All About Knitmas
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Ah, Knitmas…
You know that awkward chunk of time after Christmas where no one knows where they're supposed to be or what they're supposed to be doing? Yeah - you know what I'm talking about.
We fixed it. With knitting!
The Twelve Days of Knitmas Mystery Knit-Along(MKAL) is our annual let's-spend-this-awkward-post-holiday-time-knitting-together-and-shaking-off-the-stress-of-the-season MKAL.
Put more plainly: The #twelvedaysofknitmasMKAL is a twelve-day knit-along full of fun and friendship, and at the end of it, you have a beautiful project to gift or keep. It's really that simple.
To join in the fun, sign up for our Knitmas email list.
Who is Knitmas for?
Knitmas instructions are more detailed than most standard knitting patterns.
Because Knitmas is for everyone!
In past years, knitters from around the world have joined in the Knitmas fun. With skills ranging from beginner to expert, they've encouraged one another and delighted in helping each other choose colors and learn new techniques. I really can't overstate what a magical experience it is.💕✨
TL;DR - Whether you're an adventurous beginner or a seasoned expert, if you love to knit - Knitmas is for you.
There are THREE simple steps to ensure a wonderful Knitmas-time:
1: Purchase a copy of the Twelve Days of Knitmas MKAL 2024 pattern here in the Nomadic Knits store or on Ravelry.
2: Sign up for the Knitmas emails here.
Why sign up for the emails? The emails are where all the magic happens.✨ You’ll receive updates leading up to the MKAL and daily fun throughout the Twelve Days of Knitmas (December 26 - January 6). These emails contain any updates you may need, links to tutorials, and freebies and discounts from Nomadic Knits and our collaborators.
3: Bookmark this page.
Why bookmark this page? You might have questions along the way. You're a busy human and don't need to be filling up all of your brain storage with Knitmas details. I'll keep the details safe for you right here. This page will continue to be updated with links to the most recent information regarding Knitmas.
How do I get the clues?
Nomadic Knits: If you purchase the pattern through the Nomadic Knits online store, the clues are delivered to your email inbox daily throughout Knitmas.
Ravelry: If you purchase your pattern on Ravelry, the clues will appear as pattern updates in your library.
If you have email notification turned on in your Ravelry account, you will also receive an email that the pattern has been updated. To receive these notifications when each clue is released, you must purchase the pattern through Ravelry while signed in to your Ravelry account.
If you don't have Ravelry notifications turned on, you will not be notified that you have received a pattern update. That's ok! Simply go to your Ravelry library and check for updates. They will be waiting for you there.
Where can I hang out with my fellow Knitmas-ers?
Facebook: This is where it gets really fun! You can find other Knitmas-ers in our Facebook group, Nomadic Knits : Knit the World! It's a wonderfully kind community where everyone is welcome.
Ravelry: If Ravelry forums are more your speed, we've got you covered! There will be #spoiler and #nospoiler feeds - choose whichever one sounds more fun to you.
Instagram: Instagram users can share and search for posts tagged with #twelvedaysofknitmasmkal. Your profile must be public for others to see your posts when searching the hashtag.
Can you give me any hints?
I sure can, but not quite yet!OK - maybe just one...😉
This year's Knitmas project is a choose-your-own-adventure - you can make a wrap OR a scarf, depending on how much knitting you want to do.
Can you help me choose color combinations?
Sure!
For those of you in the US and Canada, we’ve curated seven beautiful kits featuring Emma's Yarn in Splendid Singles.
You can see the color combos close-up in this video.
For folks in the UK, Norway, Austria, New Zealand, and Australia, we've created four gorgeous kits featuring Bow Fiddle Yarns in Merino Silk.
Watch the video below to meet the dyer behind Bow Fiddle Yarns and see the kits up-close.
If you are stash-diving to create your kit, check out the kits we’ve created. You'll see a range of colors in various contrasts. They are a great reference when choosing your colors.
Emma’s Yarn Combos
(US & Canada)
8-Bit Knitmas: Picture this: It's 1980-something, and your look consists of five different fluorescent colors and a side-pony. Totally rad. Totally. We're bringing back the joy of the 80's, but with an updated twist. A variegated skein of brilliant colors is balanced with deep charcoal and a tonal grey. Fresh.
A Knitmas Story: It's a major award! Deep teal, rich garnet, and a variegated skein of pale teal with splashes of garnet and tiny flecks of gold are destined to create a Knitmas masterpiece worthy of showing off to the whole neighborhood. ✨
Emmet Otter's Jugband Knitmas: A variegated skein of forest green, brick red, and splashes of amber on a bed of light champagne combines with skeins of deep chestnut and lightly speckled amber to create an unexpectedly rich combo. This toasty warm palette of earth tones will transport you to Frogtown Hollow and the sweet sounds of Emmet's jug band.🎶
Knitmas in Paradise: If your idea of the perfect holiday involves blue water, a sandy beach, and a Pina Colada in your hand, this is the one for you! Let this combination of tonal light lavender, bright blue, and a variegated skein of both colors with splashes of deep purple transport you away from the chaos of the holidays. 🏝️
The Muppet Knitmas Carol: Have your pens turned to inksicles? Are your assets frozen? This beautifully saturated trio of traditional Knitmas colors in red, gold, and green will melt even the scrooge-iest Scrooge's heart.
A Castle for Knitmas: A castle in Scotland next to a pub where everyone knits together? Yes, please! This royal combo of deepest purple, delicate gold, and a variegated combo of the two will knit up into a project worthy of a Duchess.
How the Grinch Stole Knitmas: One part Grinch and two parts Cindy Lou Who, this trendy trio of colors is sure to be a showstopper! A vibrant variegated skein with splashes of pink ties together a brilliant, grassy green and a sweet pale pink.
PS - If you're wondering about the names, they're all Christmas movies! 🎥
Bow Fiddle Yarns Combos
(UK, Norway, Austria, New Zealand, Australia)
Knitmas in Cullen: Picture yourself in a charming seaside village on the northeastern shore of Scotland. Louise of Bow Fiddle Yarns has captured the essence of life on the shore with this combination of sand, sea, and sky.
Step Into Knitmas: Step into Knitmas, let's join together - we can watch the snow fall forever and ever.🎶 Wrap yourself in the warmth of these beautiful holiday colors and embrace the season!
Hogmanay: Whisky, torches, and street celebrations - let the festivities begin! Luxurious deep purple, rich copper, and a warm neutral combine to evoke the essence of the age-old tradition of Hogmanay.
A Very Frosty Knitmas: Can you feel the chill in the air? It must be time for Knitmas! This palette features a combination of frosty grey, deep navy blue, and icy turquoise to look cool while keeping you warm!
For stash divers, here’s some guidance for creating your color combination:
The Twelve Days of Knitmas MKAL contains some simple lace and colorwork sections, along with a few other fun techniques. Your colors will each contact one another at some point. Keep that in mind when choosing your colors.
If you enjoy high-contrast colorwork, be sure that your colors are in high contrast with one another.
If you prefer a more subtle contrast, choose colors with lower contrast for a more delicate effect.
If you are unsure if your yarn has high or low contrast, take a black-and-white picture of all skeins together. This will make your contrast level clearer. This is also a great time to knit a gauge swatch. It can double as a test for your colors!
Solid and tonal colors can help to highlight the stitch pattern in lace sections. But perhaps you love the look of an intense or busy colorway over lace. That's fine, too!
Experiment. Have fun. When I feel myself getting wound tight and worrying far too much about the very thing that brings me so much joy, I remember my mantra → It's a (insert name of knitting project here), not the Sistine Chapel. 😂
You may discover that you really love a technique or color combo that you never would have tried before. How wonderful!
You may also discover that you were 100% correct and HATE speckles over lace. You win some, you lose some. And that's when you decide that your project will be a gift, or that you're about to get really good at tinking.😉 Thank goodness yarn is reusable!
Please remember - this is just knitting, and there are no hard and fast rules for color selections. Choose what makes your heart happy. 💕
Are there prizes?
Absolutely! Anyone participating will be eligible to win prizes regardless of when they finish. We’ve also been known to award prizes to enthusiastic cheerleaders, so join us in sharing your love for everyone’s projects, even if you’re not knitting along.
Winners are chosen from the Facebook Group, the Nomadic Knits' Ravelry Forums, and Instagram. When sharing on Instagram, your project must be tagged with #twelvedaysofknitmasMKAL using a public profile, or we won't be able to see it.
We have some wonderful prizes this year, but you'll have to wait a bit longer to hear about them.
What about the rest of the details?
More? After all of that, you want more?! You deserve a prize just for making it this far! 🙌🏼 There will be more updates, but for now, you have almost all the information you need for a very merry Knitmas. Just one more thing...
THIS PART IS IMPORTANT:
(It is so important that you'll probably see it repeated multiple times before the MKAL begins😉)
Please sign up for the Knitmas email list and add hello@nomadicknits.com to your email contact list.
Adding us to your contacts lowers the chance that your Knitmas emails will go into your spam or promotions folder or will not be delivered at all.
A gentle reminder: Knitmas is a time to shake off the stress of the season and relax into the pastime we love: knitting. There are twelve days of clues, but it isn’t a race against time to complete your project in twelve days. The goal is to enjoy your knitting and have something fun and relaxing to look forward to each day.
The KAL will “officially” run through the end of January, but our Facebook group and Ravelry forums are open year-round.
Members of #teamturtle and #teamsloth stretch their knitting out for as long as it takes, savoring each and every stitch. And when they finish, whether in February or September, we celebrate their accomplishment!
I can't wait to Knit(mas) with you!
Becky
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