This was my second test knit for this designer. Every one of her designs speak to me so I know it won't be my last. Emily Chen of em.knits has always been very professional, attentive, and kind, so I had no worries going into this test. Sometimes it can feel scary reaching out to a designer to ask questions or point out errors, but the test group (usually on Slack) is full of other people sharing and chatting so it feels much more approachable. Emily also reaches out to check-in regularly throughout the test period if you prefer flagging something one-to-one.
Like with most test knitting, last time I was a tester for Emily I was gifted one free pattern for my hard work. I was extremely close to purchasing the Winona Polo with my voucher until the pattern was taken down suddenly. Emily wasn't happy with the arm shaping for the bigger sizes. It needed re-grading. That's where this story begins. I was selected to test knit the updated pattern.
It took me a while to reach the right gauge. I originally wanted to make a muted brown/grey/green with the Rugby Stripe option. As you can see in the pictures, it ended up very differently! That was entirely on me. My knitting tension has never been very consistent and for some reason it just wasn't working. Thankfully, after raiding my stash, I found the last of my fingering weight acrylic. I had 4 colours and just enough of each to do the original stripe option. I don't buy acrylic anymore, so this is one of my last items not made with natural fibres.
Most of the kinks had been worked out in the first round of testing, so there was very little that needed editing. It was more about the shape and final fit. It kept my hands busy as I rewatched a lot of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia and worried about the looming year of studying ahead.
I almost immediately regretted one of my yarn choices. The colour described as Pink Mix did not knit up the way I had hoped. I had crocheted with it before, so thought I knew how it was going to knit up. My hubris was my downfall. As these yarns are from the same collection from the Women's Institute, Pink Mix contains sections of pink and purple that are exactly the same shade as two of the other yarns used in this project. It blurred the clean lines between colour blocks and muddied Emily's careful planning in the Stripe Guide.
At the two week check-in I shamefully submitted a picture of my progress, which showed how the shoulders were distorted by the dreadful Pink Mix. "The variegated yarn looks great!" she replied. Oh. Maybe there was hope. Maybe I had just been staring at it for too long. I continued on, knowing it was too late now to frog. I had committed and was going to see Pink Mix through.
 |
| My progress at two weeks |
As with any pattern I've ever knit, I had to add length to the body. Tall people problems amiright. With about two inches left I was all out of one yarn. I didn't take my long-ass body into account when I was selecting yarn.
I want to take a break from discussing my poor planning to talk about the finishes on this polo. The collar, the cuffs, the bottom hem, they all took a tonne of time, but damn if they don't look great.
Okay, back to my mistakes. The sleeves are bigger than the released pattern as I read the old numbers, the front placket is three rows shorter than the back placket as I saw the error in the pattern but used the wrong number anyway, and I mucked up the start to the intarsia on the collar. But that one's hidden so no one would have known if i just stayed quiet. To be fair, they are all quite minor, and unless I point it out, no one will ever notice my slight butchering of this pattern. The main thing that I'm still on the fence about is the variegated yarn. I can't tell if it draws away from the stripes or adds to the design in a fun, garish way.
It took a week to build up the motivation to weave in all the ends. There were a lot!! And given the slippery nature of the yarn choice, I had to do it properly. If it all unravelled after one wash I was going to cry. In total I think I must have put 100 hours into this piece, and I'm glad I did. I was able to push myself to try something challenging and I've put more skills into my knitting toolbox. Plus it's a lovely addition to my wardrobe!
We were given 10 weeks, which was a bit of a squeeze for me. As a part-time student with a job on the side and a disability I blame myself entirely. I knew what I was signing up for and I already had a second test knit on the go which almost entirely overlapped. But I didn't let any of that get in the way. Ya girl finished it with 48 hours to spare!
+++
Will I make it again? Yes. When I'm less stressed my knitting tension will calm down and I'll make the green/brown version I had originally planned. There is also a heavier version using DK that I'm eyeing up.
What I've learnt about Emily's patterns: They are really well written. Probably some of the clearest explanations I've ever seen and really nice formatting. Everything is in the order that you would expect. All the techniques are linked to tutorials. Y'know, the stuff that shows she put the time in and really cares. That said they are not for beginners. There are a lot of techniques needed to get a sleek looking garment including increases on the purl-side, Kitchener and GSR. I had to turn my brain on a few times. I would also warn people that are extremely averse to purling or slipping. It’s not a simple raglan, so there's going to be flat and double knitting. If you can't handle that, Winona may not be for you.
I feel very lucky to have been selected for both the tests I applied for, though I know luck is not the only factor. As a chonkier gal I'm definitely more sort after by designers. There aren't as many plus-size knitters out there. If you are plus-size and thinking about test knitting a pattern for any small designer, I promise you will be welcomed with open arms. I haven't seen any body-shaming in test pools, only positivity. Never feel ashamed to post pictures or share how the fit is impacted by your bigger body. Designers need to know so they can optimise their work. They can't get enough of us!
Happy crafting
You can check Emily out on Instagram or shop her Winona Polo
I have no affiliation with Emily and did not receive anything in return for this review. I did get a copy of the pattern for free in return for test knitting.