It’s done!

I am very pleased to be able to report that the Embrasser is finished. It was quite late yesterday evening when I finally finished it. However it’s done.

One of the reasons for undertaking the project was to learn about the process of pattern testing. I don’t think I am about to start writing patterns however the process interests me and I think that by going through the process I have learnt more about reading patterns and the need for checking gauges and tensions. The writer said in her blurb to us that she thinks that she crochets quite tightly. My response would be, no soil Sherlock! Or something similar. I had to go down sizes on crochet hooks and it seems that I wasn’t the only one. Others went down even further than me. I was conscious that I needed to keep my tension really tight through the project. To be fair my tension is often not what it should be so this has been a really good exercise in thinking about it as I crochet.

Having finished The Embrasser, I then needed to try it on. Now normally when you follow a pattern you have a clear idea of what the garment will look like when it is finished. Unfortunately at this stage those images don’t exist so I was left with something that is 2.5 metres long and appears to be a scarf with sleeves at either end. Apologies to the author, I’m not selling it very well. To be fair the pattern is intricate and beautiful but probably not something I would normally choose for myself. I think it would look better on someone who is tall and willowy, and there is no way, with even the greatest stretching of the imagination, that I could be described that way.

My first attempt to put it on looked very strange indeed. I sent some photos and the writer’s response let me know that I didn’t have it quite right! However another attempt at putting it on and I think it did look better. The author says that there are four ways to wear it, and that she will send me some information. I look forward to getting that because it may make me love it a little more.

One of the other positives of testing a pattern is that there is a group of you doing it at the same time. And as with any learning experience you are able to talk to each other as you are going along. This is not something that would normally occur when following a pattern. We were able to share any issues that we came across and we could also provide suggestions as to how they could be resolved. I was intrigued to find out where in the world all of the testers were based. As I had expected most of them were in America, though very widely distributed. Some of them were then interested to find out where the others are and to comment on their areas or States. Aside from me there is only one other person testing the pattern outside of the USA and she is based in Singapore . I have really enjoyed this on-line interaction with people I would not normally have had the opportunity to talk with. I am hoping that this opportunity could lead to others.

Until tomorrow…