I'm still not done writing up Monongahela but...

I do have some thoughts about the test knits.  In this pattern there are 2 main variables which I will call X and Y.  X represents the repeats within the bands while Y represents the lace bands.

In the shawl above X equals 4 while Y equals 9.  It might seem that X is greater but there is a regular expansion of the lace band not only from within but also from the edge.  I designed it to be greater than 180º and it is.  It sits on my shoulders just fine.

In this 2nd case, X equals 12 while Y equals 3.  This shawlette has 14 main points because of edge expansion.  The shawl above has 10 main points.  I suppose that the triangles would be less obtuse if X were greater.

Anyway one question I will ask my test knitters is what their X and Y are.  I think I will want 3 standard sizes.

Monongahela Swatch Chart

Well I finished a 3rd variation of this pattern which was sort of a way for me to trouble shoot what I've written and in some ways this pattern is complicated.  So I made up this

That's my EXPLODED swatch chart.  It is the pattern in miniature.

If this makes sense to you, please comment.  If it makes sense to you then this is a snap!  I am going to a knitting circle tonight so I'll try springing it on some folks there.

PS:  In knitting this up tonight, er, half knitting this up I have found 2 errors so far.

Monongahela Mini-Shawlette

I decided to do this variation of my Monogahela pattern as a scarf but I think it wants to be a shawlette.  Anyway, here's some random photos that I did not post on ravelry.

I Charted Up Monongahela up to 13 but I only knit it up to 9

Should I publish up to 13?  I think it would be cool if someone knit it up to 13 in a finer gauge.  The chart gets really big.  here's 12a.  It seems that I have yet to render 13a to an image.

That's funny.  I can't quite remember what the heck I was doing there.  But you can see that though it is based on a simple progression that it gets really big.  Maybe I'll stop at 12.

Ha ha ha, now that I look at the image it's really hard to read, even the full version on my computer so maybe I should stop at 11.  Why is that so big?  Well it's really a simple progression but it's graduated.  At that level there are 4 different sized triangles.

Wow!

I think I probably have enough volunteers and I am working on finishing up writing up the pattern but I realize that I'm not sure how I want test knitting to go.
I...

1. am not sure how many knitters I need.  I intend to make this a free release so does it really matter?  I think a minimum of 2 per category is good but I also don't want to limit what people want.  It is sorta designed so you can finish it at whatever level you want with perhaps a minimum of 3.  I have another open option that I'd like to see get tested in the design as well.  I charted it out beyond the larger shawl I made and I'd love to see that come to life in a finer gauge than what I knit up.
2. don't know how long it should take.  I sorta feel like that should be a decision made by the knitter's mood.  That is definitely too vague.
3. I have no deadline, at least not now though I should make one because I know I will get impatient despite myself.
4. I need to guess what size needle normal people need.  I used something much smaller than normal people do.
5. I guess I have some idea of the yardage of what I made but again, I love the idea of people going with whatever,
6. I think my pattern is simple but I threw in a few twists.  I figure it's intermediate lace.
7. I think I want to do a PDF
8. I am doing written with abbreviations and charted instructions
9. I don't care if my pattern testers are inexperienced in part because I am an inexperienced designer
10. I would like digital photos of FOs
11. I'm not sure if I am best off going back to ravelry to an official test knitter group or if I can handle it all via this blog.

Anyway, my list is my answers to the pattern tester template on ravelry.  It did occur to me just now that it would be a good exercise for me to knit up a really cute scarf variation of my pattern.  I think I can include that as another option for my test knitters.  And I started a scarf a week or so ago that oughta be frogged.

And now, back to my glass of wine.

It's a funny thing

So now I HAVE to finish writing up my pattern.  Because it is a logical progression I found that as I knit up my 2nd, well, actually 3rd version of my design that I didn't have to absolutely look at my instructions and it was only after reviewing it that I found mistakes, numerical in nature.

So OK, that shouldn't be too hard to fix.  But then there's the cast off.  I made up this thing and I do things that I do not know the name for.  I don't think it's that complicated but I will need an assist from someone who knows terminology.  This loop went through that loop... what the eF is that called?  Um, K loop one row below... yeah, that sounds right.

I think I should also write a a swatch to go with this.  It will help folks get gauge and I can also make it teach that one tricky thing I am calling " Um, K loop one row below."

By the way, one thing that has been incredibly helpful is the program Intwined.  It does lots of cool stuff.

I must finish writing up this pattern

I made a test knit group on ravelry, Monongahela Test Knits.  All interested may check in there

You know the one, Monongahela.  So here's the deal.  I will need some test knitters.  This is a first for me but I've decided a few things.  There will be 2(er... 3) main versions, one a shawlette, the other a full shawl(and a mini).  In the directions will be options to go in between those sizes.  I will want some test knitters that prefer written and some that prefer charted instructions.

So that's 4(er.. 6) groups of test knitters.

1. Shawlette, written
2. Shawlette, charted
3. Shawl, written
4. Shawl, charted
5. (Mini, written)
6. (Mini, charted)

Here's me concentrating.  The purple shawl is knit of light fingering.

I also think that this design looks different and quite nice in different weights of yarn.  In a heavier weight I think it is a very nice manshawl.   By the way, the shawl below is a proto-type that is slightly different than what I have written up.  The manly shawl is of sport weight.

I don't know whether of not I should have it test knit in multiple yarn weights but I'd like it to ultimately be knit up by the general public in whatever weight suits them.  I also have a problem with needle size because I knit very loosely.  I figure if I do a gauge then it should all make sense.  I think I might want to include a small gauge swatch pattern in there like I have seen in other patterns.

If you would like to participate in this test knit, please leave a comment below.  EDIT:  You may now go to Monongahela Shawl Testers.   I'll leave the comments of all who are still interested but it is no longer necessary to comment on this blog.  In addition to finishing up writing up this pattern I will work on banner and badge art.  I hope to get my group running within a day of this update(march 27).  I have had a healthy amount of interest but I think I can deal with more testers.  Perhaps I am naive but I think I'd be OK with a few more.

ETA:  My latest variation, behold the Mini-Monongahela

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many thanks!

Gabrielle