Escherite Cowl Test Knit

Thank you for your interest! The test is now full, and testers were contacted on 11/11/20. If you applied and were not selected, I hope to work with you in future!

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Take a skein of DK- or fingering-weight yarn, a four-stitch repeat, and a little shaping fun and Escherite's snuggly optical illusion is the result. The pattern is as perfect showcasing a skein of special yarn as it is for getting the look of a triangular shawl with a lot less yarn—and a lot less styling fuss. Want to play around with the size, yarn weight, or even stripe direction? The optional modifications have you covered.

A smiling woman in a red shirt models the fingering-weight version of the Escherite Cowl, which is light purple with columns of eyelets and a central point like a triangular shawl. Shown from the waist up, she leans against a tree, resting one hand …

A smiling woman in a red shirt models the DK version of the Escherite Cowl, which is deep red with rows of eyelets and a central point like a triangular shawl. Shown from the waist up, she stands in front of a tree.

About the Pattern:

There are two versions of Escherite: the purple version is knit in fingering weight with vertical stripes, and the red version is knit in DK weight with horizontal stripes. The pattern also includes notes for swapping stripe patterns to get a fingering-weight cowl with horizontal stripes or a DK-weight cowl with vertical stripes.

DIMENSIONS: Fingering (DK)
Top Circumference: 21.5” / 54.5 cm (22.5” / 57 cm)
Bottom Circumference: 45.25” / 115 cm (39.5” / 100.5 cm)
Center Depth: 17.25” / 44 cm (15” / 38 cm)
Back Height: 14” / 35.5 cm (10.75” / 27.5 cm)

Measurements taken after firm blocking.

YARN:
Fingering: I used Madelinetosh Tosh Sock (100% Merino; 395 yd / 361 m per 100 g / 3.53 oz skein), 1 skein, in Curiosity.

DK: I used Madelinetosh Tosh DK (100% Fiber; 225 yd / 206 m per 115 g / 4 oz skein), 1 skein, in Byzantine.

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

YARDAGE:
Fingering: approximately 394 yd / 360 m of fingering weight yarn

DK: approximately 218 yd / 199 m of DK weight yarn

Totals include a 5% buffer. Pattern includes a note about modifying size to accommodate different put-ups.

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. The pattern will help you figure out these modifications, and obviously they will affect your yardage usage.

You may also swap stripe patterns, making a fingering-weight version with horizontal stripes or a DK-weight version with vertical stripes. The pattern includes notes for how to do this.

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:
Fingering: US 5 [3.75 mm] 16” [40 cm] circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge

DK: US 8 [5.0 mm] 16” [40 cm] circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge

NOTIONS:
3 stitch markers (one unique, to indicate start of round), tapestry needle

GAUGE:
Fingering: 18 stitches and 32 rounds = 4” [10 cm] in Body Stitch after firm blocking.

DK: 15 stitches and 26 rounds = 4” [10 cm] in Body Stitch after firm blocking.

Gauge is not crucial but will affect yardage used and final dimensions.

TECHNIQUES REQUIRED:
Single and double decreases, yarn overs, knitting in the round. 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 woman in a red shirt stands in front of a tree holding up the fingering-weight version of the Escherite Cowl, which is light purple with columns of eyelets and a central point like a triangular shawl.

A woman in a red shirt stands in front of a tree holding up the DK version of the Escherite Cowl, which is deep red with rows of eyelets and a central point like a triangular shawl.

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: Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Testers selected and notified by: Wednesday, November 11, 2020 (EST)
Test deadline: Sunday, January 10, 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:
Escherite will be released as a free pattern in 2021, so there’s not much point in gifting testers or their chosen recipients a copy of the final pattern. However, knitters who complete the test—meaning fulfill all expectations listed above—will receive:

A code for another self-published pattern of choice from my Ravelry store, good for one year (or Payhip equivalent)
The option to send a self-published pattern of choice from my Ravelry store to a recipient
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: Applications are now closed. I will contact testers by the end of the day on Wednesday, November 11, 2020 (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.

I can’t wait to see your yarn ideas and potentially work with you. Thanks so much for your interest!