The Trifecta Shawl MKAL #EndAIDSKALWinter22

I’ll admit I’ve been intimidated by designing for KALs. But when there’s a chance to raise funds for and awareness of an important cause, that’ll get me to overcome that. So, I have my first Mystery Knit-along (MKAL) casting on the first of January. We have THREE talented dyers involved in this project and half the funds from my pattern sales will go to AIDS/LifeCycle®.

Note: The Ravelry links in this blog post are clearly marked by the Ravelry logo. No link posts are included to Ravelry for safety reasons. It’ll look like this and link to each site. The logos are described in Alt Text as well.

The three-colour Trifecta Shawl design is inspired by my love of colour and textures beside one another. This top-down triangle shawl uses three colorways of DK yarn (100g, about 210m/229y each) to create a fun striping design, both in color and texture. It is approachable for an enthusiastic beginner or an experienced knitter.

My Trifecta Shawl is available from LoveCrafts and Ravelry right now! Don’t worry, the mystery won’t be spoiled. You purchase it now then the pattern file will be updated weekly with the next step in the MKAL. At the very end of the MKAL, I will update the pattern with the complete pattern PDF and FO photos, or FOtos if you will.

I first saw Gary Boston’s IG post reshared by Adella Colvin of Lola Bean Yarn Co in her IG stories. This is when I learned Gary is working to help raise funds for and awareness of AIDS/LifeCycle® and their work. He plans to do this not just through his annual health-permitting participation in LifeCycle’s 545-mile bike ride from SF to LA in June, 2022, but through a series of CAL and KAL community-focused events leading up to the cycling event itself. I immediately reached out to volunteer as a designer, nano-publisher, or however I could be helpful. His series of four fundraising CAL/KAL events has my MKAL starting on the first of January, 2022. What a wonderful way to start the year! The MKAL won’t be rushed, but after the first few weeks, there will be more choice and I’ll try to make it fun.

Trifecta Shawl is available on LoveCrafts and Ravelry:

Upon purchasing the Trifecta Shawl prior to the cast-on on January 1, 2022, you will have the option to download a PDF. It is a placeholder with basic information on the MKAL. Check back on January 1, 2022 at your purchase point (LoveCrafts or Ravelry) to download the updated PDF. The pattern file will be updated weekly with the next step in the MKAL. At the very end of the MKAL, I will update the pattern with the complete pattern PDF and FO photos, or FOtos if you will.

Throughout the MKAL, you can share your enthusiasm by joining Gary’s IG lives or using the #EndAIDSKALWinter22 hashtag on social media, especially IG. Gary also has a dedicated Ravelry group (link through the Ravelry logo below): End AIDS KAL/CAL, if that platform is accessible to you.

I will share my progress on my TikTok and my IG with the hashtag.

For every MKAL (Trifecta Shawl) pattern purchased, HALF the price of the pattern will go to AIDS/LifeCycle®. The pattern is priced at $8, so that’s $4 per pattern being donated. Any fees will come out of my half. This donation amount stands from launch until the end of 2022. So, even if you don’t participate in the MKAL with us, you can buy the pattern any time in 2022 for the money to still go to AIDS/LifeCycle®.

AIDS/LifeCycle is a seven-day, 545-mile charity bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles benefitting San Francisco AIDS Foundation and The Los Angeles LGBT Center. You can read more about the use of funds here.

If you’re not a crafter, you can still donate directly to AIDS/LifeCycle® via Gary’s participant bio.

For KAL, participants need one skein (100g, 190–210 meters / 208–229 yards) in each of these three colorways:

• Color 1: 100g semi-solid DK in a colorway that makes you happy
• Color 2: 100g variegated/speckled DK
• Color 3: 100g semi-solid DK in a neutral colorway

With the Christmas season and COVID-19 adding delays to postal deliveries worldwide, three dyers are selling kits for this MKAL. This also lessens the carbon footprint allowing you to choose a dyer more local to you. Each of the dyers created a unique combination of colorways that will have you falling in love with their work.

EU – Ireland:  Eve Chambers of Eve Chambers Textiles (Etsy shop) has created several kit options in her Etsy shop, including the beautiful color combination that inspired it all (shown above). Eve’s DK base is a luxurious 75% Merino/ 25% Silk and the price is €23.00 per skein (€69 for the complete three-skein kit). A select number of kits are currently available in her shop ready to ship. If you miss purchasing this kit, but still want to DM her so she can gauge interest before dyeing the next kits, which will take a 2.5-week lead time to ship.

• Color 1: Pools  – Semi-solid Bright Teal 
• Color 2: Miami Vice – Bright Pink Yellow Blue Variegated
• Color 3: Slate – Semi-solid Grey 

North America – Canada: Christopher Walker of Cabin Boy Knits (web shop). You may recognise him from his YouTube channel! Christopher’s base is a Superwash Merino and Mulesing-free for happy sheep. The price is CAD$32.00 per skein with a lead time of two weeks. $10 from each skein sold will go to AIDS/Lifecycle. Here is the direct link to order the kit.

• Color 1: Nanaimo – Merino SW (Mulesing Free) Dyed with Cochineal  
• Color 2: Agawa – Merino SW (Mulesing Free)  Dyed with Cochineal and Lac 
• Color 3: Omemee – Merino SW (Mulesing Free) Dyed with Cochineal, Lac and Indigo

North America – USA: Liz  – Borreguita Tejedora (Etsy shop) hand-dyed a beautiful trio that will go live in her Etsy shop soon. The colors are sooooo delicious and rich on her Superwash Merino base. Each skein is priced at US$30 and it takes seven days to dye and ship.

• Color 1: Cielo (Sky)  — Bright Turquoise
• Color 2: Primavera (Spring) — Bright Magenta w/ speckles
• Color 3: Neutral — Light grey w/ speckles

If you’re using what you have in your yarn stash or if you’re supporting your LYS, so here is the scoop on how to create your own kit for the Trifecta Shawl. You want the three colorways to coordinate with one another in tone and intensity so they can hold their own with one another, but the color choices are entirely up to you. You need one skein (100g, 190–210 meters / 208–229 yards) in each of these three colorways:

• Color 1: 100g semi-solid DK in a colorway that makes you happy
• Color 2: 100g variegated/speckled DK
• Color 3: 100g semi-solid DK in a neutral colorway

© David Browning

The CAL

David Browning of Bearded Yarn Dudes and YouTube fame has a CAL taking place concurrently, so if you prefer the hook to needles be sure to check out his Alicia Shawl pattern. It available on Ravelry and by special request direct from designer. The pattern requires 2 or 3 100g skeins DK weight all one color or in a gradient/self stripe. The Alicia Shawl pattern is priced at US $4.99 on Ravelry.