Your crochet pattern testers are essential to your design business, there is no doubt. In fact, pattern testers deserve a ton of credit for all they do for the designer! Cheers to testers!
The role of a crochet pattern tester is, however, not the same as the role of a tech editor. And having a tech editor you trust is as essential to your design business as having great testers.
Read below to find out 7 ways that the roles of crochet pattern testers and tech editors differ and why you should have both on your team when designing and publishing a pattern.
1. Tech Editors Do Not Crochet Your Item
While a crochet pattern tester’s job is to stitch the pattern, a tech editor will not do that, at least in relation to the editing process.
How will they find issues then you ask?
A tech editor will read your pattern with a fine-toothed comb. Line by line, from top to bottom. And they may sketch diagrams and stitch patterns, to get a handle on your design. Most of us are seasoned crocheters and will be able to find errors without picking up a hook.
2. Crochet Pattern Testers Are Usually Unpaid
While testers usually don’t expect monetary compensation for their work, a tech editor does have a fee.
Tech editors usually charge by the hour for their work. A newer tech editor may have a lower hourly rate while more experienced, and most likely quicker, tech editors will probably have a higher rate.
Keep in mind that, depending on what services they are providing you, the cost of a tech editor should not break the bank and the value of having one far exceeds the expense of it.
3. Tech Editors Will Check Your Math
A crochet pattern tester may find issues with sizing and stitch counts during the making of your design. However, your tester is generally only going to be making your garment or item in one size. Their focus will also be on the making of the item and not necessarily any grading issues.
A tech editor will be checking your sizing by verifying your numbers. They will be able to double check all your projected sizes using your gauge measurements and point out any inconsistencies.
A tech editor will also verify your stitch counts, yardage calculation and any other measurements that can be checked. Some tech editors will even grade your pattern for you.
4. Tech Editors Will Find Your Typos
Okay, so testers will do this too. However, tech editors will specifically be looking for errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation. We will review each line for even minute errors.
Here is a quick tip: if you have your pattern tech edited before you have it tested, you can save yourself the pain of having the same error(s) pointed out again and again by each of your testers.
5. Tech Editors Will Make Sure Your Pattern is Complete
A tech editor will make sure that your pattern contains all of the necessary elements a quality, professional pattern should have. This includes such things as the gauge measurements, abbreviations section, what terminology is being used and much more.
6. Tech Editors Will Ensure Your Pattern Follows Industry (or other) Standards
Your tech editor will ensure that your pattern follows industry standards.
Usually this refers to those set out by the Craft Yarn Council and will include things such as the abbreviations used, repeat language used, possibly size measurements and more.
If you have a stylesheet from a publication, your tech editor will ensure it is followed correctly and completely.
7. Tech Editors Will Ensure Consistency
If you have used italicized headings in one section of your pattern, your tech editor will notice if you don’t later on in your pattern and point it out to you.
Inconsistent use of capitals, formatting, abbreviations, and the like will be found by your tech editor as they comb through your pattern.
As you can see, there are a number of things that a tech editor will do for you that your testers will not. And there are also things that your testers will do for you that your tech editor will not.
While testers will definitely find, and hopefully point out to you, some errors and inconsistencies, a tech editor will do that and more in relation to your written pattern.
There are some issues that will may only be found in the making of your design as well and that is why having it tested is equally as important as having it tech edited.
If you have any questions or have a pattern you would like tech edited, please contact me. You can also check out the services that I offer here.
Until next time, happy stitching!
