Choosing pattern testers - what am I looking for?
Designing and writing amigurumi crochet patterns is easily one of my favourite parts of my job, but before releasing a pattern I always work with other crocheters to test it out to check for errors and to make sure it is easy to follow. If you want your pattern to sell well, it’s so important to choose good testers…. and this can be tricky!
Pattern testing is a two-way thing. The testers get a free pattern and their work shared on my Instagram page (helping them to potentially grow their own following), and I get the opportunity to work with amazing crocheters who can help me perfect the pattern and then promote it on release day.
“How do you choose testers?” and “What can I do to improve my chances of being chosen as a tester?”
These are 2 questions which I get asked a lot, so here’s a rundown of my process and what I’m looking for in testers. Please keep in mind that this is just what I personally do and this may differ to other pattern designers!
So, when I’m ready for people to test out my pattern I post a “tester call” post to my Instagram. On this post I will include information about the pattern, how to apply and when the testing deadline will be. In the caption of the post I will usually ask for applicants to say something like “I’d like to test”, to tag other crocheters who may also be interested in testing, to share the tester call post to their stories, and if the pattern includes multiple design options, to specify which design they’d like to test. I might sometimes also ask for applicants to comment what type/colours of yarn they’d use if chosen.
Once the deadline to apply has arrived I close the tester call and look through all the applicants.
I open up Instagram on my PC and go down the list of comments.
Here is what I look for:
1) Did they follow the instructions in the tester call post?
If I’ve asked applicants to specify which design they’d like to test and they’ve just written “I’d like to test”, then it’s not a great start. If someone can’t follow the instructions on the tester call then how can I trust that they’ll be able to follow my pattern instructions?
2) Is their crochet work cute? Will their style suit my pattern?
When you hover over someone’s username from the comments section it shows a small window previewing the top 3 posts on that person’s Instagram grid. It’s here that I can start to get a feel for that person’s style of crochet.
- Personally, I’m always going to lean towards people who use plush yarn like chenille or blanket yarn for their work since that’s what I use. I have nothing against worsted weight yarn, but it’s easier for me to visualise what that person’s test of my pattern might turn out like if they use similar yarn to me.
- Do their posts look enticing? Are the photographs of their work well-lit? Do they have an attractive background? Are the images blurry or have big shadows across bits?
3) What does the rest of their work look like?
If I like the look of their page from their top 3 posts and they’ve followed all the instructions then I’ll open their account in a new tab.
Here, I spend some time looking at their most recent posts.
- What sort of things do they crochet?
- What types of yarn do they use? If I’ve asked for fluffy yarn to be used then I often have a look to see if I can spot anything made with fluffy yarn
- How neat is their crochet? (Are the stitches uniform? Are the eyes even and level? Can you see the stuffing through the stitches? Are details sewn on neatly?)
- What sort of engagement do they get on their posts? Are people liking and commenting? I'm not bothered about how many comments/likes a post has, I just want to check that people are actually seeing the posts and engaging with them!
- How many posts do they have on their page? Do they post often? If they've only got 3 posts then this isn't enough for me to go on! I'm looking for more established accounts (that doesn't mean they need a massive following though!)
- Do they credit the pattern designers in the captions of their posts?
- Can I spot any plushies made with any of my other patterns? – this certainly isn’t a requirement, but if I see a plushie made from one of my patterns and it’s made well then this definitely goes in their favour!
These are the grids of 3 of my recent testers (shared with their permission):
https://www.instagram.com/bumbeeworks/
https://www.instagram.com/lavenderjeancrochet/
https://www.instagram.com/morninggloryhomespun/
Each has their own style and way of presenting their plushies. They are all equally lovely and none are ‘better’ or ‘worse’, they are all eye-catching and their crochet work is neat and shows excellent skill.
4) Narrowing it down
Once I’ve opened up all the ‘maybes’, it’s just a case of narrowing it down to around 10 testers and this is the hard bit as I often have way more than 10 tabs open with incredible potential testers!
Now it comes to looking at and thinking about the following:
- How many followers do they have? I like to pick a mixture of smaller & larger accounts to test for me.
- Have they tested for me before? And if so, did they do a good job and did they finish on time? I always try to pick a mix of previous testers and new testers.
- Can I see any other pattern tests for other pattern designers on their grid? If they've pattern tested for another designer and done a great job then this definitely goes in their favour!
The last thing I want to say is that often if you're not picked, it's not that there's anything wrong with your work, it's just that when I have hundreds of potential applicants, sometimes it just comes down to luck so keep on applying!!!!