In this blog post, British designer Katie Jones shares exciting details about the upcoming #AprèsSkiMAL, dropping hints about the Mystery Make-Along starting on September 5th.
Are you ready to add some color and joy to your winter wardrobe? How about creating a piece that you'll love to pull out from the closet year after year?
Join us for the #AprèsSkiMAL and knit or crochet a stunning winter sweater. This year, we've once again teamed up with the fabulous British designer Katie Jones for an exciting make-along! Whether you choose to knit or crochet (YES, you can decide yourself!), this make-along is perfect for makers of all levels to learn new stitches and techniques while having fun.
Starting on September 5th, 2024, the pattern will be released in seven parts, ending in October—just in time for the winter season to begin. As a mystery make-along, you’ll experience the thrill of watching the design unfold week by week.
Don't miss out—there are a limited number of kits available, so get yours HERE!
To learn more about the secret project, we asked Katie 9 questions that we are so curious to know the answers to! Hold on, this is about to get exciting! If you're lucky, she may even spill the tea a little bit.
1. What can you tell us about this Make-Along?
“For this Make-along, I wanted to create a fun sweater that would brighten up your winter wardrobe! I aimed to give it a contemporary twist on a classic style, making it a timeless piece you can love and bring out year after year.
The design is a bright and bold striped sweater, inspired by colorful retro ski wear and vintage Fair Isle sweaters. It features soft, fuzzy yarns with a touch of glitz, combining bright and pastel colors that pay homage to 60s, 70s, and 80s après-ski fashion and knitwear. I wanted the design to bring joy and color into your winter wardrobe using a mix of stitches and textures.
I loved the challenge of getting the knit and crochet pieces to look cohesive in the last MAL. This year, I think it's even closer, especially since the yarn choice is very similar—and the yarn is so soft, it's a joy to wear! I also wanted to approach this project differently. While the previous MAL was mainly constructed from squares that were joined together, this project is worked as larger pieces. I adore squares, but I know they aren’t everyone's cup of tea, so I wanted to mix it up this year!”
2. What inspired the bright and bold sweater design?
“I wanted to create that go-to sweater you look forward to wearing every winter! I was drawn to classic winter knit styles, like Fair Isle sweaters, and thought about how I could put my own twist on this timeless design. Since this project is a labor of love and something you spend time creating, I wanted it to be a piece you’ll cherish and wear forever! The Fair Isle striped style is a classic winter look, which gave me the freedom to experiment with the color palette and move away from traditional colors.
This is where the inspiration from 70s and 80s après-ski wear came in. I love how playful the color combinations in fashion were during this era. I found some great research images that helped me choose the standout colors and combinations. And the design just snowballed from there!”
3. Can you walk us through your design process for this sweater?
“One of the biggest challenges for me in designing the MAL is getting the crochet and knit pieces to look the same. I love this—it’s like figuring out a satisfying puzzle! I have to think about the techniques we'll use for both and also how we'll construct the piece, building the skill level as we go. These are crucial steps to consider, and I also have to ensure it looks amazing at the same time!
For this project, I was really happy to figure out how to match the tension in both designs, so I could keep the scale consistent. The two designs look so similar, and I'm chuffed with how it turned out!”
4. How did you select the colorways and yarns for this project?
“When picking colorways, it’s always a dual process: I consider the colors I love and the texture or feel I want in my yarn choice, ensuring the yarn is available in those colors. For this project, I knew the feel was really important, and I wanted an Aran weight to achieve the right autumn-winter texture. I also wanted elements of fluffiness, sparkle, and a mottled, tweed, or variegated look. Softness and glam were really important to make this piece feel special.
The hunt began with exploring different Hobbii yarns to find the perfect fit. I enjoy working with various yarn combinations to achieve different textures and feels. For this project, I selected my yarns based on their feel together before deciding on the color palette. Once I had the yarns, I referred back to my research imagery to identify color combinations that stood out to me.”
5. What skill level would you recommend for the project?
“Hopefully, this project can take you from zero to hero! If you can do the basic knit stitch (plain and purl) or the basic crochet single crochet, then you are good to go! It's important to start feeling comfortable holding your needle or hook, so if you are new to the craft, I recommend practicing the most basic stitches to get your tension smooth before starting a bigger project.
The great thing about the Make-Along is that it's designed to introduce new techniques each week, gradually building your skill level. There are videos that take you through all the techniques, and you can pause and rewatch them as many times as you need. This project is perfect for learning new skills and gaining confidence in your making!
If you are an experienced maker, it's a fun project to work on together, but Make Alongs are brilliant projects for learning new techniques!”
6. What techniques will be included in the project for both knitting and crochet?
“For this project, I wanted to introduce a new technique each week, ensuring they worked for both knitting and crochet. We start with simpler elements using basic stitches and then build up to more complex techniques. The project includes color work with slip stitch for knitting and spike stitch for crochet, raised color-changing details, Fair Isle knitting, and tapestry crochet. Additionally, there are bobbles, rib, moss stitch, working flat and in the round, increasing and decreasing, shaping, mattress stitch, and embroidery elements using chain stitch or surface slip stitch crochet.
These techniques come together to create a vibrant and richly textured striped sweater with a Fair Isle feel. The mix of texture, color, and pattern gives a contemporary twist to a classic style, making the project both engaging and rewarding.”
7. What are your favorite techniques in this project, and how did you take feedback from the previous make-along into consideration?
“Bobbles—I love bobbles! They can be a bit fiddly, but they are well worth the effort!
There aren't many techniques I don’t like doing myself, but I did take into account the feedback from the last MAL project with Hobbii. While I enjoy making projects in squares, I know this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. So, for this MAL, I designed the project to be made in larger sections to minimize the amount of joining required. This should be a relief for those who dislike sewing up!”
8. Do you have any tips to make weaving ends easier or more enjoyable?
“I love changing colors, so I usually have to deal with a lot of ends. However, in this project, I will show how we can weave most of our ends in as we go for the knit version. For the crochet version, I will demonstrate how we can use our ends to join pieces together for a more seamless finish.
One of my favorite colorwork techniques in the MAL also shows how we can work with multiple colors and travel them up, which is great when you want to work with several colors without having so many ends to deal with!
Also, when it comes to ends, if I'm making a sweater for myself and the ends don’t hang out from the bottom or the sleeves, I often just leave them in there if they are secure. If you hate dealing with ends, this is a good method for you—why sew them in when you can leave them?”
9. What advice do you have for customers who are on the fence about joining this project?
“The MAL is a really great way to grow your skills and confidence! The mystery element means you'll sometimes work on techniques you've never tried before and might have previously shied away from. However, the videos are there to guide you through every step, making parts that may have seemed too hard easy to achieve.
I also love the community aspect. It’s amazing to work on a project simultaneously with so many others. The Facebook group is a great place to share progress and get tips from fellow makers.
Plus, I think the design for this Make-Along is a winner and looks great on everyone! It has an easy, comfortable fit, and the twist on a classic style means it can be styled in many ways to suit your individual look. There are customizable elements for the neck and embellishments, allowing you to create the perfect item for you.
The only decision left is to pick knit or crochet! If you're torn between the two styles, they look very similar. The knit version has a slightly more drapey feel and is lighter in weight, with a bit more fluffiness and sparkle. The crochet version has a thicker feel with sturdier stitches and slightly less fluffiness and sparkle. Or, you could always make one of each!”
Want to share your progress with other crafters? Join our Make-Along Facebook group here ➜
Do you want to join this exciting Make-Along?
Get your kit HERE and be part of the #AprèsSkiMAL with Katie Jones! Don't miss this opportunity to create a cozy winter sweater and learn new techniques along the way. Join the fun, share your progress, and connect with fellow makers. Let's make something beautiful together!
Do you want to know more? Jump to this FAQ blog post to get all the details!
We can’t wait to start stitching with you! 🧶
❤️ Hobbii x Katie Jones
