use another method of your choice.
·Basic knitting stitches including knit, purl, and slip stitch.
·How to bind off. I used the Standard Bind Off.

Supplies Needed:
·Approximately 180 yards (164.5 meters) in each of 2 colors in any super bulky yarn – I used 2 skeins each in King Cole Timeless Classic Super Chunky yarn in 4649 Topaz and 4650 Quartz.
Tip: Coordinating or contrasting colors in yarns will show off this design most clearly. I used a twisted yarn, but that isn’t necessary
·US Size 10.5/6.5 mm knitting needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
·Yarn needle.
·Optional: Locking stitch marker.
·Tools for blocking, measuring, and cutting.

Pattern for Gauge:

Knit Along Schedule:
Week 1: Supply List and Gauge Swatch (you are here)
Week 2: Pattern Part 1
Week 3: Pattern Part 2
Week 4: Pattern Part 3 and Finishing

14 sts = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch

To work gauge swatch, CO 16 sts.
Row 1: Knit across.
Row 2: Purl across.
Repeat Rows 1-2 until swatch measures approximately 4” (10 cm) long. Bind off in pattern for Row 1.
Your stitches should be tight and firm, creating a dense fabric. Your swatch will probably be curling. Pin it flat without stretching to measure. Your swatch should measure between 4.25” (11 cm) to 4.5” (11.5 cm) wide.

Troubleshooting Your Swatch Gauge:

·If your swatch is much wider than 4.25” (11 cm) to 4.5” (11.5 cm), your stitches are too large. You may want to go down a needle size to a US Size 10/5.75 mm needle. Or, you can continue with the needles and tension you have, but your project will be wider than the sample and your yarn requirements may be different.

·If your swatch is much narrower than 4.25” (11 cm) to 4.5” (11.5 cm), your stitches are too small. You may want to go up a needle size to a US Size 11/8 mm needle. Or, you can continue with the needles and tension you have, but your project will be narrower than the sample and your yarn requirements may be different.

·You can find out more about knitting gauge here and needle sizes here.

Week 2: Pattern Part 1

Welcome back to the mystery knit along. I’m Marie from Underground Crafter and I’m excited to be sharing the first part of this pattern!

Abbreviations Used In This Pattern:

· BO – bind off
· CA – Color A
· CB – Color B
· CO – cast on
· k – knit
· p – purl
· rep – repeat
· RS – right (front) side
· sl – slip st purlwise
· wyib – with yarn in back
· wyif – with yarn in front
· st(s) – stitch(es)
· [] Repeat instructions within brackets as indicated

Pattern Notes:
· A video tutorial for this stitch pattern is available here.
· If you have difficulty “reading” your stitches, place a locking stitch marker on the front of Row 1 to mark the right/front side.

Pattern Part 1:

With CA, CO 40 sts.

Set Up Row 1: (RS) K across.
Set Up Row 2: P across.
Set Up Rows 3-4: Rep Rows 1-2 again. Do not fasten off CA.

Row 1: With CB, [k3, sl 1 wyib] across.
Row 2: With CB, [Sl 1 wyif, k3] across. Do not fasten off CB.
Row 3: With CA, k across.
Row 4: With CA, p across. Do not fasten off CA.
Row 5: With CB, [k1, sl 1 wyib, k2] across.
Row 6: With CB, [k2, sl 1 wyif, k1] across. Do not fasten off CB.
Rows 7-8: Rep Rows 3-4 once.
Rows 9-32: Rep Rows 1-8, 3 times.
Rows 33-38: Rep Rows 1-6 once. Fasten off CB at the end of the repeat of Row 6.
Rows 39-42: Rep Rows 3-4 twice.

BO in pattern for Row 3. Fasten off CA.

Your piece may be curling dramatically. Block it flat using cold or wet blocking. You can find out more about blocking here.

Week 3: Pattern Part 2

Pattern Part 2:

Welcome back to the mystery knit along. I’m Marie from Underground Crafter and I’m excited to be sharing the second part of this pattern!

Abbreviations Used In This Pattern:
CA – Color A
CB – Color B
CO – cast on
k – knit
p – purl
rep – repeat
RS – right (front) side
sl – slip st knitwise with yarn in back
st(s) – stitch(es)

Part 2:

With CB, CO 40 sts.
Row 1: Sl 1, k across to last st, p1.
Row 2: Sl 1, p across.
Rows 3-48: Rep Rows 1-2, 23 times.

Do not bind off; keep stitches on the needle.

Fasten off CB with long yarn tail (approximately 36”/91.5 cm) for seaming.

Your piece may be curling, but do not block it yet.

Week 4: Pattern Part 3 and Finishing

Pattern Part 4:

I’m Marie from Underground Crafter and today I’m revealing the final clue for our mystery knit along pattern! I hope you are enjoying this project as much as I have.

Abbreviations Used In This Pattern:
· CA – Color A
· CB – Color B
· CO – cast on
· k – knit
· k2tog – knit 2 stitches together (decrease) – A video tutorial for this stitch is available here.
· p – purl
· p2tog – purl 2 stitches together (decrease) – A video tutorial for this stitch is available here.
· rep – repeat
· RS – right (front) side
· sl – slip st knitwise with yarn in back
· st(s) – stitch(es)

Part 3:

Continue working on the piece from the previous clue.
Row 1: (RS) Change to CA, p across. (40 sts)
Row 2: Sl 1, p across.
Row 3: Sl 1, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, p1. (Decreases by 1 st to an odd number of sts)
Row 4: Sl 1, p2tog, p across. (Decreases by 1 st to an even number of sts)
Rows 5-38: Rep Rows 3-4, 17 times. (4 sts)
Row 39: Rep Row 3. (3 sts)
Row 40: Sl 1, p2tog. (2 sts)
Row 41: K2tog. (1 st)

Do not bind off.

Fasten off CA with long yarn tail (approximately 36”/91.5 cm) for seaming. Draw yarn tail through last loop on needle and fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

Block this piece flat as follows using cold or wet blocking. (You can find out more about blocking here.)

Fold over the asymmetrical flap at Row 1 of Part 3 and pin rectangular piece from Part 2 to the size of the rectangular piece from Part 1 as shown in the photo below.

Thread the long yarn tails from the end of your project into your yarn needle and seam the pieces together using the mattress stitch as follows. Position wrong sides together with right sides facing out. Seam the rectangle along
three sides so that the asymmetrical flap and the top long edge are not seamed.

Have you figured out what the project is yet? It’s a clutch bag with an asymmetrical flap! The finished measurements for my project were 12” (30.5 cm) wide x 9.5” (24 cm) with the flap folded down.

If you’d like to line your bag, you can find a helpful tutorial for lining crochet bags (which can also be used for knit bags) here.