What is Pattern Testing?
Knit and crochet designers are looking to have their patterns tested by real people before a pattern is released. Designers spend lots of time putting a vision they have down on paper (digital patterns), and they do all the math to figure out sizing. So once they have their pattern all written out and every stitch accounted for, it’s usually beneficial to have someone else give the pattern a try. Especially if a pattern will be for purchase or being published.
This is the stage when designers will recruit pattern testers to try out their patterns before releasing them to the public.
Is it Free?
Often times, YES. There are lots of online tester calls that ask for free pattern testers. This basically means, if you are selected, you will receive their pattern in return for working the pattern to completion and giving feedback. If you volunteer as a pattern tester on a free tester call, the cost of materials and time will often be on you. The benefit to you is the experience. You get to learn new designs, work with new designers and other testers, and get shared across social media. You will need to consider if the time and materials are something you can manage before saying yes to testing.
There are also pattern test venues where you can officially apply with a company or store to become a regular pattern tester. This means you will do freelance testing for a specific place and write them a review. These can often lead to getting paid for your work and time. To find places where you can be a regular tester, you should search the web for knitting and crochet magazines, and read up on opportunities offering this type of work.
How does it work?
Most designers use social media to solicit testers. There are many hashtags for Instagram and Facebook groups that are specifically geared towards attracting people who want to be testers. You can simply search these hashtags to find posts that are related to current pattern tests: #patterntesterswanted, #patterntesters, #patterntestersneeded, #crochetpatterntesters , or, you can search Facebook in the search bar for “pattern tester call” to find lots of users looking for testers.
There are also pattern tester groups on knitting and crochet specific websites such as Ravelry. You can search for groups related to pattern testing such as The Testing Pool and Free Pattern Testers. The thing to know with curated groups such as these is that there are usually community user roles. This means you will agree to follow the procedures outlined by the group. This can involve requirements for posting on a certain schedule, filling out feedback on a certain forum, and creating a project page on their site to show your work.
Applicant Surveys
Some designers who have been around for a long time and have released lots of patterns have a bit more requirements than simply saying YES to pattern testing. They usually receive so many applicants that they need to narrow it down. Designers will often have a survey section in their profile where you can apply to be a tester. This puts your name into the pool when they have a new pattern released. From there, you will go through a behind the scenes selection process as they vet testers. Often designers are looking for someone who has some knitting/crochet experience and who will be communicative to give them feedback about their design. It doesn’t really matter if you have or haven’t tested in the past, but mainly more your ability to communicate and meet the deadline.
Surveys can come in all forms, but mostly they are digital feedback forms where you can provide some general information. What designers are looking for are real people who are interested in helping them with their design, not people who are going to take their design and RUN!
My advice would be to not get intimidated by the questions on the survey. Sometimes you can encounter surveys that ask lots of technical questions; like about how to determine gauge, what to do if you have too many stitches in a swatch, about ease and sizing for garments. Phew. Just give an honest response here. Say what you know and describe it in terms you would normally use. This helps designers judge your skill level and confidence, which is useful when working more advanced design tests.
And remember, a designer may not choose you for a specific project, but they will be happy to consider you for something else.
Ok, I want to be a Tester
I recommend being a pattern tester to everyone! It’s a great experience and it usually ends up being lots of fun. There are some things you need to be responsible for if you are going to be a tester though. Here are some ways you can SHINE as a tester.
- Number one thing you need to do is to communicate. This cannot be overstated. You should be in regular contact with your designer about questions or feedback. Communication can be in the form of forum posts, tagged pictures, or emailed questions. The designer doesn’t want you to ghost them {aka go silent}. So be present.
- You will review their patterns for accuracy, grammatical clarity, flow and ease of reading it, and the math. Write out your reviews in a document that you can send back to the designer, and give them your honest feedback from working their design.
- If they provide a questionnaire with specific questions, be sure to answer all the questions and write them out clearly in one place. Don’t send lots of emails with various feedback, rather include all your comments in a single document.
- Another way you can shine in this age of social media, is to post great pictures. Wait until day time to take your photo. Even if you are working on it at night and made great progress, wait to take your photo until morning. I have seen so many late night dark lit pictures where you can’t really see the work, and these look bad. Take a great picture by having natural light, maybe stage the photo with some plants or knitting/crochet tools off to the side. Even better, get a picture of you using what you have made. If it’s a hat show you wearing in it, if it’s a shawl show you wrapped in it. This is called modeling, and it really helps. Designers love to see their work being made by other makers. So if you have a social media account, tag the designer in your photo. This is a simple way to be a great tester.
- Remember you are the one the designer is looking for to test their design, and they are counting on you to help them.
Would you like to test for CitybrightKnits?
I hope the answer is yes because I would love to have you test for me in the future. If you are interested, there is a button below that will link you to the online form. You will give some basic information such as your name, email, and experience with knitting and crochet.
I hope you found some useful information in this post, and I really recommend pattern testing at some point. It’s always proves to be a great experience for me personally. I have strengthened my own confidence in working patterns, and seeing different methods in which designers explain techniques. I have learned lots of new skills, like cabling, slanted decreases, and making garments. Most importantly, I have made some friends along the way. I have been in contact with people who I wouldn’t have otherwise met, and now we are online friends. It really builds up into a community of support. You will get so much exposure to projects and things going on in the knitting and crochet community that you may not have been aware of before.
If you have been a pattern tester before, I would love your comment below!
Citybrightknits 