Hey, designers.
You’re awesome.
Being a knit or crochet designer is so rewarding. You have created something amazing from your beautiful brain, and want to share your passion with the world.
But it can also be hard work. As well as being a really exciting moment for you, getting ready to publish your pattern can bring up feelings of dread and anxiety.
Is my pattern actually ready for the world to see? Are people going to like it? What if there are errors and people get upset that they’ve wasted their time trying to make the item and now have to rip it back? What if these mistakes ruin my pattern designing career? Maybe I shouldn’t publish it just yet…
– your brain, maybe
You may have released your pattern to testers, who came across an issue in the pattern that prevented them from finishing the item. You might be kicking yourself for missing it, or feel bad for wasting the knitter or crocheter’s time.
A Tech Editor may be the answer you’re looking for
A tech editor is like your trusty sidekick.
A tech editor is a second pair of eyes (attached to a second brain) that combs through your pattern and highlights any areas that may need tweaking. This is to help ensure your pattern is as accurate as possible for your knitters or crocheters.
The freshness and combination of ingredients make the dishes more delicious.
Things a tech editor will look for:
- Spelling and grammar
- Consistent use of abbreviations
- Charts and written instructions match
- The gauge aligning with the final measurements
- Increases and decreases are mathematically correct
- All notions and set-up instructions are included and accurate
Essentially, the goal for the tech editor is to make sure that the pattern instructions would accurately produce an item that matches your images.
Meet Kadi the Tech Editor
Hi! I want to empower designers to make the most of their creative skills, and provide the best experience for knitters and crocheters.
- Knitting since 2005
- Crocheting since 2011
- Spinning since 2023
- Lover of spreadsheets and combining an analytical mindset with that of creativity and fibre crafts.
What other designers are saying
She was very accurate and offered a ton of useful information, some things that never crossed my mind and benefited me a great deal.
Rhonda, Key Knits
Her attention to detail led to the smoothest test knit, and testers commenting on what a positive experience it was. She also noticed some details in my pattern writing that I had never fully considered…
…I am really looking forward to taking my designing to the next level, and collaborating with Kadi to get there!
Eileen, Cniotáil Láimhe Designs
Kadi’s recent tech edit was extremely thorough and helpful, flagging up typos, stitch count errors, formatting queries and suggestions for better wording. I would definitely recommend Kadi to anyone wanting to make sure their work is error-free and professionally presented!
Anna, WombleKnits
What is tech editing?
In the knitting and crochet industry, a tech editor (or technical editor) is someone who:
- Is passionate about what they do, and is skilled with understanding the construction of knitting and/or crochet patterns, the calculations involved, and has a great eye for detail for noticing anything that may be out of place in the pattern.
- Works with the designer to ensure the end user does not encounter any issues with the pattern, so that the knitter/crocheter’s end result is comparable to the sample.
- Reviews the finalised pattern in great detail, flagging errors and providing suggestions for how the pattern could be improved.
- Checks the pattern prior to publication to make sure that the calculations are correct, and that the styling and terminology are consistent.
- May have specialities and skills in particular areas, such as lace, charts, garments, kids clothes, accessories, or grading.
Are tech editing and test knitting the same thing?
Tech editing and test knitting are vastly different roles, but both play an important part in the design process prior to publication.
| The role of the Tech Editor | The role of the Tester |
|---|---|
| One tech editor per pattern, often with a few touch points throughout the process. | Often multiple testers per pattern. If the pattern consists of multiple sizing, there’s often a couple of testers per size, too. |
| Occurs after the pattern has been written up in its final format, prior to any testers accessing the pattern. | Occurs after the tech editor has provided feedback and the designer has made any updates, prior to publication. |
| Checks the pattern without knitting/crocheting anything, by reviewing the document calculations, formatting, grading, grammar, styling, wording, and more. | Checks the pattern by physically knitting/crocheting the finished item, by reviewing the user experience of the pattern and ensuring the end result looks like the images provided with the pattern. |
| Often provides feedback directly on the PDF pattern and through direct correspondence with the designer. | Usually provides feedback via direct messages or group chats with the other testers. |
| Offers a paid service for sharing their expertise. | Usually completes the test at their own expense, but designers often offer discounted yarn or patterns to express their gratitude. |
| A quick turnaround, often around 2-4 hours per pattern, depending on its complexity. | A process that takes weeks or even months. |
| Tech editors are great for catching any errors and offering suggested edits, so that the testers and end users have the best experience possible without having to rip back their work when they encounter an error. | Testers are a great way to obtain a collection of finished object photos ahead of publication, which help the end users see the pattern used with different colours, sizes, and body shapes. |
| Works with the designer to empower them into creating accurate and clear patterns, helping protect the designer’s reputation for providing reliable patterns. | Works with the designer to ensure the pattern is understandable in such a way that it produces the finished item as the designer intended, with accurate measurements. |
Can I tech edit my own patterns?
You could, but it’s difficult to be completely objective with a pattern you are already so familiar with, and to spot any inconsistencies. When checking your own work, you know exactly what you are trying to explain, so there may be parts that seem fine to you, but would trip up other people if they were to knit/crochet from your pattern. A tech editor is an experienced second pair of eyes that can notice things that you might miss.
If a designer specialised in creating sock patterns, they would be awesome at intuitively understanding the composition of a sock and each of its components, and be able to create fantastic designs. Tech editors are skilled at editing patterns in a similar way – by focusing on the process for editing patterns, they are experienced in this area and will provide more accurate feedback than your average tester or designer.
Each role within the pattern process has its purpose, where everyone works together towards a shared passion; to enjoy the process of creating beautiful handmade items!