The Next Mystery SAL: The Advent Magical Mystery SAL 2020

As a final ending to a year of extra SALs I'm going to host an Advents SAL - a four week, one pattern a week SAL. Although it's called the Advent SAL it's mostly called that because of when I'm giving the patterns. I have adjusted the colours to be a bit more Christmassy, but you can really do this in any colour combination. You will mostly get just under 500 stitches per week.

How to join in:

You don't need to do anything special - you just stitch your own version! That simple! There is a Facebook group listed below, but you don't have to join it to join in!

How much does it cost:

The patterns are free! So all it will cost is any fabric/thread you choose to buy for the SAL - I encourage you to dig in your stash and see what you have first though!

The patterns:

• You will be given the mystery pattern in four parts.
• All parts will be given during the SAL.
• At the end you will be given an additional pattern to use for the back if you wish to make a two-sided ornament/pillow/biscornu.

Stitches used:

• The pattern uses whole cross stitches.
• There are NO speciality stitches
• There are NO backstitches (except for the optional back).

The size, fabric and thread information:

The pattern is 50 stitches square.

Fabric sizes are rounded up to the nearest 1/4 inch to make measuring easier - with cm I can be a bit more accurate.

If you are stitching front and back on the same fabric you need to stitch them 10 stitches apart. If you need more space cut the fabric wider.
0.1 skein length is the same as 31 1/2" / 80 cm of the full thread which you then split up to use two strands (unless you are doing 1 over 1 in which case you will need much less) for stitching.

Fabric and thread amounts:

• For 14ct Aida / 28ct evenweave over 2 you will need:
• A piece of fabric that is 9 3/4 inches square - 23.5 cm square
• For the front only you need 0.1 skein of A, B, and C. You will need 0.2 skein of D, E, and F.
• If you are also making the back you need 2 squares of this size or a strip of 9 3/4 x 14 inches - 23.5 cm x 34.4 cm
• For the front and back you will need 0.1 skein of colour A, 0.2 skein of colour C, 0.3 skein of colours B, E and F and 0.4 skein of colour D. You will also need some thread for the lettering and backstitched outline if you make a biscornu but the amounts given should be enough for that as well.
• For 16ct Aida / 32ct evenweave over 2 you will need:
• A piece of fabric that is 9 1/4 inches square - 22.3 cm square
• For the front only you need 0.1 skein of each colour other than colour D which needs 0.2 skein.
• If you are also making the back you need 2 squares of this size or a strip of 9 1/4 x 13 inches - 22.3 cm x 31.9 cm
• For the front and back you will need 0.1 skein of colours A and C, 0.2 skein of colours B, and 0.3 skein of colour D, E, and F. You will also need some thread for the lettering and backstitched outline if you make a biscornu but the amounts given should be enough for that as well.
• For 18ct Aida / 36ct evenweave over 2 you will need:
• A piece of fabric that is 9 inches square - 21.4 cm square
• For the front only you need 0.1 skein of each colour.
• If you are also making the back you need 2 squares of this size or a strip of 9 x 12 1/4 inches - 21.4 cm x 29.9 cm
• For the front and back you will need 0.1 skein of colours A and C, 0.2 skein of colours B, E, and F, and 0.3 skein of colour D. You will also need some thread for the lettering and backstitched outline if you make a biscornu but the amounts given should be enough for that as well.

Thread colours:

You will need the following colours:

•  Two reds: 
• One lighter - this is colour A. In the pattern this is DMC 666
• One darker - this is colour B. In the pattern this is DMC 498
• Two greens:
• One lighter - this is colour C. In the pattern this is DMC 701
• One darker - this is colour D. In the pattern this is DMC 699
• Two golds:
• One lighter - this is colour E. In the pattern this is DMC 676
• One darker - this is colour F. In the pattern this is DMC 680

Obviously you are free to change things up as much as you like - this time I don't have any colours that can't become any other colour and look wrong. If you change the colours from the ones in the pattern make a note for yourself so you don't get confused!

 

Threads as per the Pattern (still on the skein as I couldn't find the bobbins)

DMC 21, 22, 3850, 3847, 3821, and 3824

These are two variations close to the pattern colours but please don't let that stop you having fun with colours - this is just a starting point!

The schedule:

• The SAL starts Wednesday 2nd December at noon CET.
• New pattern sections will be given every following Wednesday at the same time and the last part will be given on Wednesday 23rd December also at noon CET.  
• You can check your local time zone for the start here and a countdown is here.
• Central Europeans will get it around lunchtime, Australians in the evening, Americans will have the parts waiting when they get up. Doing something globally is never easy, but I hope this works out for everyone.

I do not expect anyone to be able to be up to date during the SAL - you need to eat and sleep at the very least so expect to be "behind" part - if not all - of the time! It's part of the nature of this type of SAL for this to happen, so being "behind" is the normal state of affairs. If you are a slow stitcher expect to finish "after" the SAL has "finished" - though TBH the SAL is always available and new people find the patterns on a regular basis, so it's never really over.

 
If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask! Either here or in the Facebook group or, if you prefer, you can DM me on Twitter or Instagram (@magical525 on both)