Chromatica Wrap Test Knit

Thank you for your interest! The test is now full, and testers were contacted on 9/10/21. If you applied and were not selected, I hope to work with you in future!

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Sometimes you just want to use a whole bunch of yarns together, whether they're leftovers or mini skeins. Bonus if the pattern is pretty without being too intense to knit. Enter Chromatica: With its v-shaped bands, delicate geometric lace, and little pops of simple mosaic, it's eye-catching, colorful, and wonderfully flexible. Your stash—and your wardrobe—will thank you!

Chromatica is knit in one piece from end to end. A central double decrease and a pair of edge increases on right-side rows form its right angles, and omitting the edge increases for the final rows creates a symmetrical shape. Short sections of simple mosaic transition between colorful bands of geometric lace.

There are several ways to lengthen or shorten the wrap, and altering the width is also straightforward; the pattern provides guidance on how to do both. Lace and mosaic motifs are both written and charted.

What about the name? According to Merriam Webster, chromatic means "highly colored," which seems pretty appropriate for a wrap designed to use twelve different colors. Coincidentally, chromatic also refers to the musical scale that results when you play all twelve half-steps in order. Double win!

Standing outdoors near a large tree, Erin models Chromatica, a multicolored knitted wrap featuring v-shaped bands of lace separated by thin bands of mosaic stripes.

About the Pattern:

DIMENSIONS:
Length (point to point): 93” [236 cm]
Width: 18.5” [47 cm]

Measurements taken after firm blocking. See modification options below.

YARN:
I used a McMullin Fiber Co. Squishy Sock miniskein set (80% Merino, 20% Nylon; 90 yd / 83 m per 25 g / 0.9 oz skein), 12 miniskeins; shown in the Provence Collection (C1: Lavender Fields; C2: Chantilly Cream; C3: Aubergine; C4: Ink; C5: French Green; C6: Côte d’Azur; C7: Soleil; C8: Black Truffle; C9: Rooftops; C10: Autumn Ember; C11: Willow; and C12: Canelle)

You are welcome to substitute other fingering weight yarns with similar yardage.

YARDAGE:
C1-12: approximately 90 yd / 83 m of fingering-weight yarn. Pattern can also be worked using 360 yd / 332 m of three different fingering-weight yarns or any mix of yarns in 90 yd / 83 m quantities. (Testers will have access to a free planning worksheet to help with color placement) 

Totals include an 8% buffer.

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 4 [3.5 mm] circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge

US 5 [3.75 mm] circular needles, or one size larger than main needles (switching needle sizes is optional but will help even out the width difference between the lace and mosaic sections)

NOTIONS:
1 stitch marker (optional), tapestry needle

GAUGE:
16 stitches and 16 rows of Body Lace, right half (two repeats) = 3.5" [9 cm] wide and 2" [5 cm] high using smaller needles 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, basic mosaic knitting. 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.

Standing outdoors near a large tree, Erin holds out Chromatica, a multicolored knitted wrap featuring v-shaped bands of lace separated by thin bands of mosaic stripes.

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, September 9, 2021
Testers selected and notified by: Friday, September 10, 2021 (EDT)
Test deadline: Sunday, November 7, 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 after your project is finished and completed before the deadline.

  • If you use Ravelry, 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.

  • 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. 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.

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!

TO APPLY: This test is now closed, and testers were emailed on Friday, September 10, 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!