I completely agree with you about constructive criticism. I think it's the reason why patterns are being test knitted in the first place, to see if there are any improvements that could be made. We're people, and we make mistakes. It is so normal. Designers are people as well. If there is a mistake in a pattern, it doesn't mean the pattern is not great. So I provide all the feedback I have in a polite manner to help. At the same time, I'm the one who feel very bad if I made a mistake, so I try to be as polite as possible 😀
You are right on. It can be a difficult line to balance at times (esp through an online platform), but I 100% agree that feedback needs to be provided, and with as much tact and grace as possible. Thanks for chiming in!
I’ve had a mixed bag with testing. Most of the time it’s awesome, but I’ve had one or two where the designers just seemed really defensive when others pointed out difficult to understand parts. In one of my test knits, I remember everyone ran out of yarn and told the designer, and when the pattern was published, there were no adjustments to yardage requirements. But I still love testing! It gives me the opportunity to try new techniques, new designers, new yarns. AND it also gives me a deadline! I was the type of student who wrote their assessments the night before, and while I obviously can’t do that with knits, I need to have a deadline so that I actually finish my second sleeve/sock/ribbing!
UGH. that is the worst!! I, too, have had 1 experience with a designer who did not take the tester feedback seriously - it was soooo discouraging. I'm sorry that happened to you guys. I'm glad to hear, though, that it didn't completely snuff out your love for testing. :) It's a cool experience for sure. Thank you for sharing your experiences!
Hi there! You are so welcome. There are some tests that are 3months+ long - so if you were ever interested in dipping your toe in, I'd def recommend looking out for those! :D
Wow! This was a great opportunity to learn about the world of being a test knitter. I had no idea what all was involved. Even though I have been knitting all my life, off and on, I do not know how to do so many things in knitting and being a test knitter is so very far out of my league. I learned so much today, thank you!
Lots of designers are interested in having fresh eyes on their patterns so if you're ever feeling brave enough to venture into the testing world, I say go for it. :) Thanks for being here! I'm glad you found the video to be informative.
I've tested many times now, but I've never considered reaching out to the designer directly before. I think that's a great tip! I think I often feel a little awkward even though its not even in person. If there's a pattern in the future that I really want to test, I may have to try that route just to be a bit more brave. =)
Hehe it's certainly not a guarantee that they will respond - but I've had enough luck to make sure to mention it here. :) I'm glad you found the video to be informative!
This was very well articulated and expressed. I’m actually working on my third ever test knit while watching 😂 hard identify with “healthy stress” lol but also leaning into just stressed stressed as the 3 test knits were all due within the same month (while having two personal commissions with deadlines 😅). But I did feel so exclusive getting that first access to the pattern, meeting and chatting with other great makers, and direct access to designers I really admire. I will definitely do more testing in future but you are so right about only choosing tests with deadlines that will work within your life.
Thank you for this video! I have casually thought about testing and it's great to hear the expectations and experience. Lots of love from the Pacific Northwest 🧡
I’m so glad to know that I’m not the only one who takes a ton of pictures just to get one good one. Very informative episode. Thank you for sharing your perspective!
Your experience testing sounds a lot like my experience working with indie designers. In addition, I have worked with yarn companies. For those, they tend to vet their pool of knitters far ahead of a call, and there is often a formal application where you submit examples of your work. Feedback is usually given over email, so you don’t get to interact with other testers. Sometimes, you are working with an editor who relays your feedback to the designer, rather than working directly with a designer. Yarn companies also will require that you use the yarn in the pattern and will provide a discount (usually 30-40%). I signed up for a few because I wanted to try their yarn, but it was out of my budget, and that discount made the yarn much more affordable. I have had a couple experiences where I wasn’t happy with the final garment, and I ripped it out immediately after fulfilling all my obligations. I have also had a few designers that were not open to (my very polite, carefully worded) feedback. And a few where the pattern wasn’t even complete, and had design flaws like forgetting to add ease or not grading proportionally. These were all relatively new designers, so I now vet designers before I sign up for tests. Another thing to note about indie designers is that their deadlines tend to be pretty tight, necessitating working from stash or living close to a yarn store. When I first started test knitting, I often ran into the problem of not having a suitable yarn or not having enough. I have now accumulated a large stash....
Ooh thank you so much for sharing about your experience testing for yarn companies! I didn't even know that was something folks could do, but of course that makes a lot of sense. You are correct that every experience I've had with testing was for indie designers. Your comment was so informative! Thank you for adding it to the dialogue! :)
Great information! Thanks for sharing. I've done a test knit years and years ago for a friend and am thinking I'd like to do some more so thanks for the tips.
I completely agree with you about constructive criticism. I think it's the reason why patterns are being test knitted in the first place, to see if there are any improvements that could be made.
We're people, and we make mistakes. It is so normal. Designers are people as well. If there is a mistake in a pattern, it doesn't mean the pattern is not great. So I provide all the feedback I have in a polite manner to help.
At the same time, I'm the one who feel very bad if I made a mistake, so I try to be as polite as possible 😀
You are right on. It can be a difficult line to balance at times (esp through an online platform), but I 100% agree that feedback needs to be provided, and with as much tact and grace as possible. Thanks for chiming in!
I’ve had a mixed bag with testing.
Most of the time it’s awesome, but I’ve had one or two where the designers just seemed really defensive when others pointed out difficult to understand parts. In one of my test knits, I remember everyone ran out of yarn and told the designer, and when the pattern was published, there were no adjustments to yardage requirements.
But I still love testing! It gives me the opportunity to try new techniques, new designers, new yarns.
AND it also gives me a deadline! I was the type of student who wrote their assessments the night before, and while I obviously can’t do that with knits, I need to have a deadline so that I actually finish my second sleeve/sock/ribbing!
UGH. that is the worst!! I, too, have had 1 experience with a designer who did not take the tester feedback seriously - it was soooo discouraging. I'm sorry that happened to you guys.
I'm glad to hear, though, that it didn't completely snuff out your love for testing. :) It's a cool experience for sure. Thank you for sharing your experiences!
Hello, thank you so much for sharing your experience! I'm so slow at knitting than I never dared to participate😂
Hi there! You are so welcome. There are some tests that are 3months+ long - so if you were ever interested in dipping your toe in, I'd def recommend looking out for those! :D
Wow! This was a great opportunity to learn about the world of being a test knitter. I had no idea what all was involved. Even though I have been knitting all my life, off and on, I do not know how to do so many things in knitting and being a test knitter is so very far out of my league. I learned so much today, thank you!
Lots of designers are interested in having fresh eyes on their patterns so if you're ever feeling brave enough to venture into the testing world, I say go for it. :) Thanks for being here! I'm glad you found the video to be informative.
I've tested many times now, but I've never considered reaching out to the designer directly before. I think that's a great tip! I think I often feel a little awkward even though its not even in person. If there's a pattern in the future that I really want to test, I may have to try that route just to be a bit more brave. =)
Hehe it's certainly not a guarantee that they will respond - but I've had enough luck to make sure to mention it here. :) I'm glad you found the video to be informative!
This was very well articulated and expressed. I’m actually working on my third ever test knit while watching 😂 hard identify with “healthy stress” lol but also leaning into just stressed stressed as the 3 test knits were all due within the same month (while having two personal commissions with deadlines 😅). But I did feel so exclusive getting that first access to the pattern, meeting and chatting with other great makers, and direct access to designers I really admire. I will definitely do more testing in future but you are so right about only choosing tests with deadlines that will work within your life.
Yes! Finding a good flow with the testing deadlines seems to be an art in and of itself. xD Best of luck to you in the rest of your makes!
Thank you for this video! I have casually thought about testing and it's great to hear the expectations and experience. Lots of love from the Pacific Northwest 🧡
Yes! That was my hope. :) Happy to help!
I’m so glad to know that I’m not the only one who takes a ton of pictures just to get one good one. Very informative episode. Thank you for sharing your perspective!
Absolutely! You are 100% not alone. 😅
Your experience testing sounds a lot like my experience working with indie designers. In addition, I have worked with yarn companies. For those, they tend to vet their pool of knitters far ahead of a call, and there is often a formal application where you submit examples of your work. Feedback is usually given over email, so you don’t get to interact with other testers. Sometimes, you are working with an editor who relays your feedback to the designer, rather than working directly with a designer. Yarn companies also will require that you use the yarn in the pattern and will provide a discount (usually 30-40%). I signed up for a few because I wanted to try their yarn, but it was out of my budget, and that discount made the yarn much more affordable.
I have had a couple experiences where I wasn’t happy with the final garment, and I ripped it out immediately after fulfilling all my obligations. I have also had a few designers that were not open to (my very polite, carefully worded) feedback. And a few where the pattern wasn’t even complete, and had design flaws like forgetting to add ease or not grading proportionally. These were all relatively new designers, so I now vet designers before I sign up for tests.
Another thing to note about indie designers is that their deadlines tend to be pretty tight, necessitating working from stash or living close to a yarn store. When I first started test knitting, I often ran into the problem of not having a suitable yarn or not having enough. I have now accumulated a large stash....
Ooh thank you so much for sharing about your experience testing for yarn companies! I didn't even know that was something folks could do, but of course that makes a lot of sense. You are correct that every experience I've had with testing was for indie designers. Your comment was so informative! Thank you for adding it to the dialogue! :)
As a test knitter, I really enjoyed this video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
My testie bestie 😜
😘
Great information! Thanks for sharing. I've done a test knit years and years ago for a friend and am thinking I'd like to do some more so thanks for the tips.
Go for it! I hope you find it to be enjoyable again! :D
The witching hour for test chats.... 🤣🤣🤣
am i rite or am i rite? xD
Thank you so much for this very informative video😊 I'm just waiting to be chosen after my first application as a tester. Wish me luck🍀 I'm so excited😅
Eekk! I hope you get picked! :D