You like to crochet. Maybe you have made just a few projects, or maybe you have been crocheting for years. If you are looking for a way to either grow your skills or share your expertise, pattern testing is a great opportunity! Read on to learn more about what pattern testing is and if it is a good fit for you. Pattern testing really expanded the way I see patterns and make projects and has helped me become a more confident pattern designer. I first learned how expansive crochet is as a craft through pattern testing, and I just stumbled into my first opportunities to do so. Hopefully I can give you some direction so that you can actively seek pattern testing opportunities.
What is Pattern Testing, Anyway?
Being a pattern tester is a volunteer position to help designers finalize a pattern before releasing it to the public. The pattern testers get a draft copy of the pattern and follow it carefully to make the project. They provide free feedback to the pattern designer to help make sure the pattern makes sense and is free from errors. Having additional eyes, and thus multiple perspectives, look at a pattern draft helps the designer edit the pattern. Since the pattern is in draft format and you received it for free, expect to find grammatical and mathematical errors. This makes the pattern a little more difficult to follow, but you are able to provide valuable feedback for the pattern designer.
What are General Expectations for Pattern Testers?
Although each pattern designer has different expectations for their pattern testers, there are some general expectations to know if you are interested in pattern testing.
As a pattern tester, you are expected to give appropriate and constructive feedback. Designers provide a draft version of their pattern for free to volunteers in order to get feedback. Pattern testers should look over the pattern carefully to provide the most accurate feedback. Even if you aren’t sure if the designer wants a specific suggestion (such as how a portion of the pattern is worded, which isn’t necessarily wrong), designers appreciate suggestions to help them see how others view the pattern. Nothing is more frustrating for a pattern designer than being told by the tester that the pattern is great and they had no issues completing the pattern, while other testers have actually given suggestions and pointed out errors. This tells the designer that the first tester didn’t look over the pattern carefully and just wanted a free pattern. Also make sure that your feedback is constructive, with examples of what could be improved in the pattern.
Additionally, when you agree to pattern test for a designer, you agree to provide your feedback and possibly photos by a certain deadline. It is a matter of respect to meet that deadline. Some designers have a deadline because they are submitting their pattern to a magazine or blog site, so they are also held by a deadline. Of course, life circumstances and emergencies come up, and if that is the case you have a responsibility to communicate timeline concerns with the designer immediately. If you do not think you can make a deadline for a pattern test when you first see the testing call, just wait until the pattern is released and purchase it so you can make the item within your own time frame.
Pattern designers usually expect testers to also post about the pattern on their public social media platforms or provide well-lit photos of the item. These posts help advertise the pattern so that more people hear about it. High quality photos ensure that the designer sees how the item looks or fits and if it meets their vision. For example, if it looks like the stuffed animal arms are not in the right spot on a tester’s photo, the designer knows to look at their pattern to determine if they can describe the location for sewing the arm more accurately. If the pattern is supposed to have 2 inches of positive ease in the bust (making it loose-fitting) but it is snug in a picture, the designer might need to think about gauge or sizing for the garment pattern.
Again, each pattern designer has slightly different expectations for their testers, so they usually communicate those expectations in the testing call or testing application. If you have any questions about what the designer wants from you as a tester, just ask them about it! Communication, throughout the entire pattern test, is super essential for a great testing experience for both volunteer and designer.
Why Pattern Test?
It seems like it takes work to be a pattern tester, and that’s not untrue. What are the benefits of pattern testing? First and foremost, testing patterns for different designers greatly improved your crocheting abilities. In my experience, I have learned new stitches and seen different ways to describe techniques because of pattern testing. I have a better sense now, after testing for a couple dozen different designers, what I like in pattern formatting for my own designs. I now know three different ways to seam crochet pieces together, and I especially know which way I prefer to make my ribbing on a garment. Just as pattern testers help the designer see the pattern from multiple perspectives, pattern testing introduces me to the way that many designers think. Also, I love being able to interact with members of this yarn community that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I meet not only the designers, but often other pattern testers as we communicate in a group chat about the project. And I, being the cheapskate that I am, enjoy getting to try a brand new pattern for free. It sometimes comes with a headache if the math isn’t working out right, and I have a deadline to abide by, but I enjoy it all the same. Sometimes, it is a type of pattern that I have been looking for (“oh, I totally want to make a cardigan that looks like that!”) or something that I simply stumble upon (“that is actually really cute, that might make a really good gift for ____”). Many designers will gift you the final pattern that you tested, especially if the pattern has multiple sizes written, though that is not always the case. Finally, I love pattern testing because I love to help people. By volunteering to pattern test for a designer, I help them make a better pattern. So I can do what I love (crochet) and serve someone else in the process!
How Do You Find Opportunities to Pattern Test?
I found my first pattern test on Instagram. In this day and age, social media is a great way to connect to other makers in the community. I started a purely crochet Instagram account almost a year ago and have made a point to follow designers and makers whose work I enjoy. Sometimes, pattern designers ask for pattern testers to volunteer on their Instagram or Facebook pages for a specific design. Many designers also have email lists you can join if you want to be notified whenever they post a new testing call. The link to sign up for my testing call email list is here. Another great way to find opportunities to pattern test is through the Facebook group Pattern Testers 〰️➰➿. You need to be approved as a member of the group, but as long as you follow the expectations outlined on the page anyone can participate fully! Designers post testing calls here and you can volunteer right on the post they make. This is an especially great way to discover designers you don’t know about yet. Ravelry also has special groups for pattern testers as well that you can join, and with thousands of members the opportunities can change quickly.
How Do I Know if a Pattern Test is Right for Me?
There are a lot of factors to consider when volunteering for a pattern test, and mostly they depend on personal preference. Some of the first things to think about should be the expectations of the designer for the tester. Can you meet the deadline? If you aren’t sure, you probably shouldn’t volunteer for that test. Usually our lives get busier, not less busy, over time. You don’t want to be burning the midnight oil crocheting the day before the deadline because time got away from you, or disrespecting the designer’s time by not reaching the deadline. Also make sure to think about requirements such as posting on a public Instagram account or on Ravelry. If you absolutely cannot fulfill a requirement like that, opt out of volunteering for that pattern. It is not the designer’s responsibility to bend their requirements for you, and other people who are more able to meet their requirements will surely volunteer. There will always be another pattern test, so don’t feel like you are missing out! Make sure to consider the materials and skills needed for the pattern test as well. If a test calls for 1000 yards of cotton yarn and you don’t want to spend $20-30 on a single project this weekend, it might not be the right test for you this time around. Think about the yarn you already have and how much yarn you are willing and able to obtain for a pattern test before committing. And while pattern tests are a great opportunity to level up your crochet skills, maybe stay away from a project rated for an advanced crocheter if you have just made your first scarf. If you have done some pattern testing before, also contemplate which designer you are volunteering to help. There are some designers I have worked with a lot that write patterns very well, so I know that testing their patterns will be fun and not very stressful. There are other designers that have been more difficult to work with due to a lack of communication, so I tend to not volunteer for their pattern tests as often. You learn a lot from your personal testing experiences about which designers and types of patterns you like to pattern test.
Do You Have Any Tips for Pattern Testing?
After helping more than 20 designers with 30+ total pattern tests, I have a lot of tips for aspiring pattern testers.
First, be willing to try new things! Try out a new garment you have never made before (did you know you can crochet a dress?). Learn a few new stitches or techniques for a pattern. Volunteer to work with a designer you have never tested for before. I love that crochet has so much variety, and pattern testing is no different. Once you have been selected for a pattern test, I would recommend starting the project as soon as you can. Make time regularly to work on it, whether it is when you watch TV after work every day or every Sunday afternoon or whenever your baby naps. I would really recommend trying to finish the project early because things always come up in life that make it harder to take time to crochet. Also, try to plan out how you will complete the item within the timeframe you have before the deadline (i.e. have one arm of your sweater done by this Saturday and the other arm done by the next Saturday). This makes it easier to reach your long-term goal of completing the test on time by breaking it into shorter goals.
Make sure that any feedback you give is constructive and positive. It is really hard to be a pattern designer receiving critique, especially since their patterns are an expression of themselves. Feedback is really important, that’s why designers ask for pattern testers, but it can be hard to swallow. So show them some grace and let them know what they are doing well too! When you do notice mistakes or elements that could be improved in a pattern, give appropriate suggestions so that the designer has a better idea of what the pattern should be. Instead of just saying that the math is wrong, explain how you got a stitch count that differs from the pattern designer’s count. In the case of a phrase not making sense, try rewording it for the designer to help them work towards a better solution.
Another tip I have is to participate in group chats about the patterns. If you aren’t sure what a certain part of the pattern is asking you to do, just ask! The pattern designer is close by (digitally at least) so you can get help with any questions you have. Don’t just assume that the problem is with you; as a pattern tester, you are trying to find inconsistencies and errors in the pattern and you have probably stumbled on one of those.
Additionally, don’t volunteer to test every pattern. I have fallen into the trap where I felt like I wasn’t testing any pattern so I volunteered for a whole bunch, then I was selected and had to balance four tests at once! Take it easy so you can enjoy the process; don’t overload your plate with pattern tests. More opportunities will always come. As a related thought, only volunteer for a pattern test that you want to make. If you really don’t want to make another DK weight sweater, don’t volunteer! And if there is an tiger amigurumi pattern that intrigues you but something is not how you would like it, you also don’t have to volunteer. There are so many pattern testing opportunities out there, so only invest your time in the tests that really bring you excitement and joy to crochet.
All in all, I have loved pattern testing and the opportunity to grow in my crochet skills and interact with the yarn community. Let me know in the comments below or on Instagram @crowchetcreations or through the hashtag #crowchetcreations about questions you have regarding pattern testing or what tips have helped you become an awesome pattern tester!
I currently have a testing call for the Sweet Pea Vest running until Tuesday, March 10, 2020, so check out the application here if you are interested in applying. If you want to be added onto my email list for testing call notifications, fill out the form here.
XO, Emily
