Test Call: Alchemist Sweater

This is my first published sweater design! The Alchemist is knit seamlessly from the top down; the top back of the sweater is cast on and stitches are picked up for the front; the neckline and top portion of the sweater are knit flat, then joined at the underarms to work the body of the sweater in the round. Sleeve stitches are picked up, and the sleeves are worked in the round. Neckline ribbing stitches are picked up to finish the garment.

About the Pattern

Yarn

I used my Angela Sport base in Whispers (light gray) and The Alchemist's Rainbow mini skein set. You can substitute any other sport weight yarn in any color combination you like. The amount of yarn needed will be calculated in the pattern, based on your swatches and measurements. For reference, I generally wear a size medium, and my sweater used 1225 yards (495 grams) of yarn.

The pattern is written for one main color and a contrast color, but you can get as creative as you like for the contrast color; I used eight different colors for mine, changing colors each row during the colorwork.

Sizes

This pattern is not a typical knitting pattern with pre-built sizes; instead, it uses your preferred sweater measurements and your gauge swatches to create a custom guide for making this sweater exactly as you want it. Want a cropped sweater? Easy. Prefer short sleeves? Simple. Like a baggy sweater and just the right length? Done and done. This means that swatching is extra important, but it allows you to create a sweater unique to you.

Needles

• US size 3 (3.25mm) or size needed to obtain gauge: circular needles
• US size 3 (3.25mm) or size needed to obtain gauge: double pointed needles or desired type to work small circumferences in the round
• US size 2 (2.75mm) or 1 US size smaller than the needles chosen above: double pointed needles or your favorite type for working small circumferences in the round
  

Notions

• 3 visibly different types of stitch markers
• waste yarn or spare needles to hold live stitches
• tapestry needle
  

Gauge

You will swatch three different stitch patterns to measure your gauge. My own gauge is given in the pattern as a guide, but it's okay if yours doesn't match exactly; the important thing is to get a nice, close fabric that you like for a sweater.

Techniques

• Knit and purl
• Two-color stranded colorwork
• Picking up stitches
• Single increases
• Knitting charts
  

Testing Information

Number of Testers Needed

I am looking for at least five testers, and as many as ten, creating a variety of sizes.

Timeline

I plan to distribute the pattern to testers no later than October 2, and I would like the test to be complete by December 31, 2021. If your sweater cannot be completed by then, that's not a deal breaker; let's chat about it.

Test Requirements

For a successful test, I would ask that my testers do the following:

• Perform the swatching and measuring as directed in the pattern
• Track the yarn you use (yardage or weight)
• Call out any confusion or potential error in the pattern (this helps me make it clearer for everyone)
• Create a project page on Ravelry (if you use Ravelry) linked to the pattern when it is released, including gauge, needle sizes, yarn details, and photos
  

Test Format

My test knits are hosted in my private Facebook group. I use tagged topics to track different tests if there is more than one going on at a time.

Compensation

All test knitters who complete the requirements above will receive the following:

• A free copy of the final pattern
• A 20% discount on any order from my Etsy shop
• A free copy of the pattern to gift to a friend
• Written credit in the pattern
  

How to Apply

If you have not test knit for me before, the first step is to fill out my test knitter application here. Once you receive your official welcome email from me, you can then join the private Facebook group, where you will find a pinned announcement post with the Alchemist test information; simply comment on that post what yarn and general size you'd like to use (despite my patterns being written as recipes instead of set sizes, it's helpful to know generally what sizes will be created).

Thank you so much for your interest!