Infinity Shawl Test WIP

So I’ve started testing patterns for designers on Ravelry.com. I really enjoy trying new things, and I’ve found that testing provides me with opportunities to try knitting & crocheting things I don’t usually make.

For instance, right now I am working on what is to be called the “Infinity Shawl”. It is a knit shawl, whereas I generally crochet shawls, that has presented me with a few challenges. At first I totally had my heart set on using this gorgeous JL Salvia fingering yarn that is light blue, light pink and light tan that I had claimed in a Ravelry swap (which also came with a Kinder Schokolade treat that I tried not devouring and failed!)

JL Salvia Merino fingering yarn right from the mailbox

As I started knitting, I really didn’t like the way the yarn looked in the stitch pattern for the first section of the shawl. It absolutely wasn’t a good fit for this project at all! But then I received another yarn that I had claimed in a swap, it was this Lady Dye Yarns Superwash Merino fingering weight yarn in the Candy Rain colorway.

Lady Dye Yarns Superwash Merino in Candy Rain straight from the mailbox!

The way the bright blue and bright pink contrast with each other in the knit fabric is just out of this world!! I adore the way they go from striping to pooling then back to striping. Since I’m planning on giving this to my daughter, who is the Queen of all things obnoxiously bright & beautiful, I can’t wait to see the final result of how these two colors play out through the rest of this shawl (or as the kiddo calls it: her triangle-bandana-looking-scarf-thingy!)

Candy Rain all balled up and ready to knit!

I couldn’t wait to get started working on the pattern test once I got the Candy Rain balled up. I cast on and sailed through the first pattern repeat in no time. There weren’t any hiccups since somebody else that is testing posted a correction prior to my receiving the pattern via email.

Infinity Shawl Test beginnings – Section 1 completed

I must admit, the second section is a bit more labor intensive than the first. I wasn’t expecting it to take as much time as it does to complete each even row. I actually look forward to purling the odd row since it goes so much faster. In all fairness I have to add that the even rows do go by a bit quicker, and smoother, once you get into a nice rhythm, but they are still quite labor intensive regardless.

After completing the second/”infinity loop” section

Close up – the bottom of this photo is the “infinity loop” section of the pattern.

One thing I have suggested to the designer is to include what the stitch count should be at the end of each section repeat. There are two sizes to this shawl, small & large. I am testing the small size, so I don’t have as many repeats to do, but I did create a row by row stitch counting guide on a piece of graph paper. I offered to scan it in & email it to the original designer so she could create one for the final pattern based off of my notes, although I’ve yet to hear back from her on that. I wouldn’t mind creating a blank worksheet guide like the one I have made for myself to use, but I don’t want to step on any toes.

Third section (first repeat of first section) after completion.

I can’t wait to get this completed, it is a great pattern, easily memorized once you get going and perfect for a knit night. You can chat away while working on this (so long as you keep track of how many rows you have worked.)

I’ll be sure to post when I’ve completed knitting, blocked the shawl out & take pics of my darling daughter wearing her new “triangle-bandana-looking-scarf-thingy”!

Are you working on any new projects? If you are, is it something easy peasy or does it challenge you?