Sunstripe Cowl Test Knit

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About the Pattern:

Sometimes you need a soothing, easy-to-memorize project that still lets you unleash a little creativity. Do you want a wide cowl or a skinny one? Long, short, or that sweet spot in between? (You can even opt for a scarf or wrap, if you prefer.) Will your yarn choices be subdued or gradient, monochromatic or half your leftovers bin? Sunstripe is designed to let you play without too much extra work. Best of all, you'll end up with a very wearable, unique accessory to keep or gift.

A smiling woman in a purple t-shirt models the Sunstripe Cowl, which is light grey with columns of eyelets and a wide swath of bright rainbow chevrons. Shown from waist to nose, she is outdoors and has one hand resting on the cowl.

DIMENSIONS:
Circumference: 48” [122 cm]
Width: 17.5” [44.5 cm]

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

YARN:
I used Blue Skin Yarns Oliver (75% Wool, 15% Cashmere, 10% Silk; 497 yd / 454 m per 115 g / 4.06 oz skein) 1 skein each of the following:
— MC: Draft No. 91
— CC 1-9: Courage, Arizona, Raffin, Draft No. 87, Joy, Katsa, Baby Blue, Evensong, and Alice Alice

You are welcome to substitute another fingering weight yarn with similar yardage. When choosing testers, I give preference to natural fibers (wools, silk, etc.) over acrylics because of significant blocking differences.

YARDAGE:
— MC: approximately 404 yd / 370 m of fingering weight yarn (adjustable)
— CC1-9: approximately 39 yd / 36 m of nine fingering weight yarns (or any combination of fingering-weight yarn in 39-yd / 36-m lengths to make 351 yd / 324 m total in CC yarn; testers will have access to a free planning worksheet) 

Totals include a 15% buffer.

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

You may also try making a scarf or wrap version, which cuts out the provisional cast on and binding; the pattern includes notes about how to do this, though the main pattern is written as a cowl.

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 4 [3.5 mm] needles of choice for working flat, or size needed to obtain gauge

Second set of needles in a similar size for joining (Kitchener or three-needle bind-off); you may use alternate needle configurations for joining, but pattern is written assuming two pairs of needles

Optional: If using three-needle bind-off to join, additional needle (circular, straight, or DPN) of the same or similar size. You may also use non-working end of one pair holding live stitches if you're using this setup. Extra needle is not necessary if you will be grafting the cowl.

NOTIONS:
9 stitch markers (optional, for marking repeats), waste yarn, crochet hook of similar size to your needles, tapestry needle

GAUGE:
20 stitches and 36 rows = 4” [10 cm] in garter stitch after firm blocking. Gauge is not crucial but will affect yardage used and final dimensions.

TECHNIQUES REQUIRED:
Single increases, single and double decreases, yarn overs, provisional cast on, grafting OR three-needle 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.

A smiling woman in a purple t-shirt models the Sunstripe Cowl, which is light grey with columns of eyelets and a wide swath of bright rainbow chevrons. Shown from waist to nose, she is outdoors, turned sideways with the cowl around her shoulders lik…

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: Thursday, July 9, 2020
Testers selected and notified by: Saturday, July 11, 2020 (EDT)
Test deadline: Sunday, August 23, 2020

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!

Erin, outdoors, holds the Sunstripe Cowl, which is light grey with columns of eyelets and a wide swath of bright rainbow chevrons, draped over her arm. She is shown from torso to knees.