Rainscape Cowl Test Knit

Thank you for your interest! The test is now full, and testers were contacted on 10/10/20. If you applied and were not selected, I hope to work with you in future!

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Simple stitches. Gorgeous yarn. Flexibility. Sometimes, these pleasures are just what we want from our knitting, and Rainscape offers them all. The stitch repeat is easy to memorize, the pattern works with a range of colorways, and the dimensions can be altered to suit your preference or yarn put-up. For a soothing knit and a highly wearable finished piece, look not further than Rainscape.

A smiling woman in glasses and a denim jacket stands against a stone backdrop modeling Rainscape, a light grey knitted lace cowl with blue and pink speckles.

Why “Rainscape”? For the feeling it brings to mind for me: Curled in my favorite chair, WIP in hand, I watch the summer storm spatter the screen with droplets. The world outside blurs, an oddly comforting Impressionist version of its usually crisp self. While the rain drums on outside, I sit in peace, present and unhurried, nowhere to be but where I am.

About the Pattern:

DIMENSIONS:
Top Circumference: 25.5” [64.5 cm]
Bottom Circumference: 33” [84 cm]
Height: 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 Onyx Fiber Arts Silk Merino Sock (50% Merino, 50% Silk; 438 yd / 401 m per 100 g / 3.5 oz skein), 1 skein, in Esme.

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

YARDAGE:
Approximately 435 yd / 398 m of fingering weight yarn (adjustable)

Total includes a 10% 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.

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.

Wearing a purple shirt and standing against a stone backdrop, a woman holds Rainscape up in front of her face to show the simple lace pattern. It is a grey knitted cowl with speckles of pink and blue.

NEEDLES:
US 4 [3.5 mm] 16” [40 cm] or 24" [60 cm] circular needles for working in the round, or size needed to obtain gauge

US 3 [3.25 mm] 16” [40 cm] or 24" [60 cm] circular needles for working in the round, or one size smaller than first needle size (used to decrease cowl circumference; if preferred, first needle size can be used throughout, which will require slightly more yarn) 

NOTIONS:
1 stitch marker, tapestry needle

GAUGE:
21 stitches and 34 rounds = 4” [10 cm] in Rain stitch using larger needles 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.

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, October 9, 2020
Testers selected and notified by: Saturday, October 10, 2020 (EDT)
Test deadline: Sunday, November 29, 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!

A closeup of Erin’s hands holding a folded-up Rainscape, a grey lace cowl with pink and blue speckles.

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!

TO APPLY: Applications are now closed. I will contact testers by the end of the day on Saturday, October 10, 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!