Stonecatcher Wrap Test Knit

Thank you for your interest! The test is now full, and testers were contacted on 3/28/21. I was able to take everyone who applied.

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Is there anything as simple yet eye-catching as well-placed mosaic? Bands of it worked on the bias give Stonecatcher its pop and ease the transition from color to color, while four-row double-sided lace fills in the gaps. Worked from an initial triangle outward on both sides, the finished piece has a complex and satisfying symmetry.

About the name: In his book Just Mercy, public interest lawyer and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson tells of meeting a woman in the courthouse after one of his trials. After her grandson was murdered, she explained, she began frequenting the courthouse in order to be there for others who were hurting. "I decided that I was supposed to be here to catch some of the stones people cast at each other," she told Bryan, calling him a fellow stonecatcher.

Not all of us work in professions so obviously poised for stonecatching. But all of us, in our daily lives, have the opportunity to step in and help to shield others from hurt. We can lean into our common humanity instead of holing up in our own lives and letting others fend for themselves. May the rounded motifs of Stonecatcher remind you of the power you have to be a force for kindness and strength in the world.

A smiling woman in a blue shirt models Stonecatcher, a knitted wrap in navy, teal, and white with bands of mosaic and sections of lace. The wrap is looped around her neck, and she leans against a stone wall.

About the Pattern:

DIMENSIONS:
Length: 94” [239 cm]
Width: 20” [51 cm]

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

YARN:
I used Birch Hollow Fibers Morrison MCN Sock (80% Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon; 435 yd / 398 m per 100 g / 3.53 oz skein) in Winter (C1), Slated (C2), and Ballgown (C3); 1 skein each.

If you are interested in using Birch Hollow Fibers yarn, I will pass along a 15% off coupon. Robin has put together a couple of color combination suggestions on her website. You are also welcome to substitute another fingering weight yarn with similar yardage.

YARDAGE:
— C1: approximately 458 yd / 419 m of fingering weight yarn
— C2: approximately 432 yd / 395 m of fingering weight yarn
— C3: approximately 401 yd / 367 m of fingering weight yarn

Totals include an 8% buffer. Testers are welcome to use more than three colors and will have access to a weight-based worksheet to help with planning.

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; 40" [100 cm] or longer circular needles are recommended to accommodate large number of stitches

US 3 [3.25 mm] circular needles, or one size smaller than main needles (optional, to keep lace at a gauge similar to mosaic sections)

NOTIONS:
2 stitch markers, waste yarn or spare cable to hold 143 live stitches, tapestry needle

GAUGE:
20.5 stitches and 32 rows = 4” [10 cm] in stockinette stitch on larger 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, garter tab cast on, mosaic knitting, lace with no rest rows. 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 blue shirt holds Stonecatcher, a knitted wrap in navy, teal, and white with bands of mosaic and sections of lace, out in front of her. She stands in front of a stone wall.

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: Saturday, March 27, 2021
Testers selected and notified by: Sunday, March 28, 2021 (EDT)
Test deadline: Sunday, May 23, 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!

A smiling woman in a blue shirt models Stonecatcher, a knitted wrap in navy, teal, and white with bands of mosaic and sections of lace. The wrap is draped over her shoulders, and her right hand rests on a stone wall.

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: Applications are now closed, and testers were contacted on on Sunday, March 28, 2021 (I’m in the U.S., Eastern time zone). Be sure to check your spam, junk, promotions, etc. folders.

Thanks so much for your interest!