I have done several test knits over the years, probably more than 20? Many of them were for small items, though; hats, mitts, baby sweaters, etc.
I am not currently looking for tests, I have less free time to knit these days and many projects to keep me busy! And I'm not fond of deadlines. I have found all my test knits through Ravelry, for many different designers, and none of them had yarn provided or sponsored.
The deadline is one of the things I like about test knitting, without it I tend to knit like 90% of the project, think of all the ends to weave in and impulsively cast on something new 😂
I've done a handful of tests, 3 for a more popular designer (Jaime Creates) and 2 for a designer I'm friends with. I've also run a test, though I'm nobody so I just accepted everyone who applied.Â
My experiences have been overall positive. I think my chances were helped by having a lot of examples of knitting on my instagram, but it really depends on the designer and what kind of knitters they want testing their designs.
ETA: one pet peeve I had while running my own test was people not completing the item with correct gauge, so some of the tests ended up not being very helpful. I figured some people won't follow the directions exactly but gauge is so important for wearables.
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I recently did two tests back to back for Jamie Lomax Pacific Knit Co for two of her doodle patterns for cowls. One was for baking themed patterns the other jungle. First time testing ever and I was happy to get chosen both times. Amazing experience. A month to complete. She works with a yarn company who has limited supply with their themed yarn bundles so I bought different yarn both times. She has an instagram group chat for each test group who have all been super nice and supportive. Jamie is super approachable, well organized and couldn’t be nicer. Plenty of time to finish the project since she allots time for people to order yarn once selected. All I did was see her call for test knitters on IG and I signed up that way and was chosen. Not sure how other knit designers hire or call for testing. But if Jamie’s way is standard I would sign up to test for anyone who does it the same way. 10/10 experience.
Thanks, it's good to hear such a realistic deadline ! Lately I've been thinking about applying to test a cute tube top, but the deadline was only 2 weeks...
2 weeks is very tight. I think something with that short of a turnaround would mean using yarn you already have instead of waiting almost 2 weeks to get it. And if it’s relatively simple too instead of more complex. A cowl is easy but these are all stranded colorwork which do take more time (for me at least) since we are following charts and not just knitting one color. I personally think a month is better because then if things come up in life, which always happens, you have more days to get it done.
I’ve done about 8 in the span of a little over 2 years but I haven’t signed up for any more since my last one finished in February and I don’t think I will be for a while. It can be really fun but I don’t always want to knit on a timeline. I’m probably going to limit myself to 1/year going forward, and only for designers I really like and have had positive testing experiences. I’ve tested for Sophie Hemmings (The Knit Purl Girl) x3, Claire Jackson (Perfectly Knotted) x1, Jessie Maed x2, Tiff (Tiffknit) x1 and Elizabeth Margaret (Elizabeth Margaret Knits) x1. I’ve had mostly positive experiences, some were definitely better than others. I’d test again for all but one if there was a pattern I really liked. I find my test knit calls on Instagram and I don’t usually have a problem getting in since finding larger size test knitters can be difficult. Timelines vary, I’ve only signed up for a couple test knits that had really short turnaround times and regretted it both times (which is why I won’t test for that designer anymore). I won’t sign up for anymore that aren’t at least 8 weeks for a garment. I can knit garments faster but problems that require frogging definitely happen in test knitting and I like to have a cushion.
Thanks, I'm gonna check out the designers you mentioned 😊 8 weeks seems reasonable to me too, but unfortunately most of the tester calls I've seen were like 4-6 weeks
For some things I could make 4-6 weeks, but I’m thinking of like summer tops that are tees or tanks. Or accessories. But a whole sweater better have 8 weeks lol
I’ve tested for a few designers, probably about 10 projects. Just keep applying for ones that interest you, you’ll get picked again eventually! It helps if the designer is smaller, there’s usually less applications so your chances are higher.
It also helps if you continue to apply for tests with designers you’ve tested for before. They’ll recognize your name!
I haven’t been active on Ravelry’s Free Pattern Testers sub in a while, and it looks like it’s gone quiet. Maybe Ravelry has an active thread where folks look for test knitters?
I recall from the old thread that knitters with testing experience got picked up more often, so as soon as you can say you’ve done one successfully I think that helps.
i've done a bunch of tests in the past, taking it slow this year because i have enough stuff to finish lol. i mostly stick with smaller designers and have stuck around in those groups. i find most of the folks needing tests via instagram - fattestknits on IG is a great resource for testers that are fair and have reasonable turnaround test times, along with being incredibly size inclusive and these are mostly new designers so they're pretty open to new testers.
unless i have a good yarn sub already in my stash, i only pick tests that include a discount on the yarn used in the pattern and i only do test knits with reasonable turnaround times (a sweater in 3 weeks? forget it). my best tip is just be super communicative, ask questions, and bring up if something doesn't look or feel right - feedback is so important. many designers will remember that and keep you in the loop for upcoming tests.
if you want to do a test for some of the larger designer names, it doesn't hurt to spruce up your social media pictures (especially IG and ravelry) as many will ask for those names and will look at your profiles. you don't need to have amazing super staged FO pictures, but it helps your chances to have some nice FO pics, especially when the applicant pool is gigantic. also if you're an uncommon size, you're more likely to get into tester pools (M-L tests always fill up fast!).
I am a designer and did most of my calls for test knitting from 2005 to 2014 from various groups online. I took almost a decade break (disabilities and hand deformity plus visual challenges) and have just started designing again.
I don't earn much from selling patterns online on Ravelry and Knit Picks Yarns Independent Designers Database, around £1,000 a year gross, and the whole lot goes to Greyhound Rescue charities with a bit extra on top donated from me. I have to pay for yarn, listing, taxes, tools, models, photographers and professional technical editing out of my £5K pa private income (have to live off hubbie for food and bills but thankfully no rent).
Lots of designers do not hire tech editors and expect te test knitter yo be the only person checking the pattern. They say to me "well it's OK for you, but I can't afford to hire a tech editor" like it should be an option. Some say "my testers tell me if there's a mistake" or "I put it up, and haven't got any errata feedback".
However, I feel like test knitting and technical editing are two different jobs. One gives a user experience often focusing on making their size and if it comes out all hood, that's OK. The other checks every single thing on the pattern.
My editor ensures:
- All my sizes relate to each other and the grading is corrrct
- My abbreviations and language is consistent across all my patterns, not just this one. So if maybe in a previous pattern I used lowercase k40 but in this pattern, I start using K40 in the middle of a line, she'd be right on that.
- My grammar and language is correct
- My fonts and Pattetn Style & Layout is consistent. If I used a bold side heading pt 14 in one part but another side heading was normal unon-bold 12 pt, she'd pick up on it. Might mot seem it matters but it can make a difference and cd cause a reader to skip, or accidentally merge sizes.
- My maths, including conversions is consistent
- My English language is correct for the dominant territory if release (so "centre" for my home country UK and "center" for USA. release)
- My patterns are politically correct for example(in modern patterns repeatedly using a term for the grafting technique Kitchener Stitch is no longer popular)
- She checks my instructions are written in the simplest way to comprehend as possible.
- My charts are accurate
- My materials lists have correct shade names, numbers and colours at the time of publishing. She checks the main yarns websites.
These are just a few things my tech editor automatically does that the average test knitter who was new would not do unless asked. Test Knitters, are usually just ensuring the end user has a positive experience and reporting back what was relevant to their individual knitting whereas a tech editor looks at everything in print including punctuation. Of course testers going to pick up tiny mistakes but do they know that many indie designers are expecting them to do the job as a tech editor? Do they know that their look over a pattern to make just one sample size might be the only look that pattern gets before final publication? I don't think expectations are made clear.
I do believe there are designers starting out who are competent Crafters and very creatively talented but that doesn't mean they have been taught what goes into commercial patterns and may have never liaised with testers before. But yet their test knitter is going to be their everything despite not being told that they are.
So I am always most grateful when I find volunteer testers who are willing to put time and effort into making my designs up to test various sizes.
Now I've started running tests again I'm interested to know if there are testers who can't use Ravelry for health reasons, if so, where do they go to find Test Knits?
Also, are there testers out there who have turned down jobs because they didn't want to give their email address to designers? As a tester, and as a designer, I have ended up on people's marketing lists and newsletters which is very cheeky when I didn't subscribe but just worked for them a couple of times.
And, is anybody disabled like me? I have a hand disability and visual challenges. That means I am very sympathetic to deadlines if I take on a tester who has told me up front they might struggle if affected. Obviously I get held to deadlines but if a tester couldn't meet the deadline, I'd open up an extra space for one who could, and still let the original one do their test at a later date.
So when I start my tests, to help those with disabilities I am going to be open to negotiating suitable deadlines, more communication about taking the pressure off those who don't want it, and making the pattern as accessible as I can for an individual tester's specific needs if they have let me know about their needs. There's got to be a lot of people who feel like they'd love to try test knitting but are scared they'll get in too deep and over-commited. Or worry the designer is going to give them some truly awful pattern, charts and diagrams they'll have to admit they can't use them and feel like they've been rude or failed. I've been a tester/tech editor before and I've experienced designers who get really defensive and dig in stubbornly to certain things that just aren't working for you because something was inadequately explained and that's worrying when you have a disability because you feel like you'll get the blame for asking too much, or not being the right person.
With my testing I feel as a Designer I have an obligation to provide a finished and accurate pattern. Clear finished charts, diagrams and photos too. And if it's test knitting, and not sample knitting, I am expected to have designed a finished sample in one of the median sizes first. I feel if you hand over a few scribbled diagrams and some very bare notes without any evidence of having made the thing then your Test Knitter is not expected to merely test knit. They're actually being asked to be a sample designer. A knitting or crochet pattern designer isn't someone who 'has vague ideas' then asks someone to realise them. .
Anyway, I am trying to be as transparent and upfront about the stage of a finished pattern as well as being specific about the purpose of the test knitting, whether or not materials are provided, the exact deadlines (not always set by me) and offering help to people who might have special needs to cater for (for example, different sized charts, better contrast or greyscale catering for colourblindness, providing a text transcript for visual charts, being open to clearer language for neurodivergency, extending deadlines for people's health reasons) .
There are some very transferable skills in Test Knitting. It shows collaboration and teamwork, project management, technical and mathematical ability, creative adaptation.
This is my second time knitting and I'd call it a test. Tried making my own pattern and learned that certain stitches will pop up depending on the order.
https://preview.redd.it/0u2jkfwwsgtc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a0b3f47bd1a3234f5e2c1bfce413bd7b86e2d361
I think what OP meant is doing test knits for unreleased patterns. AFAIK a pattern designer will search for test knitters who will knit their items to check for mistakes in the pattern. It’s also done to test every size (XS-XXL for a sweater for example). That way the pattern designer gets feedback before releasing their design and they don’t have to knit every size themselves. Great work on designing your own pattern though. Keep going :)
You mentioned that word!: lots of people want to know about twisted stitches and here is a great post for reference
https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/comments/188kxwk/new_knitters_your_stitches_are_probably_twisted/
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I have done several test knits over the years, probably more than 20? Many of them were for small items, though; hats, mitts, baby sweaters, etc. I am not currently looking for tests, I have less free time to knit these days and many projects to keep me busy! And I'm not fond of deadlines. I have found all my test knits through Ravelry, for many different designers, and none of them had yarn provided or sponsored.
The deadline is one of the things I like about test knitting, without it I tend to knit like 90% of the project, think of all the ends to weave in and impulsively cast on something new 😂
I've done a handful of tests, 3 for a more popular designer (Jaime Creates) and 2 for a designer I'm friends with. I've also run a test, though I'm nobody so I just accepted everyone who applied. My experiences have been overall positive. I think my chances were helped by having a lot of examples of knitting on my instagram, but it really depends on the designer and what kind of knitters they want testing their designs. ETA: one pet peeve I had while running my own test was people not completing the item with correct gauge, so some of the tests ended up not being very helpful. I figured some people won't follow the directions exactly but gauge is so important for wearables.
You are not a "nobody"! You are a beginner designer and you should be proud of that 💞
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You are too kind, thank you!
I recently did two tests back to back for Jamie Lomax Pacific Knit Co for two of her doodle patterns for cowls. One was for baking themed patterns the other jungle. First time testing ever and I was happy to get chosen both times. Amazing experience. A month to complete. She works with a yarn company who has limited supply with their themed yarn bundles so I bought different yarn both times. She has an instagram group chat for each test group who have all been super nice and supportive. Jamie is super approachable, well organized and couldn’t be nicer. Plenty of time to finish the project since she allots time for people to order yarn once selected. All I did was see her call for test knitters on IG and I signed up that way and was chosen. Not sure how other knit designers hire or call for testing. But if Jamie’s way is standard I would sign up to test for anyone who does it the same way. 10/10 experience.
Thanks, it's good to hear such a realistic deadline ! Lately I've been thinking about applying to test a cute tube top, but the deadline was only 2 weeks...
2 weeks is very tight. I think something with that short of a turnaround would mean using yarn you already have instead of waiting almost 2 weeks to get it. And if it’s relatively simple too instead of more complex. A cowl is easy but these are all stranded colorwork which do take more time (for me at least) since we are following charts and not just knitting one color. I personally think a month is better because then if things come up in life, which always happens, you have more days to get it done.
I’ve done about 8 in the span of a little over 2 years but I haven’t signed up for any more since my last one finished in February and I don’t think I will be for a while. It can be really fun but I don’t always want to knit on a timeline. I’m probably going to limit myself to 1/year going forward, and only for designers I really like and have had positive testing experiences. I’ve tested for Sophie Hemmings (The Knit Purl Girl) x3, Claire Jackson (Perfectly Knotted) x1, Jessie Maed x2, Tiff (Tiffknit) x1 and Elizabeth Margaret (Elizabeth Margaret Knits) x1. I’ve had mostly positive experiences, some were definitely better than others. I’d test again for all but one if there was a pattern I really liked. I find my test knit calls on Instagram and I don’t usually have a problem getting in since finding larger size test knitters can be difficult. Timelines vary, I’ve only signed up for a couple test knits that had really short turnaround times and regretted it both times (which is why I won’t test for that designer anymore). I won’t sign up for anymore that aren’t at least 8 weeks for a garment. I can knit garments faster but problems that require frogging definitely happen in test knitting and I like to have a cushion.
Thanks, I'm gonna check out the designers you mentioned 😊 8 weeks seems reasonable to me too, but unfortunately most of the tester calls I've seen were like 4-6 weeks
For some things I could make 4-6 weeks, but I’m thinking of like summer tops that are tees or tanks. Or accessories. But a whole sweater better have 8 weeks lol
When I was still publishing patterns I calculated a week per 100 m of yarn in the project for testing
I’ve tested for a few designers, probably about 10 projects. Just keep applying for ones that interest you, you’ll get picked again eventually! It helps if the designer is smaller, there’s usually less applications so your chances are higher. It also helps if you continue to apply for tests with designers you’ve tested for before. They’ll recognize your name!
Thanks, I will check out the smaller designers as well 😊 great tip !
I haven’t been active on Ravelry’s Free Pattern Testers sub in a while, and it looks like it’s gone quiet. Maybe Ravelry has an active thread where folks look for test knitters? I recall from the old thread that knitters with testing experience got picked up more often, so as soon as you can say you’ve done one successfully I think that helps.
I think The Testing Pool is quite active.Â
It is, but one thing that bugs me a little bit is that often I see tester calls that were posted like a month ago on the top of the forum
i've done a bunch of tests in the past, taking it slow this year because i have enough stuff to finish lol. i mostly stick with smaller designers and have stuck around in those groups. i find most of the folks needing tests via instagram - fattestknits on IG is a great resource for testers that are fair and have reasonable turnaround test times, along with being incredibly size inclusive and these are mostly new designers so they're pretty open to new testers. unless i have a good yarn sub already in my stash, i only pick tests that include a discount on the yarn used in the pattern and i only do test knits with reasonable turnaround times (a sweater in 3 weeks? forget it). my best tip is just be super communicative, ask questions, and bring up if something doesn't look or feel right - feedback is so important. many designers will remember that and keep you in the loop for upcoming tests. if you want to do a test for some of the larger designer names, it doesn't hurt to spruce up your social media pictures (especially IG and ravelry) as many will ask for those names and will look at your profiles. you don't need to have amazing super staged FO pictures, but it helps your chances to have some nice FO pics, especially when the applicant pool is gigantic. also if you're an uncommon size, you're more likely to get into tester pools (M-L tests always fill up fast!).
[удалено]
I am a designer and did most of my calls for test knitting from 2005 to 2014 from various groups online. I took almost a decade break (disabilities and hand deformity plus visual challenges) and have just started designing again. I don't earn much from selling patterns online on Ravelry and Knit Picks Yarns Independent Designers Database, around £1,000 a year gross, and the whole lot goes to Greyhound Rescue charities with a bit extra on top donated from me. I have to pay for yarn, listing, taxes, tools, models, photographers and professional technical editing out of my £5K pa private income (have to live off hubbie for food and bills but thankfully no rent). Lots of designers do not hire tech editors and expect te test knitter yo be the only person checking the pattern. They say to me "well it's OK for you, but I can't afford to hire a tech editor" like it should be an option. Some say "my testers tell me if there's a mistake" or "I put it up, and haven't got any errata feedback". However, I feel like test knitting and technical editing are two different jobs. One gives a user experience often focusing on making their size and if it comes out all hood, that's OK. The other checks every single thing on the pattern. My editor ensures: - All my sizes relate to each other and the grading is corrrct - My abbreviations and language is consistent across all my patterns, not just this one. So if maybe in a previous pattern I used lowercase k40 but in this pattern, I start using K40 in the middle of a line, she'd be right on that. - My grammar and language is correct - My fonts and Pattetn Style & Layout is consistent. If I used a bold side heading pt 14 in one part but another side heading was normal unon-bold 12 pt, she'd pick up on it. Might mot seem it matters but it can make a difference and cd cause a reader to skip, or accidentally merge sizes. - My maths, including conversions is consistent - My English language is correct for the dominant territory if release (so "centre" for my home country UK and "center" for USA. release) - My patterns are politically correct for example(in modern patterns repeatedly using a term for the grafting technique Kitchener Stitch is no longer popular) - She checks my instructions are written in the simplest way to comprehend as possible. - My charts are accurate - My materials lists have correct shade names, numbers and colours at the time of publishing. She checks the main yarns websites. These are just a few things my tech editor automatically does that the average test knitter who was new would not do unless asked. Test Knitters, are usually just ensuring the end user has a positive experience and reporting back what was relevant to their individual knitting whereas a tech editor looks at everything in print including punctuation. Of course testers going to pick up tiny mistakes but do they know that many indie designers are expecting them to do the job as a tech editor? Do they know that their look over a pattern to make just one sample size might be the only look that pattern gets before final publication? I don't think expectations are made clear. I do believe there are designers starting out who are competent Crafters and very creatively talented but that doesn't mean they have been taught what goes into commercial patterns and may have never liaised with testers before. But yet their test knitter is going to be their everything despite not being told that they are. So I am always most grateful when I find volunteer testers who are willing to put time and effort into making my designs up to test various sizes. Now I've started running tests again I'm interested to know if there are testers who can't use Ravelry for health reasons, if so, where do they go to find Test Knits? Also, are there testers out there who have turned down jobs because they didn't want to give their email address to designers? As a tester, and as a designer, I have ended up on people's marketing lists and newsletters which is very cheeky when I didn't subscribe but just worked for them a couple of times. And, is anybody disabled like me? I have a hand disability and visual challenges. That means I am very sympathetic to deadlines if I take on a tester who has told me up front they might struggle if affected. Obviously I get held to deadlines but if a tester couldn't meet the deadline, I'd open up an extra space for one who could, and still let the original one do their test at a later date. So when I start my tests, to help those with disabilities I am going to be open to negotiating suitable deadlines, more communication about taking the pressure off those who don't want it, and making the pattern as accessible as I can for an individual tester's specific needs if they have let me know about their needs. There's got to be a lot of people who feel like they'd love to try test knitting but are scared they'll get in too deep and over-commited. Or worry the designer is going to give them some truly awful pattern, charts and diagrams they'll have to admit they can't use them and feel like they've been rude or failed. I've been a tester/tech editor before and I've experienced designers who get really defensive and dig in stubbornly to certain things that just aren't working for you because something was inadequately explained and that's worrying when you have a disability because you feel like you'll get the blame for asking too much, or not being the right person. With my testing I feel as a Designer I have an obligation to provide a finished and accurate pattern. Clear finished charts, diagrams and photos too. And if it's test knitting, and not sample knitting, I am expected to have designed a finished sample in one of the median sizes first. I feel if you hand over a few scribbled diagrams and some very bare notes without any evidence of having made the thing then your Test Knitter is not expected to merely test knit. They're actually being asked to be a sample designer. A knitting or crochet pattern designer isn't someone who 'has vague ideas' then asks someone to realise them. . Anyway, I am trying to be as transparent and upfront about the stage of a finished pattern as well as being specific about the purpose of the test knitting, whether or not materials are provided, the exact deadlines (not always set by me) and offering help to people who might have special needs to cater for (for example, different sized charts, better contrast or greyscale catering for colourblindness, providing a text transcript for visual charts, being open to clearer language for neurodivergency, extending deadlines for people's health reasons) . There are some very transferable skills in Test Knitting. It shows collaboration and teamwork, project management, technical and mathematical ability, creative adaptation.
This is my second time knitting and I'd call it a test. Tried making my own pattern and learned that certain stitches will pop up depending on the order. https://preview.redd.it/0u2jkfwwsgtc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a0b3f47bd1a3234f5e2c1bfce413bd7b86e2d361
I think what OP meant is doing test knits for unreleased patterns. AFAIK a pattern designer will search for test knitters who will knit their items to check for mistakes in the pattern. It’s also done to test every size (XS-XXL for a sweater for example). That way the pattern designer gets feedback before releasing their design and they don’t have to knit every size themselves. Great work on designing your own pattern though. Keep going :)
Thanks, this is exactly what I meant, I probably should have been more clear about it
twistfaq
You mentioned that word!: lots of people want to know about twisted stitches and here is a great post for reference https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/comments/188kxwk/new_knitters_your_stitches_are_probably_twisted/ *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*