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I recently tested a crochet pattern for the first time by a wonderful designer on Instagram, and I absolutely loved the experience.
If you’re considering volunteering to test a crochet pattern for the first time however, here are a few things you should be aware of before you jump right in.
1. Crochet pattern testing is time consuming
Testing someone’s crochet pattern takes time, for many reasons I’ll go into in the next points. It is not like just crocheting a project from a pattern, as you usually would. Although testing a pattern is extremely rewarding, first be prepared to put in the extra hours before you jump in the deep end.
2. The pattern most likely won’t be perfect
When you volunteer to test a pattern, the pattern being tested is often a first draft before it goes to the public. Expect there to be mistakes throughout. This is normal. There might be errors in the pattern itself, typos throughout the document, and general points missing that you would otherwise find helpful to create the finished crochet project. The whole point of testing is for you to pick up on all of these points (and more!).
3. Make sure the difficulty of the pattern matches your crochet skill level before you say yes.
If you’re considering testing a pattern for the first time, make sure you ask the designer how difficult their pattern is, and be open and honest about your crocheting skill level. It’s not good for you or for the designer if you put your hand up to test the pattern but aren’t able to due to its difficulty. If it isn’t the right fit, wait for a pattern that is.
4. Be prepared to write notes. A lot of notes.
Okay, so I may be a prolific note-taker anyway, but when I tested a pattern for the first time, my note-taking went into overdrive. Mainly because I wanted to make sure I was providing value for the designer who had put their trust in me to test their pattern. When I talk about note-taking, I’m not just talking about pointing out all of the errors or mistakes you pick up on. I’m talking about good points too. Write it all down. It’s better to go overboard than not to write enough. The designer will thank you for it, trust me.
5. Make, make, and remake if you have to.
If you make a part of the pattern and it doesn’t look like it should, undo your stitches and start again. It’s as simple as that, and it happens to the best of us! If you’re following the pattern to a T and it still doesn’t look right after a second time, check the pattern and see if you can pick up on whether there’s a mistake. If you can’t figure it out, and remaking the section doesn’t get you to where you need to be, get in touch with the designer and explain the issue you’re having. They would much rather you reach out than struggle in silence.
6. Respect the designer’s wishes in relation to promotional activities.
A big part about pattern testing is often helping the designer promote their pattern. However, this isn’t always the case. Be sure to check first before you post anything about the pattern online. It’s just the courteous thing to do.
7. Deadlines need to be met.
In most cases, if you volunteer to test a crochet pattern, the designer will have a deadline that needs to be met. If they haven’t told you what the deadline is, ask. And most importantly, make sure you can definitely make this deadline before committing to testing their pattern.
8. Communication is key.
The one thing I learned from my own experience of pattern testing for the first time was that communication is key. As it is with most things. Make sure you have a way to communicate with the designer throughout the pattern testing period, whether that’s by email, Instagram, phone, Facebook. Whatever it might be, just make sure you can reach them. Then, throughout the process, if you come into any issues, or have any burning questions, make sure you reach out to them. I’m sure they’d also love to see some photos of your progress along the way.
9. Photos are your friends.
It’s not only great to take photos of your work to help the designer promote their pattern online (if they’ve allowed it), but taking photos of your progress whilst making the pattern will help the designer too. Maybe they’ve missed a photo out in the pattern that you think would have been useful to see. Take the photo yourself, mention it in your feedback, and send your own photo to them as well. After all, a picture is worth a 1,000 words.
10. Be considerate, critical, cautious, and kind.
I almost feel a bit silly for including this one, but I think it’s super important to mention. Remember designers are humans too. Be respectful. This pattern is their pride and joy, and they’ve taken days, maybe weeks, maybe months, creating it. They’ve trusted you with their first draft, before it’s ready to be seen by others. Take this as a massive complement. But make sure your feedback shows that you’re thankful for being given the opportunity. It’s not all about picking up on mistakes, it’s about being honest, kind, and complementary too. Sometimes they might need that extra boost of confidence to design again, so just be aware of how you phrase your feedback, and remember, “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”. But at least warn them if it gets to that point – in a very nice way.
There you have it – 10 things to consider before you volunteer to test a designer’s crochet pattern. I hope I haven’t turned you off, but I hope these points help you when the time does come for you to give crochet pattern testing a go. It is truly a very rewarding experience, and I would highly recommend it, just make sure you’re committed and prepared to go the long haul and give it your best shot before saying yes.
Until next time, happy crocheting,
Cilla x
