Looking for testers, crochet pattern testers!

Yes, I have a pattern, I've got it written in English too, and I need people to test it!

It’s actually a set of patterns, I have to say.

Before the backstory, I’ll start out by just putting the form here so you can take a look, or maybe share with someone you think may be interested in such a thing. Any help is very welcomed! I would love to be able to release this set in both PT and EN at the same time *and* in time for Christmas presents.

Pattern test call form here!

And now, some backstory

Last October, I finally had my first workshop at Retrosaria Rosa Pomar, a place, a project, a concept I love and have had on my wishlist of "Places Where I’d Like to Teach Crochet One Day or Several Days”. It went very well, by the way, and I loved the experience. <3

This store is the yarn lovers’ heaven. Or hell, depending on how deep are your pockets and how much time you have literally on your hands.

Since Retrosaria has its own line of yarns, made from the wool of Portuguese sheep breeds, some of which are endangered by the way, and since they have them in a beautiful array of colours, I knew I wanted to make something specifically for the workshop there with Retrosaria’s yarn.

And so, last January (how time flies!) I went there, picked 3 different yarns, 2 colours of each (I mean… if you want to get the right yarn, you have to have options, right?), and started playing with them.

(And yes, I justified the purchase as an investment on my future prospects as a crochet designer and facilitator ;P.)

I brought Brusca and Mungo, both beautiful, both lovely to crochet with, but the choice fell on Vovó, a soft but sturdy yarn, perfect for overlay mosaic crochet, since we’d be pulling it and it can become frustrating and tricky if it’s always breaking, even more so if you’re just starting on the technique.

Only two of the experiments I did with Retrosaria's yarns (Brusca on the left, Vovó on the right).

I also knew that, since the workshop was going to happen in the cold season, I wanted to make some everyday accessory for Autumn and Winter, and that was not so big we could barely make a dent on it during a 3-hour workshop. Who doesn’t love wearing at least one of their own makes daily, and some sort-of-instant crafty gratification? I know I do. :)

Long story short, I created a set of fingerless gloves with matching boot cuffs. The gloves were the main project and the project for class, because we begin learning overlay mosaic crochet from the get-go. The cuffs were a little extra project for people to keep practising at home.

I’ve never crocheted two of the same thing, I think, let alone 3. But that’s just what I did in preparing the workshop. The first pair of gloves was made with Vovó, and the other two pairs were made with Beiroa, the first yarn from Retrosaria I ever tried. It’s quite tricky to learn overlay mosaic crochet with it, but it’s well worth it. And it makes for the warmest of gloves.

Top two photos: the three pairs of gloves I made (Beiroa on the left, Vovó on the right). Bottom two photos: the original pair of gloves and boot cuffs, on my favourite spot at home to take photos (and drink coffee).

The motif is the same for both projects, but there are small differences, technically speaking:

1. Gloves) made in the round with a section in rows with the Continuous Method by Susan Lowman

2. Boot cuffs) motif made in rounds, with the cuff itself made in standard crochet (a vertically ribbed strap of crochet that is then closed to make a circle, from where we then begin the overlay mosaic part).

Are you joining?

So, if you’re interested, do fill out the form! Don’t hesitate. Or don’t hesitate as much as I did with making and sharing the form, because I wasn’t sure what would be the best way of finding testers, and doing my best to get everything started on the best foot.

If English is not your first language, don’t let that hold you back, btw! It’s not my first language either (as you can probably suspect), and my hope is that other people whose first language is not English nor Portuguese are able to make this set if they want to.

PS: If you don’t know if you’ll be able to make and complete the test because you never tried overlay mosaic crochet, and don’t know how it works, do take a look at the free pattern I share here. Even if not in time for this test, try it out and, if you do, let me know how it went!

Joyful, soothing crafting to you <3

Ana