Woo hoo! Doing a happy dance over here! “Why??” you may ask. Because there’s a new and fun make along called the Uplift Make Along (UMAL), and I’ve found it and it’s fun! It’s welcoming and supportive, and it’s a way to meet new friends and find new designers.
The purpose of the UMAL is to support the work of less-known independent knitting, crochet, and Tunisian crochet designers. Like all MALs, it’s a place to share WIPs and finished projects and to cheer each other on. There will be prizes. The UMAL began April 1 and goes through June 30, so there’s plenty of time to finish a project. It’s hosted on a user-friendly platform, but you can also participate simply by making something by a less-known designer and tagging #UpliftMakeAlong on Instagram. If you’d like to join the UMAL, here is your invitation! If you’d like to read up on the UMAL, here’s an informative blog post written by founder Ruth Brasch.
Today is Support Sunday in the Uplift Make Along, and here are four designers I’ve met whose designs I’m loving.
I recently tested Ruth Brasch‘s Arkenstone Hat. The cable was enticing, and the finished design was terrific, so I cast on her Arkenstone Sweater. I think I will have to rethink the yarn I’m using, but I’m so excited to be working on someone else’s sweater! I love the top part of the back (and the cables, of course).
New to me is designer Liz Corke. I found these fingerless mitts, and I think they are so delicate and elegant. I’m looking for just the right fingering weight in my stash. These are the Dromanach Mitts.
I’ve also gotten to chat a bit with the lovely Mona Z, also known as bunnymuff. Her colorwork designs are fun and fabulous. I’ve loved this one since it first came out:
I think this sheep toy of hers is just about perfect:
And I purchased this hat pattern. The colors are so happy, and I really want to try the Roosimine (or Roositud) technique. It’s a type of Estonian inlay and sort of looks like embroidery.
Now, I was very happy when a couple of people commented on My Sense of Direction Mitts. It’s always fun when something you’ve designed calls to someone else. Designer You-Shan Feng is making these mitts, yay! This morning she posted on Instagram:
This picture she edited was so diverting that it led to another episode of what I like to call “Why Carol is a bad cook.” When the post notification popped up on my phone, I had to write a response right that moment. I completely forgot that I had pancakes cooking on the stove. Needless to say, the pancakes were pretty decimated . End of story: burnt crusts removed, pancakes consumed – despite a slight burnt taste.
You-shan’s designs (currently available on Ravelry) are jaw-droppingly amazing to me, so I wanted to share a couple here.
And this one, which she is making according to a friend’s design preferences:
If you join the Uplift Make Along on the platform, you’ll be able to find all of these lovely designers, and more. My thanks to them for allowing me to share these photos here.
I’ve added some new linky things to the blog’s sidebar. Especially check out the Link Tree. Now you’ll easily be able to find links to whatever’s going on in Knit Equals Joy land.
I hope you all have a great week. Maybe you’ll even join me for future episodes of “Why Carol is a bad cook.” 😉
And I hope to share more about the UMAL over the next few months.
xoxo
Carol
Hey everyone!! There’s something new and exciting, and YOU are invited: The Fasten Off Yarn Along (also known as the FO2020 or the YAL)!!! It’s a big online event featuring the work of over 90 independent knitting and crochet designers – with discounts, a make-a-long, games, prizes, and lots of cheerleading. It starts tomorrow (Wednesday, 11/25/2020) and ends at the end of the year.
