The final version includes:

• a graphic schematic
• hints as to where to place certain colored markers
• 3 unique coloring pages illustrated by sarahbearcrafts inspired by the 3-part process of the project

The knit-along took place in the Sarah Bear Crafts Group!

Yarn Requirements: 3 skeins of fingering weight, approx. 350 yards of a light color (LC), 310 yards of a dark color (DC), and 410 yards of a bright color (BC).

Why did we do a collaborative design?
As a knitting designer, one rarely gets the joy of knitting another person’s design, which is truly a pity; there’s so much talent out there, and there’s so much one can learn from one’s peers!
How did this come together?

In September of 2016, Sarah got as type-A as she possibly could and wrote up a schedule and a contract for Heidi and Chris, and worked with Dream In Color to get yarn support their way.
First, Heidi designed her clue, sent it to Sarah and Chris, who followed her instructions, with no clue how it would look.

Chris then designed the second clue, and sent it to Heidi and Sarah, who followed his instructions.
Sarah then wrote the finishing touches, and sent it to Heidi and Chris.
This process was full of ripping sections out, lots of math, and long nights of knitting, but more importantly, it was full of mutual teaching, excitement, and reward!

This design has 3 authors!
Sarah Abram has been designing independently since 2010, focusing on shawls and hats with interesting constructions. She loves singing in choirs, taking pictures of local flavor, and petting other people’s dogs.
Heidi Gustad is a knitting, crochet and crafts designer who grew up in North Dakota. She first learned to knit at age 8 from a grandmother who saw in her a need for something to keep her busy. She’s now a full time designer and Chicagoan. You can keep up with her designs and more by following her blog, HandsOccupied.com, and searching your favorite social network for handsoccupied.
Christopher Salas is a designer from Northern Nevada who was thrilled to work on the Exquisite Mystery Knit-a-Long. Initially a music and theater major in college, he learned to knit while living in Portland, and started designing shortly thereafter. When he’s not designing, he still finds time to play with yarn while working at the popular yarn shop, Jimmy Beans Wool.

The schedule goes as follows:
Clue 1, by handsoccupied: January 1, 2017
Clue 2, by alternaKNIT: January 8, 2017
Clue 3, by sarahbearcrafts: January 15, 2017

Gauge is important only with regard to yardage. Knit a swatch of stockinette in DC and block it (not harshly) to measure gauge.

You can find video tutorials on some of the more advanced stitches and techniques used in this shawl by visiting this page.