Stardrop Wrap Test Knit

Thank you for your interest! The test is now full, and testers were contacted on 1/16/21. I was able to take everyone who applied.

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If there are two words that describe the Stardrop Wrap, they are 'simple elegance.' Worked outward in both directions from a center line, the two halves of Stardrop are worked following the same instructions instead of mirroring one another. The delicate Starlight Lace motif expands slowly and steadily across the wrap, ending in a row of picots that complete the final row of stars.

In a grey sweater and blue leggings, Erin models Stardrop: a knitted lace wrap with a picot edge in blues, purples, and grey.The wrap is looped around her neck and hangs down in front, and she is holding the edges out to display the lace pattern.

About the Pattern:

DIMENSIONS:
Length: 96.75” [245 cm]
Width: 18.5” [47 cm]

Measurements taken after firm blocking. Minor modifications are most likely fine, but please check with me first.

YARN:
I used The Zippy Zebra Mulberry Silk Fingering Weight (100% Mulberry Silk; 500 yd / 457 m per 100 g / 3.53 oz skein), 3 skeins, in Majestic Midnight. Krista is kindly offering 10% off her yarn to any tester who would like to use it. She offers free domestic shipping on orders over $35 US, and her turnaround time is typically 3-5 days from order to shipping.

You are welcome to substitute another fingering weight yarn with similar yardage.

YARDAGE:
Approximately 1,345 yd / 1,230 m of fingering weight yarn of similar yardage. Total includes a 15% buffer.

Please note that Stardrop was designed using yarn with very little give, and ideally, several testers will use similar fibers. If you would like to use a bouncier yarn (for instance, one that contains nylon) or a yarn with less yardage [meterage] per 100 g [3.53 oz], it is recommended that you go up a needle size or two to prevent the Stockinette edges in the middle of the wrap from rolling.

MODIFICATION OPTIONS:
You are welcome to make the wrap narrower or wider and/or longer or shorter, as long as some testers knit according to the pattern.

The pattern will help you figure out these modifications, and obviously they will affect your yardage usage. If you follow a modification, I will ask you to track yardage carefully and note any changes on your Ravelry project page for future knitters to follow, if desired.

NEEDLES:
US 3 [3.25 mm] 24" [60 cm] or longer circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge (or desired fabric; see Gauge, below)

Circular needles approximately two sizes smaller than main needles (for Turkish cast-on)

NOTIONS:
3 stitch markers, 2 point protectors (optional), spare cable or waste yarn (optional), tapestry needle

GAUGE:
23.5 stitches and 33 rows = 4” [10 cm] in stockinette stitch after firm blocking
24 stitches and 32 rows of Starlight Lace = 4.25" [11 cm] wide and 4" [10 cm] high after firm blocking

Gauge is not crucial but will affect yardage used and final dimensions. If using a yarn that is very different from the sample (see Yardage, above), it is recommended that you swatch with different needle sizes until you find a fabric you like.

TECHNIQUES REQUIRED:
Turkish cast-on, single and double decreases, yarn overs, knitting/purling through the back loop, knit 1 below, picot bind-off. Information about relevant stitches and techniques is included with the pattern, so if you’re comfortable with most what's listed here and are willing to learn the rest, you are welcome to apply.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Instructions are fully written and charted. Pattern has been professionally tech edited.

In a grey sweater and blue leggings, Erin holds up Stardrop: a knitted lace wrap with a picot edge in blues, purples, and grey.

About the Test:

TESTER SELECTION:
I’m looking for at least 10 testers. I may accept more. If there are more interested testers than I can accommodate, I'll make selections based on past projects (including photography, notes, ratings, etc.) as well as creating a good mix of yarn choice, experience, and instruction preference among testers. You can read more about how I select testers here.

TEST TIMELINE:
Testing call posted: Friday, January 15, 2021
Testers selected and notified by: Sunday, January 17, 2021 (EST)
Test deadline: Sunday, March 14, 2021

EXPECTATIONS:
To successfully complete this test knit, I ask that you:

  • Track the yardage you use.

  • Let me know any time you have any doubt about something in the pattern, you find a mistake (actual or suspected), an instruction seems unclear, etc. If you’re wondering about it, other knitters will be, too, and I want to clear up the confusion!

  • Finish your project by the deadline noted above, including blocking and photographing.

  • Fill out a survey about the test knit to be sent by PM after your project is finished and completed before the deadline.

  • Create a complete project page (including gauge, needles, yarn used, and photos of the finished piece) and link it to the pattern page when the pattern is released. (Don’t worry, I’ll earburn you in this thread to let you know!) 

  • Bonus: If you are willing to share photos on social media (both in progress and of your FO), all the better!

COMMUNICATION:
We will primarily communicate via Slack. This is a shift from my usual Ravelry-based process, prompted by unresolved accessibility issues some users have encountered with Ravelry’s new design. Since it is important to me that my tests be open to all, I have (at least temporarily) moved my base of operations from Ravelry to other platforms.

Slack is a free communication tool. There is a web-based version and a mobile app, both of which are fairly straightforward. I’ve created a help page explaining relevant features here, and I’ll do my best to support testers in getting up and running. This test will be the first I’ve run in this new way, so we will be testing the process as well as the pattern!

Testers are welcome to chat alongside pattern talk. You can also always contact me by email or via Slack DM if the information is private (such as a personal reason for why a project will be delayed). Check-ins at regular intervals are not required, but if I haven’t heard from you in a while, I may tag or email you to see how things are going. In general, I would rather hear from you with lots of questions than hear nothing at all.

PRIVACY:
This is a public test, so please feel free to share WIP and FO photos on social media and Ravelry as you go. If you tag @remadebyhand on Instagram, I’m sure to see them. I will most likely share some of them as well.

COMPENSATION:
Knitters who complete the test—meaning fulfill all expectations listed above—will receive:

  • A copy of the final pattern once released (on Ravelry or another platform)

  • The option to gift a copy of the final pattern to a friend (on Ravelry or another platform) 

  • A code for another self-published pattern of choice from my Ravelry store, good for one year (I am working on a non-Ravelry workaround for this one, but there will be an alternative)

  • Credit (by Ravelry username or other preferred identifier) in the final version of the pattern

  • Good juju for future tests

  • …and, of course, a huge heap of my gratitude!

In a grey sweater and blue leggings, Erin models Stardrop: a knitted lace wrap with a picot edge in blues, purples, and grey. Shown from the side, the wrap is draped over her shoulders.

TO APPLY: This test is now closed. I will contact testers by the end of the day on Sunday, January 17, 2021 (I’m in the U.S., Eastern time zone). Be sure to check your spam, junk, promotions, etc. folders. If you haven’t heard from me by then, I promise it’s nothing personal, and I hope to see you again in another test soon.

Thanks so much for your interest!