Test Knitting: How it works and how to get started
You may have seen the term “test knitting,” but not know quite how it fits into the pattern design process or how it works. With this post you can enter the world of test knitting and decide if you want to plunge in yourself.
What is test knitting?
Test knitting is when a designer sends out a pattern — usually before it's published — to a group of knitters to try out.
Why test knitters matter
After I have written a pattern and made the sample, the pattern goes to a tech editor. Her job is to check the pattern for consistency, mistakes, and math errors (there’s always at least some math!). But a few mistakes inevitably slip by; test knitters can catch mistakes that tech editors miss. But test knitting does more than find mistakes. Feedback from testers also:
Improves pattern clarity.
Verifies the amount of yarn required for the pattern.
Confirms the sizing across a range of bodies.
— all contributing to a successful pattern.
Pictures taken by test knitters that show a range of sizes and different yarns and colors also help inspire future knitters to envision their own projects.
What’s in it for the test knitter?
Here’s why many knitters love it:
Early access to new patterns.
Becoming part of the knitting community by developing connections with other knitters working on the same project as well as with the designer.
Flexing their knitting acumen: Testers sometimes view test knitting as a puzzle that they get to solve. Can they catch all of the mistakes that may be lurking? In this game of “gotcha,” everybody wins.
Involvement in the creative process. It’s not just about finishing the piece; it’s about helping the designer refine the pattern.
The chance to try stitch patterns, bind-offs, and other techniques that might be new to them.
Free patterns! My testers get not only a copy of the final tested pattern but also another pattern of their choice as a thank-you; a lot of other designers do the same. I know some knitters who have been knitting from high-quality patterns for years without paying for a single one.
What Designers Expect from Test Knitters
Is test knitting right for you? Test knitters are asked to:
Follow the pattern exactly as written, even if you would normally modify things. If you’re a creative knitter who likes to improvise, will this feel too constraining?
Provide honest feedback on clarity, errors, and the overall experience.
Share photos — either on Ravelry, social media, or privately with the designer.
Provide progress updates over the course of the testing period.
Finish the pattern by the deadline. Will this create pressure that makes knitting less fun for you?
How to Become a Test Knitter
Want to give test knitting a try? Here’s how to start:
Follow designers you love on Instagram or join their mailing lists, where many designers post calls for test knitters. I do this! Sign up for my newsletter here.
Search social media for hashtags like #testingcall, #testknitting, #callfortestknitters, or #testknitterwanted
Join test knitting platforms.
Ravelry has a few groups for designers to announce testing calls. My favorite one is The Testing Pool.
And Yarnpond is a website that is entirely devoted to test knitting.
Finally, start small. Accessories are a great way to put a toe in the water and see if test knitting is right for you.