Starting March 1, 2010, I’ll be hosting my 3rd annual Mystery Lace Weight Shawl CAL!! Pick out about 1200 yds. of your favorite lace weight yarn (I’m using Jojoland’s Harmony, at 880 yds./ball) and a 4.25 mm crochet hook.

What I can tell you about the shawl: It’s a square, and has an heirloom-quality story to go along with it. It can be given to new parents for their babies, as a baptismal gift, new brides for their weddings, or even used as a prayer shawl for someone who has lost a loved one to the Eternal Sleep.

How it works: If you have never participated in a Mystery Crochet-Along or Knit-Along, the concept is fairly simple. Basically, the designer tells you ahead of time what materials you will need. He or she will also announce a start date, and, hopefully, a finish date. On the start date, the designer will post in whatever medium (i.e., a forum, group, or blog) the first clue–a section of the pattern–to the design. At various pre-determined dates, more clues to the pattern will be added until the final clue is released and the final product is usually revealed.

This year’s Mystery Lace Weight Shawl CAL will take place from March 1, 2010 until April 1, 2010, and will be hosted here, on this blog. Each week, I will add one new clue, starting on March 1st. Keep checking back periodically, as new clues may just suddenly “pop up”–especially if everyone’s really excited about this and I get impatient before the following week. 😀 The only request I have is PLEASE DO NOT POST SPOILER PICS ANYWHERE until about 1 week after the clues have been released–for example, the first clue will be released March 1, so please, no pics for clue one until after March 8. This will help keep the suspense going and folks can continue to be surprised. If you know me, you already know I love giving surprises! So, please, help me out here, and don’t post pics. Okay? Thanks.

You’re permitted to make as many of these shawls as you like. Give them as gifts, use them for yourself, sell them, whatever. If you do sell or give them as gifts, please share the design credit with me, and give a linky to my blog. Also, if you’re giving away this shawl as a gift for new parents, as a baptismal gift, a new bride, or as a prayer shawl, feel free to also print a copy of the story to give with it (yes, a story is added this year! I think you all will LOVE it!! 😀 ).

Anyway, I have to go and make the munchkins some lunch, but I’ll be back to post again soon.