It’s hard to believe that we’re already slightly past the halfway point of our ShetlandTrader3KAL! I’ve got to say, it’s been so so inspiring seeing Gudrun Johnston’s fantastic designs translated onto your needles. Every time I peek into the KAL topic, I’m so tempted to immediately cast on a project from the book. So today, I thought we’d celebrate some of what you lovely folks have been knitting!

I don’t know about you, but for me, there’s so much pleasure in the scheming phase of a project … especially when there’s more than one colour involved! I love this shot from The Knitalong Hub user Forestflowerknits, planning a Maywick to use up partial balls of Shetland wool. Couldn’t you just dive into that box of yarn?

The other week we shared Jen’s finished Smora beret, and there have been plenty more gorgeous versions flying off the needles! It’s not hard to see why .. beautiful colourwork pattern + a manageable size + eminently giftable, it’s a real winner.

ElaineA’s Smora Beret — look at that pop of turquoise!

Marvelmama’s gorgeous beret version — and it’s her first Fair Isle project to boot!

One of the fun things about this sort of knitalong is seeing all the fab colour palettes people come up with! I love the cheery pink and deep red of Hub user I_Fecit_Illud’s Willapund!

There’s been plenty of progress (and even some cast offs!) on the bigger projects from the book. JeninePW is all set to steek her Soork, which she reports has “been feeling like a good book I can't put down.” I love that!

Hub user Evercrafting has completed this glowing version of Bunaberry … what a perfect fit!

And Fran has finished off this fetching Hjarta. Just look at that beautifully knit Razor Shell lace!

One thing that’s struck me while reading the knitalong chat is just how much people are loving the patterns from The Shetland Trader Book Three: Heritage. There are so many people on their second or even third project from the book … which is particularly impressive given the knitalong has been going on for just a month (and the book hasn’t been out that much longer). This is really just a sampling of the really stunning knitting folks are getting up to .. if you’d like to see more, do have a browse of the ShetlandTrader3KAL topic on The Knitalong Hub (you can read without signing in, but you’ll need to make a free account if you’d like to join the conversation). You can also check out the #ShetlandTrader3KAL hashtag on Instagram!

And of course, if you’d like to join in the fun, it’s never too late … perhaps you’d like a fun project to focus on over the upcoming festive period? The official knitalong runs through 8th January. There are so many fantastic prizes on offer: a year's subscription to Pom Pom Magazine (issues 40–43 inclusive); a £20 gift voucher for the Arnall-Culliford online shop; three single pattern downloads from Gudrun Johnston (via Payhip or Ravelry)'; two bundles of Take Heart and Wool Journey from Pom Pom Press; and eight eBook prizes from Arnall-Culliford Techniques (via our online shop). As with all of your knitalongs, it’s the taking part that counts, so there’s no pressure to finish before the deadline.

And if you’d like to get your own copy of The Shetland Trader Book Three: Heritage, you can find it, along with yarn kits for the projects and a whole slew of Jamieson & Smith 2ply Jumper Weight, in the online shop. Many thanks to the KAL participants who allowed us to share their work here!