Update 12/13/19:
Frogged during a yarn organization spree. The yarn is def too dark; this pattern needs (imo) a light colored yarn to showcase the beautiful design.

Overview

I guess this is sort of a test? I purchased the pattern on the day it was released (it’s gorgeous!), intending to work on it in between other projects over the next month or two…and then saw a call for testers a few days later, so…dunno what’s up with that, feels a bit backwards and…off.
I think I’m mostly annoyed because I expect to have a different experience knitting a purchased pattern vs volunteering to test. It’s not about the $5, more the principle…when I test, I expect small mistakes, omitted information, mislabeled components, etc, but as a buyer I assume a design isn’t released for purchase until the designer feels it’s the absolute best they can put out given their available resources (software, tech editing…some have access to testers, others don’t…but thanks to Rav just about any halfway decent pattern will find willing testers) and expect more, as integrity and transparency are so important to a designer’s reputation and future success. Whatever, I’m over it. /rant.

Regardless, I volunteered to kinda-sorta test/knit along and offer feedback since I was going to be knitting it anyway, but have let a few others get a head start to hopefully find most of the kinks first (didn’t plan it that way, had other projects to finish but since I paid for it and there are plenty of other testers I don’t feel obligated to knock this one out quick or make it a top priority).

Mods

• first and last edge st ktbl

• to combat my tendency to knit tightly, I add a yo after the first and before the last edge st on the RS, drop it on the WS

• double yo’s are not addressed; I purled then knit them on WS

• Changed some left leaning double decreases (the ones on the right leaf) to right leaning (k3tog)

  • Chart 2:
  • Row 17, st 15
  • Row 19, st 13
  • Row 21, st 11
  • Chart 3:
  • Row 1, st 9
  • Row 7, st 14
  • Row 9, sts 6 and 10

• beaded mesh per mswolpe’s suggestion: every kyok, bead the yo after purling

• also beaded some single decreases (also the WS after purling) to maintain continuity; not perfect but looks better to me than omitting beads in that row:

  • Chart 2:
  • Row 9, sts 4 and 8, also 47 and 51
  • Chart 3:
  • Row 5, sts 6 and 61

Notes
112.0g to start
Beads Miyuki size 8 gilt lined rose opal

Pattern isn’t beaded and I’m terrible at determining appropriate bead placement, so Marcy was kind enough to let me straight up copy her smart idea--beading all the mesh…so many beads and slow going but it should look interesting.

6/21
Made it through Chart 3 on US 1 needles and frogged to start over on larger needles. The fabric was just too dense and couldn’t stop obsessing over it so better to scrap a few hours of knitting now than countless more later on (or worse, a finished shawl that l I can’t stand). Hard to do when my knitting time is limited and precious but slowly learning not to buy into the sunk cost fallacy by forging on with knitting I don’t love.

6/22
Chart 1 finished, 108.5g left.

6/24
Chart 2 finished, 102.4g left.
Random side note - I used the same amount of yarn for Charts 1 and 2 on US 2s (~100y, minus a yard or two) as I did for Charts 1-3 on US 1s…really glad I decided to scrap it and start over.

6/27
Chart 3 finished, 93.9g left.

7/20
On hold for a bit--still not sold on the color; worried the yarn is too dark to make out the motifs and would be better suited to a stitch pattern…but can’t bring myself to rip out all that work again so soon.