And by first swatch, I take this to mean the swatch I am working now using a yarn from my stash, NOT the first swatch I will knit once I have the competition yarn. And I also think you intend for it to be posted here, not on Ravelry.

@Mari Tobita thank you!

Thanks for these details. Could we get a little clarification as to what "You cannot share any visuals of the design outside the DAL during the contest." (for the competition DAL) means? I am interpreting it to mean that I could post a picture of my sketch or swatch or work in progress here on the shirleypaden.com members forum, but NOT in Ravelry (because anyone can look at it there). Is that correct? Thank you! I'm already deep into swatching and watching my stitch pattern morph into new ideas!

Veronica, in the past DALs we would use the provided stitch patterns to get started. Sometimes a designer would use it exactly as it was provided in their finished design but would use it in a different way on the garment. Sometimes they would use just parts of the stitch pattern (that is what I did on my pattern in Duets). Sometimes they would add other stitch patterns and sometimes they would rearrange the elements of a stitch pattern to create a new one. I am planning to use one of these approaches in my design.

Sometimes yarn guides the pattern. Sometimes the garment guides the yarn. Here is what I recently posted on the Ravelry forum: I've also been reflecting on the challenges of not knowing what yarns will be selected, but then it dawned on me - this is just as it would be if one were submitting a design to a knitting magazine. A designer puts together a proposal with a description of their design and inspiration, a sketch of the garment they are imagining, and a swatch of the stitch patterns. Then the magazine often asks that the design be done in an entirely different yarn! AND, they request the finished garment in a size for their models, not in the size of the designer, so of course, yarn must then be procured and more swatches knit to inform the final design. Shirley is treating us like professional designers and I am going to take that as a sign of her confidence. I just wish more models my size were being used!

My first step is to think about why I'm setting off on a design journey. If it is to get a certain kind of garment, I let that drive my yarn choices, but of course I will swatch with the candidate(s) to see which fabric feels and looks like the garment I want. I'm basically designing the fabric for the garment. If the design journey is driven by a stitch pattern that I love and want to turn into something, but I'm not sure what, I again swatch, but this time with a wider variety of yarns, and while I'm swatching I think about whether I like the fabric and if so, what kind of garment does it suit. Or, if I'm inspired by a yarn, I may try a variety of stitch patterns and see what garment those fabrics suggest. Then I design the garment for the fabric. The same thing if I'm inspired by something like a landscape - I try a combination of yarns/stitch patterns to see what fabrics result and which ones feel like my inspiration, then I think about what garment is suggested. The last approach is maybe the most challenging, but I think can be the most satisfying, too.

Having the chance to take part in free master design classes with Shirley makes me feel like I've already won!

I hadn't thought about adding the pocket linings as part of the back and front pieces - I will definitely consider it in the future. For now I'm past the waist on the back, so that option isn't possible for me. And like Lisa P, I am not quite sure of placement yet. I'm also thinking of knitting the pocket in a lighter weight yarn so it is less bulky, in addition to working it in stockinette. At first I had considered a knit facing and then a woven fabric pocket, but I think the elasticity of knitting will be important.