It’s that time again! Details of our summer mystery crochet-a-long (MCAL) are now ready.

What are we making?
A shawl that is inspired by the abundance of hedgerows on my nature walks in my local area. Aestival means belonging to, or appearing in, summer.
The shawl pattern includes solid and lace sections that echo the abundance of frothy blossoms in the inspiration photos using delicate lace sections to create a light and very wearable shawl.

When do we start?
The first clue will be released on Friday 8th July 2021 with a clue each week on Fridays for five weeks. The fifth and final clue will be released on 5th August.

How do I join in?
This time around the MCAL will be hosted in our new member site the Hub. So to join in the Mystery Crochet A-long you will need to join. Membership costs £5 per month but as an introduction and to make sure you can join the MCAL for the same price it would normally cost you can use the code HUBINTRO to get your first three months for just £2 each. The MCAL will be completed within this trial offer time so you’ll get to join the MCAL for the total usual price of £6 and have all the benefits of the Hub at no extra cost. You can find out all about the Hub and its benefits at http://learn.thecrochetproject.com/bundles/hub

Lace? That sound complicated! Will there be help
The great thing about hosting the MCAL in the Hub is that I can support you so much better. Each new stitch will have left and right handed video tutorials and I can create written, photo and video tutorials on other subjects to support, teach and entertain you as we move through the clues.
The MCAL is a great way to learn some new stitches and techniques and explore wearable crochet lace.

What sizes are available?
The shawl is written as a one size, triangular two skein shawl approximately 155cm/62in long (wing span) There will, as always be options to extend/shorten sections to create a larger or smaller shawl.

What materials do I need?
2 skeins of Vicki Brown Designs Kid Silk Fluff (4ply, 69% Silk 22% Kid Mohair. 9% polyamide 100g/350m)
in shade
Col A: Verdant
Col B: Inflorescence
4mm (US G) hook (or size needed to achieve tension)

The yarn we have used is a beautiful soft yarn with a high sheen and gorgeous halo. You can use any 4ply yarn of your choice but I would select one with good drape and ideally some loft. Mohairs, alpacas, merino/silk singles, tencel blends would all work well. I’ve used two dye styles, one is a semi solid and the other a soft speckle but you could use two semi solids or solid colours if you prefer.

Do you have kits?
Yes! I have partnered with Vicki Brown Designs to create yarns that will work perfectly for this pattern. Using the same inspiration photos as her reference she has created three different kit options.

Included in this kit are 2 skeins of Kid Silk Fluff (69% Silk 22% Kid Mohair. 9% polyamide 100g/350m) a gorgeous silk and mohair yarn that has a glorious fuzz.
Each of the three colour options include one semi solid yarn, and one subtle speckled yarn.

Colour options are as follows:
Verdant & Inflorescence - a semi-solid green and a pale pink with green and pink speckles (this is the yarn I used in the sample)
Barberry & Astilbe - a semi solid purple and a pale coral with purple and coral speckles
Ceanothus & Moonflower - a semi solid blue and a very pale blue with blue, pink and green speckles

https://vickibrowndesigns.com/discount/AESTIVALMCAL?redir...

Kits cost £46 plus shipping but you can use code AESTIVALMCAL to get 10% off.

Kits are limited in number as Vicki Brown Designs is a small batch independent dye studio and we recommend placing international orders by 5th June and UK orders by 13th June for delivery before the start of the MCAL.

If you need hooks and notions these can be purchased from http://www.thecrochetproject.com/collections/hooks-notions
and Hub members get 15% off all notions (join for the code.)

Do you guarantee kit delivery in time for the start of the crochet-a-long?
We don’t guarantee arrival as it is at the whim of the international postal and customs system. Vicki ships from the UK so if you are concerned about receiving international packages in time or having to pay duty on them then it is best to order the pattern alone and source materials locally.

I’ve got the stuff/ want to source my own materials.
That’s great! Just sign up to the Hub and get settled in while you wait for July 8th!

How do I get pattern updates?
On each week sign in to the Hub at http://learn.thecrochetproject.com

Why aren’t you selling it as an individual pattern/on Ravelry this time?
Running the mystery crochet-a-longs inside the Hub allows me to support you more and makes the process of getting the pattern part to you much easier. Each week a new part will be added to the Hub and it will be accompanied by video stitch tutorials. You’ll be able to discuss it in the forums and share your progress.
It will be released as an individual pattern and sold outside of the Hub after the MCAL has ended.

How long does each clue take?
That depends on how fast you crochet. But the aim is to break the pattern down into very manageable chunks, no more than one evening per week usually.
If you can’t finish the pattern in any given week there is no need to “keep up.” In every mystery crochet-a-long we have people finishing at different times. There are normally groups of people supporting each other at every stage.

What if I don’t like the finished object?
This is always a risk with a mystery crochet a-long but I also think the upside is that you may make something you wouldn’t have ordinarily chosen but really love when finished. I am really proud of this design and think it will appeal strongly to a lot of my followers as its closely aligned to my usual style, if you don’t think it suits you then I’m sure you can think of someone to gift it to.

Can I buy it as a printed pattern?
No, because the pattern is released in parts we can’t send out a printed version. You will be able to download the clues and print them at home or send the file to a copy shop for printing.

We want to organise a group/run the MCAL through our yarn shop is that okay?
Absolutely! We love when groups get together to join in! If you are a business organising a group then do get in touch to find out how we can work together info@thecrochetproject.com