A good goal for every knitting pattern designer is to publish clear, accurate, and enjoyable patterns that knitters love to make.
But with the complexities of knitting instructions, it can be hard to catch every error and ensure a smooth knitting experience for your customers. Often, it just comes down to silly mistakes, unclear wording, or sizing issues. What worked in your head during the design process might not translate perfectly to the needles of other knitters. Maybe you’ve been releasing patterns and wondering why knitters are reaching out to you about mistakes or confusing sections. It can make you feel frustrated and unsure of your pattern writing skills.
Today, you’re in luck! I’m going to share a crucial part of the design process that will help you polish your patterns, gather valuable feedback, and build a community around your designs without spending excess money on costly revisions after publication. I’ll cover what a pattern test call is, how it works, and how you can get started running successful tests. Keep reading for more details.
What Is a Pattern Test ?
A pattern test is a process where you invite a group of knitters to knit your pattern before it’s officially published. It aims to identify any errors, clarify confusing instructions, and gather feedback on the overall knitting experience. It helps ensure that your pattern is clear, accurate, and enjoyable for a wide range of knitters.
It works by giving you real-world feedback from knitters of varying skill levels.
Knitting pattern designers who want to publish high-quality, professional patterns benefit from pattern testing. The idea behind it is to improve the quality of your patterns and reduce post-publication issues. The big benefit it promises is happier customers, fewer customer service inquiries, and a stronger reputation as a designer (aka knitters might purchase another pattern from you!)
I promise running a test knit despite the extra time it takes, will help ensure your pattern is successful in the long run! Plus, after the pattern is published it can be very beneficial for knitters looking to purchase your pattern to see what the pattern looks like worked up in different colors and yarn types (the Ravelry “projects” tab is always my first stop when I’m looking for a new pattern!)
Why Are Pattern Tests Important?
While I don’t have a specific statistic on the impact of test knitting on sales (let me know if you find anything!), it’s widely accepted in the knitting design community that thorough testing leads to happier customers and fewer errors in published patterns. Happy customers are more likely to purchase future patterns and recommend your designs to others (yay!).
Gathering feedback from test knitters is invaluable. It helps you catch errors you might have missed, clarify confusing instructions, and ensure the pattern is enjoyable to knit. This feedback can cover a range of aspects, from identifying typos and stitch count discrepancies to ensuring the fit is accurate and the instructions are easy to follow.
The problem your pattern test call solves is that most designers can’t catch every single error in their patterns on their own. It’s easy to overlook mistakes when you’ve been working on a design for a long time. Even having a technical editor comb over your pattern won’t catch all the mistakes! Sometimes patterns just plain need to be knit by a couple of knitters before a pattern is easy to understand and “knitable.”
Now, I want to note, that testers are just that — testers. They aren’t editors, and aren’t getting paid to edit your pattern. Sometimes testers provide editing suggestions, but that should NOT be expected. They are truly just making sure that your pattern can be knit.
This way, you will save time and money on post-publication revisions and refunds.
Also, a pattern test call gives you the ability to gather valuable feedback on the fit, clarity, and overall knitting experience of your pattern.
That means you won’t have to rely solely on your own judgment and risk publishing a pattern that has issues.
Building Your A-Team: The Testers
Just like assembling your dream team for a big project, choosing the right testers is key. From beginners to advanced stitchers, each member brings a unique flavor to the mix. Beginners often spot the little hiccups that seasoned pros might miss, making their input invaluable. Think of them as your partners in crime, helping you whip up a pattern that’s a true crowd-pleaser.
When you’re first starting out, it can be a bit difficult to gather testers — but don’t despair. Even just one or two testers can provide extremely valuable feedback! There are several groups on Ravelry that can help you find testers, here are the two that I’ve used in the past The Testing Pool, and Free Pattern Testers.
It can also be helpful to start a list of names of anyone who is willing to test for you (I have people reach out frequently, even when I don’t have anything in the testing pipeline), having a list can be helpful as not all testers can help at any given time.
Finally there is an entire website devoted to pattern testing called YarnPond. It’s free for testers, and designers are charged a minimal fee to use the platform. For more details click here.
I run all of my test knits here on Ravelry, but I’ve seen them run on YarnPond, Slack, Discord, via email, and even over Instagram DMs! Just do what works best for you and your testers!
Pattern Test Call Examples (Different Approaches)
If running a pattern test call sounds overwhelming, I get it. It can be intimidating to ask for help with your design when it’s not published and you are sure if it’s going to work. But, it’s way less intimidating than publishing a pattern and your customers find mistakes! Mistakes in patterns can slip through the cracks even after a thorough editing and testing process, it’s just part of the business – but avoid it as much as possible!
So I put together the examples below of different ways you can test patterns so you can easily get started with running your own tests.
Example #1. Small, Focused Test (3-5 Testers)
This is ideal for smaller projects or when you’re testing a specific technique within a larger pattern.
Although this may seem like a less comprehensive approach, it’s actually a great way to get quick feedback and identify major issues early on.
Plus, it’s easier to manage a smaller group of testers.
For example:
You might test a new cable pattern with a small group of experienced cable knitters to ensure the instructions are clear and the cable pattern works as intended.
The best way to implement this is to reach out to a few trusted knitters in your network or use a dedicated testing group on Ravelry or social media.
That means you can get targeted feedback from knitters who are specifically interested in the type of design you’re testing.
Example #2. A Large, Comprehensive Test (10+ Testers)
This is ideal for larger projects or when you want to gather feedback from a wider range of knitters with different skill levels.
The more testers you have, the more likely you are to catch a wide range of potential issues.
That’s where a larger test comes in.
A larger test can provide more diverse feedback on fit, clarity, and overall knitting experience.
For example:
You might test a sweater pattern with a diverse group of knitters with different body types and knitting styles to ensure the pattern is inclusive and accessible.
The best way to implement this is to use a dedicated testing call on Ravelry, social media, or your email list.
Example #3. Phased Testing
This involves breaking the testing process into multiple phases, focusing on different aspects of the pattern in each phase (e.g., initial instructions, fit, finishing).
This allows you to address issues early on and avoid having to make major revisions later.
For example:
You might have an initial phase focused on testing the main body of a sweater, followed by a second phase focused on testing the sleeves and finishing instructions.
The best way to implement this is to create a clear timeline for each phase and communicate it clearly to your testers.
Tips for Pattern Test Call Success
Here are a few tips to help you maximize your results with pattern test calls:
First, create clear guidelines for your testers.
To achieve the best pattern test results, you have to continually provide clear instructions and expectations.
When you provide clear guidelines, you effectively manage the testing process and gather more useful feedback.
For example:
Provide your testers with a detailed testing document that outlines the scope of the test, deadlines, and specific feedback you’re looking for.
For better results, make sure you offer incentives to your testers (e.g., a free copy of the final pattern, a discount on future patterns). This way, you’ll attract more testers and encourage them to provide thorough feedback.
When recruiting testers, consider what kind of feedback you need most. Are you looking for experienced knitters who can catch complex errors, or are you looking for newer knitters who can provide feedback on clarity and ease of understanding? Defining your ideal tester will help you recruit the right people for the job.
Next, communicate effectively with your testers.
When you maintain open communication with your testers, you create a positive and collaborative testing environment.
To get started:
- Create a dedicated communication channel for your testers (e.g., a Ravelry group, a Slack channel, or a dedicated email list).
- Provide regular updates and answer any questions promptly.
Finally, be open to feedback.
Nowadays, knitters expect clear and accurate patterns.
If you want to publish high-quality patterns, you can’t overlook this crucial step.
And if the idea of receiving feedback makes you feel nervous, consider that feedback is an invaluable tool for improving your patterns and growing as a designer. Your patterns will grow and mature as you become a better designer.
One thing you can do is view feedback as a gift. It’s an opportunity to learn and improve. Be sure to provide constructive feedback to your testers as well, acknowledging their efforts and thanking them for their time.
Start Running Successful Pattern Test Calls Today
I hope this guide on pattern test calls has been helpful. If you take anything away from this guide, remember that pattern testing is an essential step in the pattern design process.
The best way to ensure your patterns are clear, accurate, and enjoyable for knitters is to run thorough test calls. So, what do you say? Are you ready to give it a go?
Free Pattern Test Call Checklist
Now that you know the ins and outs of pattern test calls, it’s time to grab your free checklist and see how easy it is to organize your next test. The following checklist includes everything you need to coordinate your testers and gather valuable feedback.
Download your pattern test call checklist below.
