2015 Knit & Crochet-Along: Mystery Afghan
Solve the Mystery Afghan
Together with Yarnspirations.com, I will be teaching you one of the most amazing afghans I have ever seen. Join me for a 10 week mystery crochet along.
I learned a new few crochet tricks myself with this afghan, I suspect many of you will as well. One of the techniques I learned had me absolutely baffled but once I got it… I was over the top enthralled by it. It’s a technique I would definitely use in the future.
For those who would like to expand their skills of crochet, participate in an online community project together and much more, this is definitely for you.
This mystery crochet along is open to all crocheters globally.
Introduction
All Patterns Will Include the Following
- Written Instructions
- Crochet Diagrams
- Video Tutorials
Whether you are a new crocheter or even advanced, we have you covered for all of the instructions you will need.
Post your WIPS (work in progress) Photos
We would love to hear from you throughout the mystery, right from if you are going to participate or not. Don’t be shy, post your photos and progress reports on Yarnspirations Facebook Page, The Crochet Crowd Facebook and/or even Crochet Challenges Facebook Page. We want to see!
We will be featuring your WIPS on our Facebook. Be part of the fun!
How Do You Know What Colours to Pick?
The smart designers of Yarnspirations.com have come up with 4 colour combinations. Afghans in each of the 4 colour palettes have been completed. In fact, colour kits are available directly from Yarnspirations.com if you would like to place an order to have the exact colours that the designers have chosen.
This afghan isn’t a typical afghan. The point of the challenge is to teach you new skills but colour combination play a strong factor in this design.
See the get started link at the bottom of this article to see colour details.
Materials Information
The pattern consists of 4 colours. The pattern is recommending Caron Simply Soft and 4 colour options are given to you when you sign up. If you are substituting yarn, which you are allowed to do, here are the yarn specs. Be mindful of the gauge of the yarn verses the hook.
Caron Simply Soft, 170 g / 6 oz Balls, 288 meters / 315 yards. Machine wash and dry.
- Contrast A – 4 Balls
- Contrast B – 2 Balls
- Contrast C – 2 Balls
- Contrast D – 2 Balls
- Size 5.0mm or H/8 Crochet Hook.
- Tapestry Needle
Contrast A is the main colour of your afghan and will be a dominant colour. Choose this colour wisely.
Though you have the power to make different parts of the afghan all different colours and are welcome to do so, this afghan looks extremely effective when the colour suggestions as stated in the pattern are maintained. You are the artist, decide what you prefer to do. You may just blow us away.
What Can You Expect to Learn
- Learn to Read Patterns
- Learn to Read Crochet Diagrams
- Unusual Stitching Techniques
Be Part of The Crochet Along Community
- Share your WIPS on our Facebook Pages to show others where you are in the project. As you complete each week, share an updated photo of your project.
- Receive ‘likes’ and positive feedback from community members cheering you on.
- You should encourage other community members by ‘liking’ or adding positive comments too!
- Watch as 100’s – 1000’s of crocheters work together to build the mystery afghan together.
Timeline – Tuesdays are Clue Days
- Jan 20 – Feb 10th – Introduction to Materials List. Optional: Place orders on Yarnspirations to get your custom colour kits to be delivered before we start.
- Feb 10th – Clue 1
- Feb 17th – Clue 2
- Feb 24th – Clue 3
- March 3rd – Clue 4
- March 10th – Clue 5
- March 17th – Clue 6 & 7 (two weeks to complete)
- March 31st – Clue 8
- April 7th – Clue 9
- April 14th – Clue 10 Final
- April 14th – May 15th – Submissions of Final Photos for Yarn Draw
How to Get Clues
Using the sign up below, reminders of the clues will be sent to you each Tuesday. You can go directly to Mystery Crochet Along to get your clues at any time. They will be released each week until they are all revealed.
There is no sign up fee to particpate.
For those who have questions, you can visit the Frequently Asked Questions to check to see if your question has already been answered.
Sign Up To The Crochet Crowd Newsletter
We will have updates on our Crochet Challenges with The Crochet Crowd Facebook and The Crochet Crowd Newsletters. We will also be featuring random photos for Facebook Show’n Tell and Newsletter Highlights each week.
Do Not Deviate from Pattern
To qualify for the yarn package at the end, do not deviate from the pattern. Do not skip ahead and make assumptions on where the afghan is heading. All steps must be completed as per the instructions on the pattern to qualify for the giveaway at the end.
The order of presentation is in order of constructing a typical afghan. There is no back tracking or clues out of order within this challenge.
Late Starters Welcomed
For those crocheters who are on the fence in the beginning and/or other crocheters who do not know about this crochet-along, you can begin at anytime, even if you are extremely late. All qualifiers for the giveaway must have their final picture submitted to us by May 7th to qualify. It is very possible to begin the afghan on April 7th and finish it in a month… HOWEVER, I would recommend going week by week so you are not overwhelmed or feel the pressure.
You can still sign up after we start so the clues will begin coming to you as well. You will need to refer the website to get the clues you have missed along the way.
Get Started
If this Mystery Crochet-Along peaks your creative interest, even if you are unsure whether you will or not, sign up anyway so you can make an informed decision. For many of you, this afghan, once completed will be one of the most amazing afghans you will ever complete in your lifetime.
is there any place to get the entire pattern instead of downloading it in parts?
did not notice this until today august 11 I would love to get the written pattern but can’t seem to find it
Is there a May newsletter, I keep checking my mail and as od yet it is not there
well I followed pattern but added a row of HDC around edges before doing the braided join so I guess I cant enter for prizes oh well it was still fun.I thought as long as it contained all the clues it was still eligible
Thank You Mikey for a fun CAL. I love a mystery so this was prefect for me, I am sorry it is over and next Tuesday they will not be another clue. I hope you do another CAL soon even if it is not a mystery, but for me the mystery of it all was fun! Now, my question…how and where do I post my finished Afghan. I am unclear on this and cannot find a link to tell me…thanks Again for all the fun
Will there be another CAL/KAL after this one? I didn’t find out about this one until about a week ago. I am doing the CAL this time, because I’m better at crocheting, but I don’t think I’d be able to catch up for the KAL. I’d love to start from the beginning if there will be another!
After finishing parts 6/7 i have found that, depending on if there is a border and how big it is, I would like to add some more squares to make it bigger. Will that disqualify me from the contest?
Me, too!!! I made 10 extra squares.. I’m finally up to the boarder.. My afghan is 5 squares by 6 squares.
Loving it as this size now. I have the same concerns.
I was wondering if there is only 1 yarn prize, or if there will be a few to hand out? I know mine probably isn’t going to be the best one, but I would so love to get some yarn as it is hard for me to afford. The project is great… so different from anything I would have ever tried to do, and brings people together, and teaches so many things. I will give mine away to someone, just to complete the good feeling! Plus I don’t really need an afghan myself…
I have a question about the colors used. I just watched the Week 6&7 video and noticed that Michael’s afghan squares use all four colors. Mine only use A, B, and C. I had been waiting for color D, and according to the instructions, color D is used for the first time in Week 6&7 to join. Looking at Michael’s squares, it seems that Week 2 (5th round) is perhaps meant to be color D, but the instructions state color B. Did I miss something?
Color D was used in week 3.
Are you sure? The instructions I printed from Yarnspirations for week 3 state “You will need Contrast B and Contrast C for this clue.”
Ugh! I just checked again and it has been changed. Thanks for making the change. I just wish it had been caught sooner. I printed out the clues, and week 3 definitely said B and C.
I absolutely love this afghan! There are several techniques I’ve never used before, so it has definitely been fun. I’m not unhappy with the colors in the squares (having missed color D). I’m just worried I won’t have enough of the colors I need for the border.
Pingback: Spring? What Spring? | Misc Blatherings
I have noticed that the contrast is really necessary here. I bought all similar colors not a large contrast between and you can’t see the beauty of the design. You could virtually use one color for connecting and never know the difference hardly.
Just an FYI for anyone about to start. The biggest help are the photos that are put online and thanks to everyone who does.
Could I clarify the ‘do not deviate from the pattern’ instruction regarding being in the running for the yarn giveaway at the end.
Is making the afghan with a larger number of squares/bigger finished work considered deviating?
And is embellishing/adding extra work as long as all the instructions/steps are followed allowed/encouraged within this in the same manner as prior challenges or is this not within the rules for this particular challenge?
Thank you in advance.
I know I said I would do the challenge, but I realized I’m allergic to squares can I do the picot instead??? I definitely am doing the shawl(all ready started)
Pingback: Mystery Crochet Along: Clue #1 | Cracking The Mold
Do we have to email a picture at the end to be entered in the contest or just post it on the facebook page when we are finished?
does it matter than my starting squares are only 4inches square, ive read that they were ment to be 5 inches???
sorry posted in wrong spot
Thank you, Bev!!! This was my question as well… I had to use a smaller crochet hook to make the gauge and then, I noticed in the video that Mikey’s squares were bigger than mine….
I have to say, I was a little skeptical of trying this at first, but I saw some photos of other crocheters on reddit participating in the mystery CAL. So, I did one square all the way through to week 4 last night just to see what it would be like and I am in absolute love with the way it is turning out. I will definitely be doing more to get caught up!