2018 Crochet-along with Marly Bird and Red Heart

We are back with another Crochet-Along this year with Red Heart as our sponsor. I can’t wait to get started with all of you and see what beautiful colors you put together for this project. Over the next four weeks we will work on a shawl with some interesting construction and color placement. There is so much to learn with this shawl and I will walk you through each step. Won’t you join me on the 2018 Crochet-Along adventure?

What is a Crochet-Along:

Let’s start at the very beginning. If you aren’t familiar with the term ‘crochet-along’ let me explain it to you. The 2018 crochet-along, or CAL, is a group of people coming together to crochet the same project in the same timeframe. The best part about the CALs that I run are that I have a special Facebook group (read more about this below) that is full of helpful crocheters working on the same project and there to offer support. If you are not able to start when I post the first section or if you are new to crochet and don’t feel as fast, you don’t have to worry. The content and pattern will always be available and is always FREE, thanks to Red Heart.

About the 2018 Crochet-Along Project:

This year we will be working on the Abstractly Chic Shawl together. If you look at the photos you will see it is a little different than a traditional triangle shawl. There are a quite a few things that I will be teaching you over the next four weeks and I hope you are excited to get started.

• Each week a new section of the pattern will be released here on the Marly Bird Blog. You will find the link to each section below!
• Along with the pattern you will also find a tutorial video that I have put together showing you how to work each section.
• If you need help along the way join the Crochet-Along group and ask fellow CAL members there or ask me as well.
• The admin team in the group is great and are there to help you.

Use the hashtag #MarlyBirdCAL to share your projects!

Like this pattern on Ravelry! 

Queue it up and Like the Pattern on Ravelry

 

Community:

Before we get started on the CAL please head over to Facebook and join our group. In this group you will be joined by the many other people that will be participating in the CAL. In this group we share progress photos, talk about tips and tricks, and help each other through the tricky parts of the pattern. I will be there in the group answering your questions along with my team of admins and other crochet lovers.

Each week we will have a new post that will just be for questions. If you have a question you can ask it there and we will know where to look for them. If you have photos that you want to share just post them in the page as you take them.

The Facebook group is also where you can enter to win prizes, but more about that later.

Use the hashtag #MarlyBirdCAL to share your projects! The hashtag will make it easier for us to find the projects.

Supplies:

Pick up your supplies now so you’ll be ready to go when the CAL starts!

• RED HEART Chic Sheep by Marly Bird: 3 balls of 5693 Poolside A, 1 ball each of 5254 Sunset B and 5311 Lace C
• Susan Bates Crochet Hook : 5mm [US H-8]
• Yarn needle
• 6” piece of cardboard

NOTE: It is not required that you use Chic Sheep to participate. Chic Sheep is what I have used for the sample and what the pattern was written for. Be sure to check your gauge no matter what yarn you use to make sure yours will work up to about the size I got. We would love that you use a Red Heart yarn for this CAL and using Chic Sheep is a bonus for all of us!

GAUGE: 5 v-sts = 4.5″ (11.5 cm); 9 rows = 4.25” (11 cm) in V-st stitch pattern. 16 sts= 4” (10 cm); 17 rows = 4” (10 cm) in cable stitch pattern. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

About Chic Sheep by Marly Bird™ Yarn:

All of this talk about Chic Sheep and I don’t know if we covered what it is, just in case you don’t know. Chic Sheep by Marly Bird™ is the first 100% merino wool yarn from Red Heart. Designed from the ground up with love. This has been my dream come true.

Chic Sheep is a mercerized wool, meaning that you can machine wash it. It can go in the dryer without felting but it is recommended to air dry to increase your projects lifespan. Consisting of 24 different colors you will be able to put together almost any color combination you could want.

Now available in Hobby Lobby and 100 of the top JoAnn’s stores you have the opportunity to touch it and fall in love. You can also purchase Chic Sheep online from Red Heart, Michaels, and Love Knitting.

Schedule and Links to Each 2018 Crochet-Along Section:

Come back each week for the written pattern and video! To get notified as soon as the video is posted, subscribe to Marly’s YouTube channel. We will also have the links in our weekly newsletter.

Each week the new section of the pattern will be released on my blog and linked below!

????????Week 1 Wednesday, September 12  <click here>

????????Week 2 Wednesday, September 19 <click here>

????????Week 3 Wednesday, September 26 <click here>

????????Week 4 Wednesday, October 3 <click here>

Note** At the end of the CAL you will be able to get the full PDF version for FREE on the Red Heart website. **

Giveaways:

Are you still with me? Still want to join in the fun? Here is the best part, other than hanging out with a bunch of people who love crochet and finishing a beautiful shawl at the end!

Post your progress pictures each week in the Marly Bird CAL Facebook group to be entered for a chance to win a $25 prize pack! Red Heart will be selecting two winners each week for the prize pack. One week after the final video is posted we’ll ask you to share a photo of your finished shawl, and we’ll choose 3 winners to each win a $50 prize pack from everyone who finished.

To enter: Post your picture of your in-progress sweater in the Facebook group before Tuesday at 11:59pm Mountain Time (Marly’s time zone) to be entered. Winners will be announced on Wednesdays by 5pm ET..

• Week 1: Post your progress picture by Tuesday, September 19; 2 winners of a $25 prize pack announced Wednesday, September 20
• Week 2: Post your progress picture by Tuesday, September 26; 2 winners of $25 prize packs announced Wednesday, September 27
• Week 3: Post your progress picture by Tuesday, October 3; 2 winners of $25 prize packs announced Wednesday, October 4
• Week 4: Post your progress picture by Tuesday, October 10; 3 winners of $50 prize packs announced Wednesday, October 11
• Week 5: Post your completed shawl picture by Tuesday, October 17; 3 winners of $50 prize packs announced Wednesday, October 18