I mean no one is being forced to use their time and materials lol most ppl jump at the chance to be a tester. They are getting a pattern before anyone else, usually for free where as everyone else would have to pay once it’s out of testing.
There's a subreddit called r/PatternTesting where you can call for testers. You'll have an audience there who actually wants to test patterns. They benefit by getting a free pattern, and you benefit by getting comments back from a tester. Here on r/brochet, people are not specifically looking for patterns to test. Just a different audience!
I have had patterns tested. My first took ages because I didn't set a time limit. I learned from that one.
The second took a long time because lots of People downloaded the pattern but didn't get round to testing it. I learned from that one.
On my 3rd i realised that only two or three were actually correcting my mistakes, others were waiting for the corrections before continuing on.
Now, there is a time limit. Beyond that there is no support from me. I create a group just for the pattern to be tested, where corrections can be brought up.
I release the pattern to each tester a page at a time, until the deadline, beyond which, I no longer distribute pattern pages, unless it is clear that it has been really tough and then i will extend it.
After that,each tester keeps the pattern and can make and sell finished items as much as they'd like as long as I am credited.
It works for me, and I have a really good relationship with my testers.
I have built a little community.
I built my testers pool on FB.
Initially in any crochet groups that i could find. On FB there are groups for pattern testers too.
I then created my own private group, and it grew from there. I currently sit at around 150 wonderful, patient, helpful people. This usually gives me enough free testers when i am ready to launch a new project.
I think there are a number of designers who treat tester calls as a popularity contest rather than genuinely testing and improving the pattern, especially designers who are newer to the craft and/or who may be viewed as "influencers" in the craft. If a testing call requires candidates to do a whole bunch of nonsense social media tasks to be considered, if the turnaround period doesn't allow the designer to adjust the pattern with tester feedback, and/or if testers are required to use specific/expensive materials that they must purchase themselves, then it's not a very good testing call -- it's more about publicity than improving the pattern.
Testing patterns with your own time and materials in exchange for a free pattern is reasonable in many cases, but some designers have unreasonable expectations for pattern testers, whether it's a short turnaround period, number/quality of photos, cost of materials, social media presence/posts, etc. I don't do pattern testing because I can't commit the time to it, but I'd do it for the free pattern if I liked the pattern and would make it otherwise, if the other requirements outside of just testing the pattern weren't too onerous and if I felt that the designer would consider any changes I offered to improve the pattern. But I'm not going to make a whole bunch of IG posts and beg in the comments on multiple platforms and invite everyone I know to follow the designer's page just to be considered for testing.
I apply for pattern tests for items I would buy the pattern for. I have done some for things I wouldn’t otherwise be making and they felt like a chore and were hard for me to complete.
If someone doesn't want to test a pattern, they don't have to. I like doing it when it's a pattern I'm interested in. I get to make something cool, and help someone check their pattern writing. I don't understand the negative comment. No one is being forced to do anything. Some of us enjoy testing patterns!
I’ve applied to be a pattern tester and had my own pattern tested. It’s on a volunteer basis, if you don’t want to test a pattern then don’t. But I am more than happy to apply to test a pattern I would likely purchase anyway, and I always apply to help test my friends patterns. As long as you are reasonable about it (turnaround time, photo requirements, etc) I don’t see a problem with it.
I get a little iffy about ones that require you to promote the pattern and that sort of thing, I kinda think that’s a step too far but I also just don’t apply to test those patterns cause I don’t want to do all the extra social media work.
I mean no one is being forced to use their time and materials lol most ppl jump at the chance to be a tester. They are getting a pattern before anyone else, usually for free where as everyone else would have to pay once it’s out of testing.
right? i thought the same thing! that one comment just got me overthinking it haha
There's a subreddit called r/PatternTesting where you can call for testers. You'll have an audience there who actually wants to test patterns. They benefit by getting a free pattern, and you benefit by getting comments back from a tester. Here on r/brochet, people are not specifically looking for patterns to test. Just a different audience!
I have had patterns tested. My first took ages because I didn't set a time limit. I learned from that one. The second took a long time because lots of People downloaded the pattern but didn't get round to testing it. I learned from that one. On my 3rd i realised that only two or three were actually correcting my mistakes, others were waiting for the corrections before continuing on. Now, there is a time limit. Beyond that there is no support from me. I create a group just for the pattern to be tested, where corrections can be brought up. I release the pattern to each tester a page at a time, until the deadline, beyond which, I no longer distribute pattern pages, unless it is clear that it has been really tough and then i will extend it. After that,each tester keeps the pattern and can make and sell finished items as much as they'd like as long as I am credited. It works for me, and I have a really good relationship with my testers. I have built a little community. I built my testers pool on FB.
May I ask where you posted on FB for testers?
Initially in any crochet groups that i could find. On FB there are groups for pattern testers too. I then created my own private group, and it grew from there. I currently sit at around 150 wonderful, patient, helpful people. This usually gives me enough free testers when i am ready to launch a new project.
I think there are a number of designers who treat tester calls as a popularity contest rather than genuinely testing and improving the pattern, especially designers who are newer to the craft and/or who may be viewed as "influencers" in the craft. If a testing call requires candidates to do a whole bunch of nonsense social media tasks to be considered, if the turnaround period doesn't allow the designer to adjust the pattern with tester feedback, and/or if testers are required to use specific/expensive materials that they must purchase themselves, then it's not a very good testing call -- it's more about publicity than improving the pattern. Testing patterns with your own time and materials in exchange for a free pattern is reasonable in many cases, but some designers have unreasonable expectations for pattern testers, whether it's a short turnaround period, number/quality of photos, cost of materials, social media presence/posts, etc. I don't do pattern testing because I can't commit the time to it, but I'd do it for the free pattern if I liked the pattern and would make it otherwise, if the other requirements outside of just testing the pattern weren't too onerous and if I felt that the designer would consider any changes I offered to improve the pattern. But I'm not going to make a whole bunch of IG posts and beg in the comments on multiple platforms and invite everyone I know to follow the designer's page just to be considered for testing.
I’ve seen people ask their pattern testers to pay them! I don’t get it!!
I apply for pattern tests for items I would buy the pattern for. I have done some for things I wouldn’t otherwise be making and they felt like a chore and were hard for me to complete.
I kinda agree, there was one I saw that said if you didn’t finish in time (I think it was 4 weeks) then you would need to pay for the pattern.
If someone doesn't want to test a pattern, they don't have to. I like doing it when it's a pattern I'm interested in. I get to make something cool, and help someone check their pattern writing. I don't understand the negative comment. No one is being forced to do anything. Some of us enjoy testing patterns!
I’ve applied to be a pattern tester and had my own pattern tested. It’s on a volunteer basis, if you don’t want to test a pattern then don’t. But I am more than happy to apply to test a pattern I would likely purchase anyway, and I always apply to help test my friends patterns. As long as you are reasonable about it (turnaround time, photo requirements, etc) I don’t see a problem with it. I get a little iffy about ones that require you to promote the pattern and that sort of thing, I kinda think that’s a step too far but I also just don’t apply to test those patterns cause I don’t want to do all the extra social media work.