Your cart
Close Alternative Icon

Lauren's Westknits Mystery Shawl KAL

Every year I scroll through all the crazy amazing pictures from Stephen West's Mystery Knit Along and wish I had signed up for the journey. This year I decided to get on board and experience it for myself!

Lauren Wearing her Mystery KAL Shawl

Pattern: Building Blocks by Stephen West
Materials: Madelinetosh Light in Brick Dust, Opaline, Sweet Synth, and Rocky Mountain High (1 skein each) and size 5 40" circular needles
Size: Medium
Modifications: Fingering weight yarn instead of sport

Stephen West's Building Blocks Shawl

The basics of a mystery knit along are that you decide on all your materials before the project begins and each week you receive a clue letting you know what to knit for that week. Each week provides you with new sections of the pattern and after 4 weeks (4 clues) you have a brand new shawl! I tried to be only slightly nervous about going all in on a project with no idea what it would look like in the end, but after making several patterns from Stephen West, I knew that each section in this new project would be fun and different than anything I had knit before. 

Detail of Lauren's Building Blocks Shawl

Picking the yarn for this shawl was tough because I had no idea how it would end up beforehand! The pattern suggested choosing colors in coordinating pairs, so I tried to follow those guidelines and hoped for the best! I wanted colors that reminded me of fall without being too bright.

WestKnits Mystery Knit Along 2016 Building Blocks Shawl

I decided to stick with fingering weight yarn for this project because I am Tosh Light obsessed and love all the fall colorways we carry in the store. In the end, I don't think changing the yarn weight made a big difference because I still ended up with a huge shawl (and I only did the medium!).

WestKnits Mystery Knit Along 2016

It was really exciting to see this project evolve over the 4 weeks and take shape. Looking back, I wish I would have chosen more contrasting colorways so that the different designs of each section would be more noticeable. I loved being part of the knit along and I will definitely join again next year! 

WestKnits Building Blocks Shawl in Madelinetosh Light

Comments on this post (1)

  • Nov 18, 2016

    I wouldn’t change anything! I love the colors and the subtle play of contrast. It reminds me of the Santa Fe in the desert. Also grateful that you did fingering weight and it worked. I look forward to casting on this project thanks to your post, Lauren!

    — Allison

Leave a comment