I’ve spoken about test knitting before on the blog. As I sent out a call for testers recently I was thinking about how actually not everyone knows much about it. So I am sharing a blog series about test knitting: what they are, what is involved, and about how I run them.
Today I’m going to focus on:
What is a Test Knit?
A test knit is a process that some designers (including me!) go through before releasing a pattern to help us make sure that the pattern is easy to use and correct.
I run mine after the pattern I have had the pattern tech edited (a topic for another day!), so I know before recruiting testers that there shouldn’t be any major issues in the pattern.
What is a Test Knit For?
When it comes to the testing, I am looking for all kinds of information:
- Is the pattern easy to understand for knitters of different experience levels?
- Do the instructions for each size work (since I will usually only have made one size in the design process)?
- Do the different sizes come out with the right measurements?
- Have I given all the information the knitter needs?
- Are there things I could express more clearly?
- If there is a chart, is it easy to follow?
Basically, I want as much information as possible so that I can make the pattern as clear, accurate, and lovely to follow as possible before I start asking people to pay actual money for it.
Do you have any questions about what a test knit is? Would you like to join my testing pool? Anyone can, sign up here!
Coming up: What a tester needs to do; How I select my testers.
