Being a part of the crochet pattern creating community, our goal is to always create high quality patterns that you are easily able to replicate while enjoying the creative process. We do not want to provide you with a pattern where you find spelling mistakes, the counts are off, or thinking that this pattern makes no sense at all. This is where crochet pattern testers come in.
Below you will learn more about what a crochet pattern tester does and some of the general requirements to become one. As you gain more experience in being a pattern tester, you will learn that every testing process will be different, and you will never stop learning while having fun. Some of the points I highlight below are based on my experiences as a tester and pattern creator. I truly hope you find this informative and now lets getting into this exciting topic!
What does it mean to be a crochet pattern tester?
The role of the pattern testers are to be given exclusive access to an unpublished crochet pattern to test, provide honest feedback, and confirm that they are able to recreate the pattern. Being a tester is a very important part of the pattern writing process and brings in so much important insight to both the tester and the pattern creator. In my experience as a pattern creator, sometimes I am so involved in the writing part of the pattern that I am guilty of forgetting to step back and look at areas that might need more attention (I am looking at you spell check). Plus, I get the opportunity to work with amazing crochet artists like yourself and we end up creating such a wonderful community during the testing process.
Are there requirements to be a pattern tester?
That is a great question and each pattern creator might have their own requirements. In my case, here are some of the standard requirements that I use for all of my pattern testing groups:
Must know basic crochet stitches and have experience reading patterns.
Must be able to complete the project by the specified deadline.
Must fill out the Pattern Tester Survey.
Must have a public Instagram account and be willing to participate in a group chat with all other testers.
The reasons the requirements above exist is to ensure that when you are in the testing process, you already have some familiarity with reading a pattern. You do not have to be an expert but it does help knowing that you already feel comfortable with that process. Also, it is ok if you are not familiar with specific stitch types, we are hear to help you!
Why should I try being a pattern tester?
Honestly, there are so many fantastic reasons why you should give pattern testing a try. Below are just a few examples:
Gain more experience and confidence in reading patterns to improve your crochet skills.
You will receive an emailed copy of the PDF pattern you are testing for free!
Depending on who you are creating for, you might be able to sell the finished product.
Gain exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the creative process of pattern writing.
How do I become a pattern tester?
Here are some ways you can find pattern testing opportunities:
Instagram: you can always look at specific pattern testing hashtags to see who is looking for testers, believe me, there are plenty!
Your crochet idol: if there are specific crochet artists that you love, definitely check out either their Instagram or their blog page. There are some creators that will either announce that they are looking for testers or they may already have an existing pattern tester form that you can fill out for future opportunities.
In my case, if you are interested in being one of my pattern testers for future projects, please make sure to fill out my pattern tester form here
I hope you found this to be super helpful and please let me know in the comments below what additional pattern testing related questions you may have! Never hesitate to reach out and I truly hope you have a wonderful time in becoming a pattern tester. Remember, you are such an important part in helping us create patterns that we can share with our wonderful crochet community!
Cindy
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