I am a complete beginner and I can tell that this is anything but a beginner pattern. Obviously this shouldn’t be the first project I attempt. However, could some of you maybe give me an idea of how ridiculous it would be to try this as one of my first 5 or so projects for example? How much experience would I need to work myself up to this? It looks so complicated.
I agree with the other commenters - it’s definitely an advanced pattern.
One other thing I want to point out is it’s tagged with “chart” and the description says:
There’s a chance there’s no written pattern, so you’ll want to familiarize yourself with crochet symbols and charts before attempting it.
Well caught! Are symbols in crochet universal? Or do they often differ per pattern?
Ehhhh “universal” would be a stretch, but they don’t usually differ much per pattern. I’d say they’re mostly standardized, but check the legend for your pattern in case the writer uses a nonstandard notation for something. Otherwise Google image search “crochet symbols”.
To your original question, I wouldn’t call this a beginner pattern but it is crochet, not knitting, so it’s 1 stitch at a time. A determined and dedicated beginner could do it. These shawls look more complicated than they are.
My biggest concern for you is you said you spin your own yarn on a drop spindle? Usually in small quantities? This pattern is written for 1500+ yards of thin yarn. It also appears to be written with color changing yarn cakes in mind, so it probably won’t call for color changes in the pattern. I don’t spin at all but tbh that seems more daunting to me than working up the pattern.
Good luck! I love making shawls like this, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I hope you enjoy the process if you attempt it.
They’re mostly constant. Sometimes you’ll see small stylistic differences, but the pattern author should give you a legend of the symbols. Personally, I like them since it’s easier to know which stitch of the precious row to work into.