It’s here… it’s here… The 2020 Shawl-Along is here!!! Let’s Flutter & Fly!

It is our third annual Shawl-Along! Yes, we know the sad news that Rhinebeck is canceled this year due to the COVID risks of large gatherings. But we didn’t want to skip our super fun KAL/CAL so have decided to move forward with our 3rd annual knit/crochet shawl-along. We know you love it as much as we do and so a virtual KAL/CAL it will be! And because of this, and because we can’t see you, I wanted to write this post and share with you why it is so special to me and us.

I have had the incredible honor to team up with my stitching pals Kristy of Kristy Glass Knits & Stephanie of Asylum Fibers for the past 2 years to host a knit and crochet along leading up to the New York Sheep and Wool Festival (aka "Rhinebeck").  This annual collaboration means SO MUCH to me. It may be one of my favorite projects I have ever been part of for so many reasons. Mostly because I love the process.

It is the truest of collaborative processes. You may not realize this, but we start months and months in advance in a group text talking about themes and mascots and how we each feel about them. We share ideas about where we are in our own journey and how we would like to have that factor into the project. It is 3 empowered women coming together to bring our very best in an honest and supportive way so that we can bring YOU the very best.

Once we settle on a theme and mascot, each of use brings our A game to the table. Kristy is the ultimate source of inspiration. She is so great at catching the essence of the project and brings us all sorts of fun and inspiration to the group. We call her the muse of the project.

Then Stephanie gets to work on turning that inspiration into color. It is an art and Stephanie of Asylum Fibers is a true master. I have to tell you, without breaking the bond of our group text, that there are times when Stephanie shows a yarn color and I am awestruck at “HOW DID SHE DO THAT” because it is truly the essence of all we have discussed. She translates our ideas into colors of magic.

Once the theme and yarn are sorted I get to work on a design. I have to be honest here, my collaboration partners will tell you that this is the most stressful of the process because it takes TIME. The idea is there for sure but my two hands, the maths, my perfectionist ways along with my scary to do list… well they carry me these two gals and i am lucky for it.

Along the way we look for special things to include in the kit to make it a full experience of our vision and theme.

It is the full process, which is so much more than this brief description, that makes this collaboration so special to me. We truly create this kit for you with love every year. Love for each other. Love for our craft. Love for our community.

Our first year was the Unicorn and the Unicrnalong. Last year we did a play on Dutchess & Dragons. I still love them both so much. When we were thinking of our mascot and theme this year it became clear what it should be: the BUTTERFLY! How perfect right?!  We know that all of us will emerge from this trial and time of isolation and separation as even more beautiful humans and I cannot wait for us to all flutter and fly again!

The kit is so cool because it comes with all the yarn you need in exclusive Asylum Fiber Butterfly Colors, you get both the knit AND crochet pattern (designed by me), and some pretty awesome theme-related goodies. I am actually VERY excited about this years' offerings. I can't spill all the beans on what's inside but can tell you that the project bags for the kit are handmade from Handspun Hope.

I know we would rather all be planning to stitch our way to getting together at Rhinebeck but we still have our Shawl-along even if Virtual and I hope you join us.